Karapatan-Masbate condemned the 96th IB for killing 31-year-old farmer Erlindo Natural on May 7 in Barangay Holjogon, Mobo town, Masbate. The group said Natural is the 29th victim of political killing in the province under the Marcos regime.

Soldiers falsely claim Natural was killed in an armed encounter between the 903rd IBe and the New People’s Army (NPA)-Masbate in Barangay Holjogon. Military officials falsely report that there was a battle that lasted for 10 minutes, in which Natural was allegedly killed. They even allegedly seized five rifles, magazines and documents.

Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Jose Ricky A. Laniog even shamelessly “condoled” after Natural was killed by his soldiers.

“Amid El Niño’s continued damage to the economy, the anti-farmer wars of Marcos Jr. and Gov. Antonio Kho in the province are relentless,” Karapatan-Masbate said. The group’s data show one farmer killed almost every month in Masbate. “The blood of the farmers is flowing in the dry land of Masbate,” he said.

The group added that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)-Bicol and its national office are also very accountable for their “incompetence and neglect” amid the deteriorating human rights situation in Masbate and throughout the country. “The CHR is accountable for the worsening of military abuses caused by their silence and inaction,” Karapatan-Masbate insisted.

The group also encouraged human rights advocates to volunteer in progressive organizations to help achieve justice for victims of military abuses. “All Bicolanons who support democracy are also called to unite for a movement to defend human rights and to stop militarization in the province,” it concluded.