Several residents of Caramoan, Camarines Sur, approached Brigada News FM Naga radio station to assail the 9th ID for harassment and intidimation. The station posted a video of the interviews with the residents on its Facebook page on June 21.

“Lisa,” a farmer, said soldiers repeatedly came to her house this month to force her to surrender. She said this happened despite her repeatedly telling them that she was not a New People’s Army member.

“They repeatedly came to my house, constantly threatening and intimidating my family. Once, I took the children’s cellphone because they were noisy. A soldier saw me, suddenly entered my house, and tried to grab my cellphone. I told him, sir, I am not recording a video!” Lisa recounted. The soldier even chased her into their room.

“Impin,” another farmer, said soldiers visited his house looking for someone. When he said that person was not there, they suddenly threatened him and his child.

“How can I support my children? I do everything to send my children to school… then they force me even though I am not NPA. They should be searching the mountains, not among civilians whom they frighten,” Liza stated.

When Brigada sought the 9th ID’s side, its spokesperson Maj. Frank Roldan absolved himself of the issue. He even brazenly lied saying, “The soldiers have sufficient knowledge of human rights.”

The farmers call for help to stop the military’s threats against them.