The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed an artillery platoon from the 3rd Field Artillery Battery to Northern Samar on May 31. As in the past, this unit will only bring further aggravation and intensified military terrorism to the peasant masses and ordinary citizens of Northern Samar.

The platoon was previously deployed in Capiz under the 3rd ID. It has two howitzer tubes with nine personnel. The AFP said the Joint Task Force Storm unit and 8ID will work together to completely defeat the revolutionary movement in Eastern Visayas. The platoon is placed under the 803rd IBde.

During the platoon welcome ceremony, 8th ID chief Col. Cesar Molina stated his confidence over the unit’s valuable support in sustaining the government troops’ “victories” against the “local communists.”

In reality, the 8th ID’s militarization in Northern Samar mainly targets civilian communities and peasants. The latest report from the province said the number of cases of human rights violations have been increasing in the face of relentless 20th IB combat operations here.

In Las Navas town, drunken soldiers opened fire in Barangay San Francisco on April 9. In Barangay San Miguel, soldiers fired mortars around 11 p.m. last March 12 near their homes.

In Catubig, a CAFGU element and another soldier pointed a gun and molested a 15-year-old girl who was returning home from a dance in Barangay Hinagonoyan on April 12.

Meanwhile, the 20th IB continues to prohibit farmers in all barangays covered by its combat operations from bringing rice or any other food to their farms. Soldiers also control the movement of farmers and impose curfews.