At least three barangays are currently under intense militarization by the 83rd IB. Individuals identifying themselves as military personnel and their accompanying civilian state agents continue to harass, threaten, and intimidate residents.

The soldiers target civilians whom they suspect and accuse of being relatives of the NPA. They force these individuals to pressure their alleged relatives who are Red fighters to surrender, or themselves to surrender as NPA members.

They are also forced to report on the activities of the NPA in the area. Soldiers also repeatedly enter residents’ homes and frighten children.

According to Karapatan Bicol, residents have expressed fear over the seeming recurrence of the previous Marcos era’s martial law.

“Rather than receiving essential government services aimed at alleviating poverty, residents say they are subjected to military interrogations, threats, and unfounded accusations of NPA affiliation,” it said.

One victim is Josephine Bracero, 35 years old. On May 19, while caring for her hospitalized child, she received a text message from her relative Larry Cultivo who wanted to talk about aid from their barangay captain. On meeting her, Cultivo was accompanied by three soldiers and an unidentified person. They forced her to convince her husband to surrender and warned her to keep their conversation confidential.

Another victim is Mila Valle Ombao, 50, from Barangay Sta. Cruz. Together with Cultivo, soldiers interrogated her on May 27 and pressured her to reveal her husband’s whereabouts. The soldiers accused her of lying and threatened to file court charges against her.

Soldiers visited the home of Joar Ambao, 34; Ruben Ambao, 63; and Dennis Ombao, 25, on May 28 in Barangay Bacgong. They accused the said residents of giving rice to the NPA and took their pictures without permission.

Cultivo was also with three men who illegally entered the home of Analiza Pacon in Barangay Bacgong and attempted to seize her cellphone. Pacon recognized one as a soldier who had previously ransacked her home in October 2024. They cursed at her and accused her of supporting the NPA. This traumatized her children who witnessed the incident.

Karapatan Bicol and other allied organizations expressed grave concern over the ongoing militarization in Caramoan. They condemned the use of civilian agents like Cultivo to identify alleged NPA supporters, saying this has intensified threats and violence.

They stated that government funds should go to essential services, land reform, and poverty alleviation, not to intensified military operations. They called on the Commission on Human Rights to take immediate action to investigate the ongoing harassment of civilians.

“Militarization is being used as a tool to suppress growing dissent in rural areas, where the lack of adequate services and infrastructure continues to fuel frustration. Instead of addressing community needs, public funds that should be allocated for development often end up lost to corruption, depriving people of the support they deserve,” Karapatan Bicol added.