Residents of Barangay Tagumpay, Pola, Oriental Mindoro evacuated after the 76th IB and 203rd IBde conducted a series of aerial strafing, bombing and militarization in their barangay starting February 19. The military carried out the brutal attack on civilians following an encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA)-Mindoro (Lucio de Guzman Command) on that day.

According to reports gathered by Karapatan-Southern Tagalog from residents, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) helicopters flew and strafed twice around 11:45 in the morning in the barangay. They indiscriminately straffed plantations, fields, and near houses with complete disregard for civilians and their property.

Residents also captured on video the soldiers forcing the evacuation of community residents following their house-to-house operations. According to the group, the combat operations severely disrupted the livelihood of the people in the area.

In the following days, the soldiers baselessly implicated the neighboring Barangay Misong in their operations. Residents of the barangay were also forcibly evacuated, which derailed their livelihood.

In 2023, the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro was one of those severely affected by the oil spill after the sinking of MT Princess Empress of San Miguel Corporation, which the Philippine Coast Guard allowed to sail despite its substandard quality.

“Karapatan-ST strongly calls on the local government of Pola to prioritize the safety of the people and ensure the welfare and rights of every individual in the community,” the group stated. It also called on government agencies to conduct an independent investigation and inquiry into possible human rights violations in the area.