Farmers from the Triple A land in Cawayan, Masbate were defenseless when 2nd IB soldiers shamelessly stole their eight carabaos and cows on November 27. The soldiers earlier also stole the livestock of peasants in the barangays of Mobo, Milagros, and Uson.

Soldiers evaded accountability for the crime by claiming that they were “confiscating” the livestock because these belonged to the revolutionary movement. These cases are another manifestation of military rule in the barangays of Masbate.

Other than livestock, the butchers and traitors to the revolutionary movement are also seizing the peasants’ coconut farms in Sitio Malapinggan, at the boundary of Barangay San Jose in Uson and Barangay Sawmill in Mobo. Soldiers shoot and threaten to kill any peasant who dares to harvest coconuts from the said farms. They already shot and killed a peasant.

The Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM)-Masbate condemned the 2nd IB’s theft and continuing reign of terror in peasant communities. According to the group, the butchers inflict greater harm on their lives and livelihoods than disasters do. They plague the lives of farmers, the group said.

The 2nd IB remained relentless in ravaging peasant communities even during the onslaught of successive strong typhoons Opong, Tino, and Uwan. The US-Marcos regime responds to farmers with unrelenting military operations instead of compensation and aid. The peasants have yet to fully recover from the typhoons’ devastation.

PKM-Masbate added that the military collude with foreign mining and ecotourism corporations, ranchers, and local politicians who grab lands cultivated by peasants.

The butchers also impose martial law whenever they conduct operations in the villages. They restrict peasants’ movements and working hours and confine them in central villages.

Masbate peasants know that the military’s real aims to destroy their unity and struggle for their land, life, and livelihood, explained the group.

PKM-Masbate called on human rights advocates to investigate the escalating military abuses in the province. The group also urged media members to investigate the peasants’ side and help expose the prevailing martial law in Masbate.