The military has been imposing arbitrary lockdowns in several barangays in Catubig, Northern Samar for a week. This is part of the 20th IB’s focused military operation (FMO) in said barangays and adjacent communities since May 2024.

Latest reports from these barangays indicate that farmers of Barangay Hitapian (population: 1,247) and Barangay San Vicente (1,767), in Catubig are prohibited from going to their koprasan (coconut silos) and farms since July 19. A similar ‘lockdown’ was imposed on the barangays in November 2023 and February this year.

The lockdown adversely affected the farmers’ mobility and livelihood. The limited time that the peasants could devote to their work further intensified the already impoverished living conditions. This has stopped the farmers’ usual practice of “pagbanti” or planting rice, vegetables and root crops in their farms in the arable part of the village as an alternative source of food and income.

Barangay Hitapian residents also feel the lackluster participation of people from other villages for rice planting in the plains and harvesting which used to be a common practice in their village.

The lockdown also affected palay sales in Barangay San Jose, Mapanas. As in the past, they were forced to sign the logbook, were regularly reprimanded and suspected for their travels to San Jose, especially if they carry rice. They are accused of supporting the New People’s Army.

During the lockdown, they face difficulties from where to get food, charcoal for their own consumption, herding animals, students’ daily allowance, daily loan payments and so on.

Baragay Hitapian is one of the many barangays in Catubig experiencing the 20th IB’s repeated lockdowns. The 20th IB is headed by a certain Lieutenant Martires, who serves as the commander of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) operation in the cluster of barangays.

Meanwhile, on July 9-16, the barangays of San Francisco and Imelda in Las Navas were placed under lockdown after the 20th IB shot a civilian.

The Marcos regime subjects the barangays of Northern Samar to military rule because it believes the alleged remaining weak areas of the NPA guerrillas are in the province, and the Eastern Visayas region.