Continued combat operations by AFP’s 79th IB and PNP’s 6th SAF in Escalante City, Toboso, and Calatrava of Negros Occidental have increased the tally of human rights violations (HRVs) as the Marcos-Duterte tandem reigns over the puppet regime.

In October 2022 alone, several rights violations were perpetrated by said enemy troops, unleashing their frustrations on failed military operations by attacking unarmed peasants.

Since October 19, week-long company-sized military operations of combined elements of 79th IB and 6th SAF attacked farmer communities of Barangays Macasilao and Winaswasan, Calatrava and Barangays Bug-ang and Magticol, Toboso. At least seven (7) farmers were reported to have undergone interrogation, threat and intimidation; at least five (5) households were illegally searched; and one (1) household was furiously ransacked where perpetrators illegally confiscated a handheld radio. Handheld radios, in lieu of cellphones, are commonly used by residents for communication due to absence of mobile network connectivity in their area.

In mid-October, farmers reported that 79th IB controlled the movement of people in Barangay Minapasuk, Calatrava resulting to difficulty of farmers delivering their crops to the market. Recall that such residents experienced AFP’s brutality in June 2022. (Read: RJPC-NPA Denies Armed Encounter in Bgy. Minapasuk)

October first week, residents of Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City and Barangay San Isidro, Toboso experienced monstrous combat operations wherein unreported number of residents also experienced interrogation, threat and intimidation and there were at least five (5) reported incidents of community encampment, such as religious structures and civilian households.

Roselyn Jean Pelle Command – Northern Negros Guerilla Front of the New People’s Army (RJPC-NPA) is still verifying information on more rights violations done during combat operations of 79th IB and 6th SAF in some areas.

Reactionary elements of 79th IB and 6th SAF supposedly have the duty to serve or to protect but their actions show otherwise causing residents of northern Negros to feel unsafe and insecure whenever enemy troops visit their communities.

The residents describe the new regime of Marcos-Duterte tandem as a continuation of the US-Duterte regime where civilian lives are not given significant importance just to achieve their military objective, thus, more human rights violations can be expected.

RJPC-NPA reiterates its call to the people of northern Negros to unite with the struggling masses and challenge the military rule. The strength of united people is more powerful than automatic rifles and battalion-sized combat operations.