A farmer residing in Barangay Masuganao, Mahaplag, Leyte was arrested on October 16 and remains detained to this day. Soldiers arrested “Loloy” on baseless accusations that he is a supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Loloy has a child suffering from a mental illness. Since the military detained him, the condition of his child has remained uncertain because no one has been able to take care of the child.

According to the NPA-Leyte Island (Mt. Amandewin Command), soldiers possibly targeted Loloy as retaliation against the people’s army and its offensive action launched in the nearby town of Javier on October 15. The unit condemned the reprisal against a civilian and called it a serious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Residents also reported that soldiers have been harassing neighboring barangays of Masuganao. The military has been spreading disinformation and intrigue through their agents and assets.

The town of Mahaplag is among the 42 towns across Eastern Visayas that the 8th ID declared as “rebel-free” as early as 2015. In response, NPA-Leyte Island spokesperson Ka Dodong Malaya said that the 8th ID’s acts and militarization themselves refute this declaration.

“The continuous operations of their troopers in the communities over the past decade prove that the 8th ID is lying,” the spokesperson added.