Soldiers of the 74th IB opened fire on 11 farmers, including seven minors, working in a koprasan (coconut processing farm) in Sityo Canonghan, Barangay Osmeña, Palapag, Northern Samar on June 2. The soldiers later arrested and brought them to the headquarters.

To elude responsibility for their crime and violation of international humanitarian law, the 74th IB falsely claimed having had an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA)-Northern Samar that day. The military even maliciously declared that they “rescued” minors who had been “food couriers” of the people’s army.

The children experienced mental and physical torture while under costudy of the 74th IB. They are considered “hostages” or “bait” to pressure their parents to “surrender” despite being only civilian farmers in the community.

Reports said they are currently being held in the Municipal Social and Welfare Development but soldiers have the authority over their situation. While in state custody, the 74th IB vilified their parents. They are being trained as spies or assets by fascist soldiers for its counterinsurgency campaign. These are all serious violations of international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, the 74th IB and the Municipal Task Force-Elcac of Palapag launched an activity and training in Barangay Osmeña and Barangay Bagacay last July 5. This is an attempt to cover up their heinous crime and force the masses of farmers and residents to take their side in their anti-people program and repressive counter-insurgency campaign.

74th IB, butcher of Northern Samar

The 74th IB have been conducting relentless combat and militarization operations in numerous Palapag barangays since January. This is the Marcos regime’s desperate attempt to beat the deadline of destroying the revolutionary movement this 2024. The regime designated the province an area of operation against the NPA’s “seven remaining weak guerrilla areas.” The 74th IB arrived in Northern Samar in February 2023 with the goal of “defeating” the NPA in Eastern Visayas.

In the first week of February, soldiers arrested farmer Sami Arnesto in his hut in Sityo Canonghan, Barangay Osmeña. Ernesto was taken to the 74th IB headquarters and released after more than a month as a “surrenderee.” At the same time, soldiers shot Gabi Arnesto, Sami’s uncle, who was also being forced to surrender.

It was recorded in Barangay Osmeña that soldiers repeatedly summoned farmers’ families so they can “clear” their names. The latest in a series of forced meetings took place on May 22. The butchers also fired artillery near the town’s farm fields in March.

The 74th IB brazenly put the barangay under “lockdown.” Farmers have been required to sign “logbooks” daily to have their actions “monitored.” The military even imposed time limits on work hours and prohibited night work on farms. They also forbade the residents to bring uncooked rice to their workplaces. Even the stores were forced to list down the villagers’ purchases of food or any material.

On May 23, the operating 74th IB troopers arrested civilians Maria Snooky Jagonoy, Mylene Capoquian Arnesto, and Ronnie Capoquian in the same barangay. They were arrested whie at work in a koprasan and were taken to the military camp. Mylene and Maria Snooky are farmers’ wives who have long been hounded by the military to “clear” their names. Ronnie Capoquian is a hearing-impaired father of Mylene. They are still being held by the military along with Mylene’s 4-year-old son. They have also made to guide combat operations.

In the second week of June, soldiers illegally arrested the brothers Api and Pampam Jagonoy and their relative Egay Arnesto at a terminal in Gamay. The three were supposedly going to Manila to work. They were taken to the tdetachmen and subjected to baseless interrogation and were beaten up. Api and Pampam are brothers of the detained Maria Snooky. The 74th IB is also forcing the surrender of their other siblings.

That same month, in Sityo Cag-anibong, Bagacay, Palapag, the enemy summoned civilian Jonalyn Laureno and her children. Soldiers have not sent them home until now and are keeping them hostage to force her husband’s surrender.