Residents of Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City are complaining about the 18th additional outpost of the butcher 80th IB stationed at the edge of Sitio San Ysidro.

The 80th IB and other military forces already treat the entire barangay as a large garrison. As recently as June, there were 17 outposts in the barangay, some of which have been in place for one to two years.

Some of these are adjacent to civilian homes and other civilian structures such as covered courts, barangay halls, and sitio halls. The encampment of state forces in the center of the population violates international humanitarian law.

Apart from outposts, 80th IB element Marvin Stamo has reportedly committed cases of physical assault and beatings in Antipolo City communities. “This only means that the residents will gain no benefit from the presence of the AFP-PNP in their area, and instead, they will only experience harassment and violence under the control of the 80th IB,” New People’s Army (NPA)-Rizal (Narciso Antazo Aramil Command) spokesperson Macario Liwanag said.

The spokesperson said this clearly constitutes a de facto imposition of martial law in the barangay. “It is likely that the intensifying surveillance, harassment, and violence, and other human rights violations are part of an effort to secure the area as a site for an upcoming wind energy project,” he added.

Rizal residents should strongly condemn the military encampment as it will facilitate the entry of destructive projects into the city and the entire province. “The residents must unite and demand the immediate withdrawal of the thug-behaving 80th IB and SAF-PNP who are causing suffering for Rizal people,” he called out.