The police and militar’s reign of terror continue unabated at three sitios in Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. On March 29, six civilians were arrested including a 2-year old child, and two were killed in the area. As in previous attacks on civilians, evidences of firearms were planted in the houses of the victims to make it appear that they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

At Sitio Balog, the military killed Fredo Binangkil and Julito Solano and made it appear that they were killed in an encounter. In sitios Payawpayawan and Bayog, state forces arrested couple Marites and Benjie Saingga along with their 2-year old child, Wilmar Jiminez and two other farmers.

Simultaneously, the police raided the house of Nene Solano, leader of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Negros Oriental. His father-in-law was mauled.

Bombing. The AFP dropped six bombs last April 6 in Barangay Kasapa II, La Paz, Agusan del Sur terrorizing residents. The forested area of the barangay was also repeatedly strafed. The 60th IB and 26th IB has been scouring communities along the boundaries of La Paz, Loreto and San Luis in Agusan del Sur, and Kapalong, Davao del Norte since February.

Killing. Jesus Pason Jr., tricycle driver and a resident of Basurahan, Barangay Mambulay, Silay City, Negros Occidental was gunned down last April 17. He was a member of the Pasil Homeowners Association, Inc. and Kadamay-Negros.

Arrest. In Eastern Samar, the 52nd IB arrested Erwin Ramirez Mortal and Pablito Lapesora Libanan during the last week of February and were accused of being NPA members. Both farmers are residents of Casapa, Barangay Dinigpian, Dolores.

In Bohol, state forces arrested Oscar Balonga, chairperson of the Bongbong Farmers Association, last April 7. He is currently detained at the Trinidad Police Station.

Abduction. Agents of the NTF-ELCAC abducted Alicia Lucena and Sofia Bangayan, members of Anakbayan, after being summoned by officials of Barangay 483 in Maynila at the barangay hall to purportedly undergo randomized swab testing last April 19. Bangayan was immediately released while the whereabouts of Lucena remain unknown to her lawyer and friends. Lucena was among those previously identified by the NTF-ELCAC to have been “kidnapped” by Kabataan Party List and Makabayan to vilify activists. She is the daughter of NTF-ELCAC agent and Hands Off Our Children spokesperson Relissa Lucena.

Red-tagging. Volunteers of the “community pantry” in Maginhawa, Quezon City and Pandacan, Manila were forced to temporarily stop their operations last April 20 after their initiatives were red-tagged by the police.

The community pantry is a form of mutual aid among residents which receives food items and gives them to those in need.

This initiative was launched last April 15 and was followed by 300 other initiatives across the country.

Earlier, employees of the Senate and Supreme Court, as well as the Alliance of Health Workers were also red-tagged by the NTF-ELCAC.