The 87th IB soldiers shot and killed a farmer and his son in Sto. Ñiño, Paranas, Samar on February 5. The murderous military falsely reported that the civilians were Red fighters from the New People’s Army (NPA)-Western Samar (Arnulfo Ortiz Command) to cover up its crime and evade accountability under international humanitarian law.

Father and son Renato and Reymark Gabac were reportedly bound for their farm at 8 am to tend to their carabao when soldiers shot them. Residents said the soldiers mistook them for two Red fighters following a battle at 4:20 am in a distant part of the border of Barangay Sto. Niño and Barangay Maylobe.

Renato had just returned to Samar after staying in Manila for a while. According to reports, he left Samar last year when the 87th IB pestered him to serve as a military informant in their barangay against the people’s army. He left the province as he refused to be coerced and out of fear of the soldiers.

“The NPA camp where the battle they claimed took place is far from the crime scene,” stated the NPA-Western Samar. In their view, the two were killed due to the soldiers’ desperation when they failed to inflict damage in a series of attacks and encounters with NPA units during the first week of February.

The unit reported that the 82nd Division Reconnaisance Company (DRC) failed to annihilate an NPA group or team in Barangay Calapi, Motiong on February 1. The NPA-Western Samar said the Red fighters effectively defended themselves killing one DRC officer while the small group safely withdrew without casualties.

The NPA-Western Samar unit also safely withdrew from the encounter that occurred on February 5. In frustration and anger, the military fired 17 mortar rounds in a frenzied attempt to hit the NPA unit.

“They shamelessly boasted of their victory despite the photo they themselves took clearly showed that the father and son were only carrying a bolo,” said the NPA-Western Samar. The soldiers even reportedly dressed up and changed the clothes of the father and son, which according to barangay residents were not what they were wearing when they left their house.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Western Samar extended condolences to the loved ones left behind by the Gabac father and son. “We vow that the time will come when the revolutionary movement will make the brutal 87th IB pay for their heinous crime against the people,” it said.