The Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM)-Masbate demand that the 2nd IB soldiers take responsibility and punished for the indiscriminate shooting in Sityo Balunos, Barangay Rizal, Dimasalang, Masbate on January 19, at 3:30 pm. The shooting injured the back of 61-year-old former barangay councilor and farmer Marcial Detalo.

To cover up the crime and endangerment of civilians, the 2nd IB falsely stated to the media that Detalo was hit by a bullet from the New People’s Army (NPA)-Masbate amid the military’s false claim of an encounter in the area. The residents detested the soldiers for endangering them and their lies.

The residents condemned the 2nd IB for its Facebook post regarding the incident, for spreading lies and told the military to be ashamed of their crime. One even commented that these 2nd IB actions are the reason “the people lose respect and trust in [them.]”

The PKM-Masbate reported that the 2nd IB immediately deployed additional soldiers into the area on the night of the incident. The next day, the butchers gathered the residents and the soldiers admitted that they shot the old farmer. They also reportedly threatened residents not to contact the NPA-Masbate.

After this, the 2nd IB told the media lies, blaming the NPA-Masbate for the shooting. The soldiers also cunningly exploited the incident to project themselves as “good” soldiers for taking the shooting victim to the Masbate Provincial Hospital for treatment.

“The residents of the area are enraged. They said the military can very easily endanger their lives and kill them. Not considering their safety before their homes were shot is proof of this,” PKM-Masbate said.

The revolutionary peasant organization called on human rights groups and other organizations that defend and protect human rights to investigate the military’s series of crimes in the province. “Above all, help the victims hold the military criminals accountable and get the justice they deserve,” the group said.

The group also challenged the residents and Masbatenyo people to unite to expose and oppose the military that does nothing but perpetrate violence in Masbate. It also called on the people to “demand the US-Marcos Jr regime’s accountability for subjecting the province to martial law that unleashed the military and police to violate the Masbatenyo people’s rights.”

Lt. Col. Dennis Santos serves as the commander of the 2nd IB. The unit is under the 9th ID headed by Maj. Gen. Noah Alberto Peñafiel.