STOP THE MILITARIZATION IN NEGROS ISLAND! HOLD AFP ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SERIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS ATTACKS!
On July 29, eight farmers were illegally detained by troops from the 15th IB in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental. These farm workers were wrongfully charged after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused them of participating in an armed assault reportedly carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the town on January 28.
The victims, namely Allen Fica (35), Alfonso Fica (65), Dary Vinson (41), Danilo Vinson Sr (65), Nerio Menardo (57), Alfredo Nobleza Jr (35), Gali Guanzon (62), and Nelson Libron (60), are currently held at the Ilog Police Station, where they are denied their right to freedom and fair trial.
Just a week before the incident, the 15th IB also detained brothers Jemson and Gaujel Villar, using the same terror-tagging narratives, for hours at Sityo Camboguiot, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City. They were only released after their wives pleaded for their innocence.
This series of illegal detention against farmers and community members committed by the 15th IB in Negros is based on similar red-tagging schemes being perpetrated by the military to quell dissent in the countryside. The ongoing combat operation of the AFP in Kabankalan City, Candoni, Sipalay City, Cauayan, and Ilog in Negros Occidental results in the unjust treatment and illegal detention of community organizers and civilians. The military’s tactics of tagging civilians as members of the New People’s Army and depriving them of their liberty without basis are clear violations of international humanitarian laws, rules of war, and other human rights declarations that protect and distinguish civilians from combatants.
These violations of international humanitarian laws are happening one after the other on the island of Negros throughout July:
1. Negros Oriental: Soldiers illegally searched the house of Edward Sandot, who was also beaten and tortured.
2. Negros Oriental: Soldiers beat Budok Sandot after being suspected and accused as part of the NPA.
3. Negros Oriental: The military beat Joselito Patulada and Roberto Francisco, who are both farmers in Canlaon.
4. : Negros Occidental: Peasants in Cauayan who are actively fighting for their right to till lands were forced to attend meetings and were interrogated by the military.
5. Negros Oriental: About 200 soldiers started their military operation in Canlaon and forced the locals to surrender as NPA supporters to avoid punishment from the state forces.
6. Negros Occidental: In violation of the rules of war, soldiers killed Marvic “Ka Bryan” Ebarle, a wounded NPA fighter together with civilian Romy Catasio in Moises Padilla.
7. Negros Oriental: The police paraded Tonying Sulano, a farmer in Santa Catalina, as a “surrenderee” after several years of pressure from the AFP and PNP.
And just recently, on August 5, the 62nd Infantry Battalion bombed the mountains of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental for an hour and a half which led to the destruction of crops planted by Negros peasants.
This series of illegal arrests against civilians involving the AFP as well as bombings affecting the livelihood of farming communities in Negros are blatant violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRILHL), which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines bilaterally signed.
The APCHRP vehemently condemns these attacks and calls on the government of the Philippines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to respect the rules of war and international humanitarian law. We urge Marcos Jr. to stop the militarization throughout the island of Negros, which has already led to severe economic hardships and human rights crises for the peasants and the wider Filipino masses. ###
For reference: Sister Patricia Fox, Spokesperson
