The 82nd IB troops killed farmer Peter Agudes, also known as “Tito,” in a shooting in Barangay Minan, Tapaz, Capiz on February 26. Two of his companions were wounded. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) falsely claimed having killed Agudes in an armed encounter between soldiers and the New People’s Army (NPA). Perla Agudes, the victim’s wife, vehemently denied that the three were Red fighters.

The Agudes family are residents of Sityo Taroytoy, Barangay Manica, Libacao, Aklan. Since 2014, the family has had a rice and swidden farm in the town of Tapaz. Peter served as a barangay tanod (village watchman). He left behind his three children aged 10, 13 and 16 years old.

In an interview with Perla by XFM Kalibo 96.5, her husband left for their farm in Tapaz at 1 pm, along with a nephew and another individual. Perla shared that around 2 pm, the three arrived at the farm.

The 3rd ID stated that the alleged encounter occurred at 3 pm when its soldiers “encountered” “at least seven Red fighters” of the disbanded guerrilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines Regional Committee in Panay. The battle allegedly lasted five minutes.

The military reported having seized two 30 M1 Carbines, two 12-gauge shotguns, ammunition, other war materiel, two backpacks, radio and food at the scene of the incident. In response to this, Perla said that her husband and his companions indeed had low-caliber weapons used for hunting.

Based on the account of the nephew, Perla narrated that the soldiers shot Peter while he was getting banana leaves to use as a makeshift umbrella. She clarified that Peter was not an NPA fighter. She even emphasized that Peter had just recently attended a meeting at the mayor’s office for the upcoming 2025 election and even served as a military intelligence officer.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Central Panay (Jose Percival Estocada Jr. Command) also clarified that no people’s army unit was in the area when the incident occurred. According to the unit, like its worn-out modus, the 3rd ID is portraying this as an “encounter” to escape culpability for its heinous crime.

The Agudes family calls for justice and a fair investigation into Peter’s killing. Their demand that the criminals be held accountable have been spread wide on social media.

According to the NPA-Central Panay, the 3rd ID’s focused military operations continue in many barangays in Central Panay. “This adversely affects the peaceful lives of indigenous people and farmers. The fear of being accused by the military as members of the NPA imposes time constraints for working in swidden farms and hunting,” the people’s army stated.

The 82nd IB is currently stationed in Sityo Asinan, Barangay Jibolo, Janiuay and is led by Lt. Col. Jovert Pimentel. The battalion is under the command of the 3rd ID, which is led by its acting commander BGen. Michael Samson