The 85th IB soldiers arrested Allan Aragon, an indigenous Manide, in his community in Barangay Cabatuhan, Labo, Camarines Norte on November 20. Aragon’s family has not been able to locate him since then, and they are at a loss about the military’s reason for his arrest.

On the same day, the 85th IB indiscriminately fired at the barangay to terrorize the residents and indigenous Manide. The military’s intimidation, terrorism, and repression frequently targeted and victimized the Manide for asserting their land and human rights.

One such case is the 9th IB’s brutal killing of 17-year-old Arjie Salvador in Sitio Sapang Bato, Barangay Canapawan, Labo, in February 2023. Salvador was merely collecting honey to sell, but the military shot him, falsely claiming an encounter between the New People’s Army and the 9th IB.

There have been 10 reported cases of forced surrender and illegal arrest of the Manides under the Marcos regime. The actual number is likely higher, since many cases are not reported or documented. The military often circulates photos of Manide, labeling them as “wanted” with bounties on their heads. The intense terror inflicted by the ruthless military forces Manide communities to flee and evacuate.

Amid attacks on the Manide, the New People’s Army (NPA)-Camarines Norte (Armando Catapia Command) called on CamNorteño masses to expose and oppose military violence by reporting these incidents on radio, newspapers, and social media. This situation is crucial for everyone to unite and collectively stand to protect each other’s rights.

“The reactionary soldiers’ attacks only highlight the indigenous people’s determination to fight for a society that respects and cares for their rights and well-being. This is the fire that fuels their struggle for ancestral land and self-determination,” NPA-Camarines Norte spokesperson Ka Carlito Cada said.