Soldiers of the 3rd IB killed peasant Jaime Pabillar, 44 years old, in a murderous burst of gunfire in Barangay Cagtoto-og, San Jorge, Samar on February 2. Pabillar was inside his house with his wife, child, and grandchild when the soldiers riddled it with bullets.

The New People’s Army (NPA)-Western Samar (Arnulfo Ortiz Command) denied the 3rd IB’s claim that Pabillar was a Red fighter. The people’s army clarified that Pabillar was a civilian inside a house its unit temporarily used. The unit had gone to the village to investigate the situation of residents suffering from heavy rains and militarization.

When the 3rd IB opened fire toward the house, the Red fighters did not return fire and swiftly withdrew. The unit aimed to protect the masses who had sheltered them.

In Barangay Bay-ang, the 52nd IB opened fire at three farmers on February 20. They were then beaten, their belongings searched, and were interrogated. The soldiers threatened them not to report the incident. This followed artillery shelling and a separate strafing incident in nearby villages on February 16.