The 2nd IB has placed several Masbate towns under the de facto martial law. On June 8, 2nd IB elements gathered the barangay officials of Centro, Simawa, Madao, and San Jose in the town of Uson to announce the planned imposition of its de facto martial law in the said barangays.

The military policies include:
1. Anyone tending their farms must carry an ID and must be home by 5 p.m.
2. Processing copra, which takes several days, requires carrying a document from the barangay stating their name, gender, number, and activity.
3. Residents’ names must be posted outside their homes with the barangay’s signature.
4. Buying rice in bulk or by the sack is prohibited.

Soldiers are also actively recruiting residents to become members of the CAFGU, intelligence agents, and army soldiers.

The soldiers even shamelessly asked barangay officials to provide for and cherish them for they are far from their families.

New People’s Army-Masbate (Jose Rapsing Command) spokesperson Luz del Mar said harassment of residents allows the military to remove obstacles to the entry of the foreign company Filminera-Masbate Gold Project.

“Residents have long strongly opposed the planned expansion of Filminera’s operations not only in their town of Uson, but also in the towns of Milagros and Mobo,” said Ka Luz.

Since March, residents of barangays in the towns of Baleno and Masbate have constantly worried about their safety and livelihood. Like in Uson, they are also being subjected to de facto martial law.

Ka Luz said the outright imposition of martial law in the barangays follows the Marcos regime’s orders.

“Marcos is desperate to hasten the defeat of the New People’s Army (NPA) and is scrambling to shift his armed forces’ focus to the ‘external threat’ at the behest of his imperialist US master.”

The JRC-NPA Masbate urges all local officials to remain faithful to their mandate to serve and protect their constituents. They also call on the Masbate masses to act to expose the arrogant plans of the Marcos Jr regime and the AFP that blatantly violate human rights.

“Holding the criminal military accountable is in the hands of the united and struggling people. Above all, Marcos Jr must be made to answer for his crimes against the people in implementing undeclared martial law in the countryside, which allows his armed forces to violate rights and sow fascism and terror among the people,” said Ka Luz.