ILOILO City – “Patently false” was how the militant human rights group Panay Alliance Karapatan described the claim of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of having zero human rights abuses.
According to Karapatan, on Feb. 24, 2017, Lorendo and Ian Borres were killed by troops of the 61st Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Jebaca, Maayon, Capiz and a complaint for this was filed before the Ombudsman.
There were also alleged harassments and threats against barangay residents of Boloc, Tubungan, Iloilo by the 82nd Battalion in February 2017. Illegal search of houses in Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao were blamed on the Army in the same month.
Other incidents which Karapatan claimed as human right violations committed by the 3ID were the following:
* In 2018, there were alleged harassment, threats and intimidation of leaders of a local farmers’ organization in Barangay San Antonio, Cuartero, Capiz by the 61st IB on May 21 to 24. A complaint for this was brought before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
* Complaints were lobbied to the CHR and the Ombudsman against 1st Lieutenant (1Lt.) Labrador – 301st Brigade Intelligence Task Group and other government troops for the death of seven unarmed National Democratic Front (NDF) members in San Jose, Antique on Aug. 15.
* Illegal searches of five residences in Barangay Indaluyon, Igbaras, Iloilo on March 20, 2019 by the 61st IB and the owners complained to the CHR, stating cash and other items were lost after the search.
* On March 17, 2019 61st Battalion troopers “faked” an armed encounter and arrested three innocent farmers in Barangay Mulangan, Igbaras, Iloilo. The same modus was allegedly used to arrest another civilian in Barangay Masaroy, Calinog, Iloilo on April 16, 2019.
* the killing of John Farochilen, leader of a farmers’ organization in Miag-ao, Iloilo also on April 18, 2020
* “faking” of an encounter and planting of weapons resulting in the arrest of 11 civilians, mostly students, in Barangay Tordesillas, Sibalom, Antique on April 18, 2020
“Year 2020 also saw the red-tagging of a leader of cause-oriented groups in Iloilo City by the 3rd ID on June 19 and the forced surrender, forced evacuation, threats and intimidation of Tumandok (indigenous) people in different barangays of Calinog, Iloilo and Tapaz, Capiz where nine Tumandok leaders and members were eventually killed and 16 arrested on Dec. 30, 2020,” the militant group added.
They further cited the recent reports of alleged threats, intimidation and forced surrender and other abuses by Army troops in some barangays in Miag-ao, Maasin and Leon in Iloilo and in Tapaz, Capiz early this year.
These, they further alleged, were by no means the complete picture. For “sure many incidents were unreported” because of factors such as fear in the part of the victims, the group stressed.
“It could be that the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division truly wanted its troops to always be respectful of the rights of the people and not commit any abuses against them. It is our wish, too. But sadly, the counter-insurgency policy of repression and killing of the present dispensation and the role the Armed Forces of the Philippines have to play make this impossible,” Karapatan said.
“Hence, human rights abuses on the people are not only being committed by troops in the field, but are caused by officials in high ranks and the commander-in-chief himself,” they added./PN
