Kilusang Magbubukid ng Masbate (Masbate Peasant Movement) strongly condemns the 65th IB, 2nd IB, 96th IB, and 96th MICO for their abuse and crimes against residents of Palanas, Masbate.

Soldiers burned the house of Roel Yase, a resident of Barangay Buenasuerte on April 2. Soldiers in this barangay, as well as in Barangay San Isidro, used residents’ drinking water to wash their motorcycles. Residents value conserving water, especially in summer when many wells run dry. Residents of this barangay also pay the electricity consumed by the soldiers.

Soldiers forcibly entered a house on April 24 at 7 a.m. in Barangay Miabas carrying a sack containing magazines, bullets, and a radio to frame the house’s occupant as the owner. Because the father of the family refused the soldiers’ order, they tied up, forced face-down, and kicked his two young sons, all while threathening to snap their necks. The soldiers then took the victims to Palanas town. Soldiers only released the victims the next day after the family, relatives, and Miabas barangay officials arrived and insisted the victims were legitimate residents and civilians. Despite this, soldiers continue surveilling the family, severely disrupting their livelihood.

Palanas residents expressed grave disress over plans to fire mortars from Barangay Nepa toward Barangay Parina. The plan is set to take place on May 15 despite residents’ and barangay officials’ opposition. A similar activity is expected in Cataingan town.

KMM calls on all farmers and Masbate people, and all public servants from barangay to provincial level, to heed the demands of their communities and protect them from military abuse. Join and lead in passing resolutions and petitions to strictly prohibit military encampment in barangay centers and use of public facilities.