Killings, arrests and attacks are prevalent even without ATB yet
Two civilians were killed and seven others were arrested by state forces in the past two weeks.
Suspected state agents gunned down Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) councilor Harold Tablazan at Sitio Passi, Barangay Mayang, Tubungan, Iloilo last June 20. Tablazan was a former member of the Federation of Iloilo Farmers Association and is currently working in the island. His companion, SK chairman Glenn Bunda, was killed along with him.
In Negros Occidental, joint elements of the police and 79th IB illegally arrested activist Gaspar Davao last June 12 at a checkpoint in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City. The police claimed the victim was found positive of Covid-19. The police planted a grenade in the victim’s bag while he was being detained. Davao is an organizer of the National Federation of Sugar Workers and has long been tagged by the military as a supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA). He was presented by the AFP before the media as an “NPA surrenderee.”
In Gonzaga, Cagayan, joint elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 and Cagayan PNP Provincial Mobile Force Company arrested peasants Rolando Reyes, 40, and Ranchi Tubban, 19, last June 10. They were nabbed at a checkpoint in Centro Gonzaga. Troopers planted a grenade inside the victims’ van while inspecting it. The victims were on their way home from ushering to the next town stranded passengers.
On June 12 in North Cotabato, elements of the PNP, 73rd IB and 39th IB abducted Lumad Mongkel Tacalan, 66, and his two children. The Tacalans were apprehended outside the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Incorporated in Barangay Kisante, Makilala, North Cotabato. They were detained by the 39th IB before being surfaced in June 17.
On June 13, six armed state agents also abducted Elena Tijamo at her house in Barangay Kampingganon, Bantayan, Cebu. She is coordinator of the Farmers Development Center (Fardec) sustainable agriculture program. She is also a member of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television Philippines which operates the Radio Sugbuanon. She is yet to be surfaced by the abductors.
Meanwhile, three farmers were attacked by soldiers last June 15 at around 5:00 a.m. in Tayasan, Negros Oriental. Victims, Dodoy Perez, 51, Quiting Amad, and an unindentified person, are all residents of Barangay Laguit. Soldiers mauled Perez and his companion, while Amad was stabbed by six unidentified men who were with the soldiers.
Barangay Tayasan residents are actively opposing the entry of a destructive mining company in the area. The company is set to operate in Basay, Ayungon, Bindoy, Jimalalud, La Libertad and Guihulngan. The 11th IB was redeployed in the province in June 2019 particularly to suppress the residence struggle against the said project.