The peasant masses and residents of Barangay Dalagsaan, Libacao, Aklan were extremely enraged at the destruction and uprooting by “pests” from the 12th IB of their palawan crop (a kind of root crop) and the destruction of their palay farms in June, resulting to hunger and dispossesion.

In addition, the military has arbitrarily imposed a food blockade on the community since June. Not contented with destroying their crops, the soldiers limited the amount of rice and food they can buy and bring into the barangay from the town center, accusing the peasants of supporting the revolutionary movement.

The drought brought about by the El Niño from July 2023 to June severely affected Aklan farmers. It hit at least 291 barangays and affected 39,172 families, according to the latest DROMIC report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A fall in rice production in the province was recorded.

The farmers lamented the 12th IB’s brutality. They said that instead of addressing the hunger and poverty they are facing, the US-Marcos regime’s measures only aggravated their situation.

Apart from this, the 12th IB and its partner 82nd IB are involved in multiple human rights violations in barangays Lambunao and Calinog in Iloilo, and Valderama and Bugasong in Antique. These towns have been subjected to heavy militarization since April.

The communities reported soldiers patrolling their farms every day, forcing them to refrain from working due to fear. They also stopped gathering bamboo and banban, or hunting or looking for food for fear of being confronted by soldiers.

Meanwhile, the police and 3rd ID arrested Francisco Balois who they accused of being a New People’s Army (NPA) official. They said Balois is facing murder and robbery charges, and weapons and explosives were allegedly seized from him when he was arrested.

Balois and his family have belied state forces’ allegations against him. The family also reported that their cell phones were confiscated and they were ordered out of the house while being threatened of blowing up the place. The arresting unit also mauled, verbally abused and threatened Balois. Panay Alliance Karapatan condemned the arrest and violation of his rights.