Soldiers Strike Guihulngan Folks Anew

Press Statement | February 9, 2011 | A series of human rights incidents have been recorded anew by KARAPATAN Negros Oriental documentation team in the hinterlands of Guihulngan City. Eyewitness accounts indicate the sheer brutality of state security forces in their engagement with civilians firmly opposed to a military presence that wrecked the peace in the city.
These human rights offenses perpetrated by the much condemned 11th Infantry Battalion under the command of Ramil Bitong happened in the advent of the new counter insurgency campaign Oplan Bayanihan in January 17, 2011. Even the community school buildings in Laos, Binobohan were not spared as soldiers broke in on one of the rooms without the knowledge of the teachers or any barangay official to the dismay of school authorities when they found the educational facilities wrecked.

Many of the human rights victims were women. In Binonohan, Guihulngan. Welma Rafols a member of the progressive Panaghugpong sa Maguuma sa Binobohan-KAUGMAON-KMP was even investigated at gunpoint while her young children stood watching.

Vilma Tormes of Agpapatao, Binobohan also complained to KARAPATAN that she was forced to strip off her blouse by same soldiers when she denied allegations that she is an NPA informer. She was also threatened killed the next time they chance upon her.

Another farmer and his fifteen year old nephew were physically assaulted when they crossed paths with the soldiers on the same date. His bolo and the boy’s air gun were also confiscated.

Illegal searches were likewise rampant in barangays Binobohan, Trinidad, Tacpao and Maniac. Soldiers were reported to just barge into the houses and trample on the belongings in the pretext of looking for NPA rebels or their weapons.

The soldiers reportedly hide their name clothes or refuse to reveal their identities when asked by residents. 

It is deplorable that the Philippine Army still refused to respect the human rights of the very civilians they have sworn to protect. The 11th IB in particular has practically made it a policy to assault the famers in Guihulngan without the slightest hint of restraint. KAUGMAON members bore the brunt of these undisciplined soldiers whenever a military expedition is set in their localities.

KARAPATAN demands the 11th IB to finally end the suffering of the peasants in Guihulngan City. Their presence is not needed in the hinterlands of that city as they only bring turmoil to the community and endanger civilian lives.  

Abusive and corrupt soldiers should never be allowed to set foot in a civilian community. Human rights violators in the ranks of the AFP should be brought and punished before the court of justice.

Meanwhile, KARAPATAN will aggressively monitor military movements in Guihulngan City and elsewhere in the province as recent controversies involving top army officials gravely demoralized the majority of foot soldiers that could lead them to vent their frustrations to hapless civilians in the countryside. ###

Reference:
Jose Luis Blanco
KARAPATAN in Negros Oriental