The 85th IB soldiers shot copra farmer Ronilo Villanueva, hitting his foot, in a volley of gunfire in Barangay Guinhalinan, San Narcizo, Quezon on December 12. He and another copra farmer named “Genero” were then arrested on accusations of supporting the New People’s Army (NPA). The shooting was falsely claimed as an encounter. Villanueva was dehusking a coconut when soldiers shot him.

Human rights groups, including Tanggol Quezon, denounced the shooting and illegal arrest of the copra farmer. They stated that this is a serious violation of the international humanitarian law.

To monitor and ensure the safety of the victims, Karapatan-Southern Tagalog immediately conducted a humanitarian mission in the barangay. As in the past, the military put up checkpoints to obstruct and harass the paralegals.

Following orders from the military, barangay officials refused to provide the group with information. The group also noticed a military vehicle and soldiers virtually camped out in front of the barangay hall.

Furthermore, three days before the group arrived in San Narcizo, they received a “memorandum” from the local government stating that various organizations such as Karapatan, Anakbayan, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, and other pro-people organizations were persona non grata. The soldiers also created a fake Certification of Legitimate Encounter to reinforce their lie of an “encounter” in the barangay.

Currently, Barangay Guinhalinan is under the military rule of the 85th IB. “This relentless and brutal intimidation proves how vicious and desperate the terror campaign of the 85th IB and 201st IBde is against the people of Quezon,” Tanggol Quezon stated.