Residents of Barangay Imelda, Las Navas, Northern Samar blocked the 20th IB troops’ plan to build a military camp near their community. Residents strongly opposed the plan at an assembly in March.

Troops planned to build the camp on a hill less than 50 meters from the sitio’s last house. Residents said this violates international humanitarian law’s minimum distance of 500 meters from civilian communities.

At the assembly, residents each took turns wrestling the microphone from soldiers to voice opposition to the camp. Only three residents ultimately “agreed” to the construction.

Armed troops defied this and still occupied civilian homes in the barangay. They continued building a camp outside the barangay but still close to the road leading to town.