The Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM)-Northern Samar condemned 8th ID soldiers for the massacre of three farmers in Barangay Nagoocan, Catubig on June 8. The military claims that the three were among five people killed in an armed encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA).
PKM-Northern Samar stated that Noel Lebico Sr, Arnel Aquino, and Nonoy Norcio, whom the 8th ID identified as among the dead, were ordinary farmers. “The three had long been targets of the fascist military’s brutal surrender campaign,” the statement said.
Lebico was a resident of Barangay Roxas in Catubig, Aquino was from Barangay Osmeña in Palapag, and Norcio was from Barangay Luneta, Gamay. Their home villages and towns have been under de facto martial law since 2020.
The victims had previously experienced harassment and cruelty from the military, according to PKM-Northern Samar. In particular, the 20th IB earlier arrested Aquino in 2017 for unclear reasons. He also survived two murder attempts when strafed by the 20th IB in 2020 and 2023.
“Together with his minions in the 8th ID, [commander Maj. Gen. Adonis Orio] shamelessly distorts the truth that they killed farmers. He simply repeats the fascist lie that the three ‘fought back’ or were ‘armed’,” the farmers’ group stated.
The group asserted that the three were clearly massacred because they rejected the 8th ID’s forced surrender campaign, which meant betraying and falsely accusing their fellow villagers. “Orio and his men are desperate to claim the ‘reward’ for ‘neutralizing’ those accused of being NPA members, thus enforcing Tokhang-style tactics in the counterinsurgency campaign,” it added.
PKM-Northern Samar also denounced the coercion of Lebico’s minor son, Noel Lebico Jr, to propagate their lies. “Amid his grief, they exploited him to malign his father, whom they themselves killed,” the group said.
PKM-Northern Samar called on fellow farmers to speak out and condemn the killing of civilians. “Now more than ever, we need to unite against military rule,” the group emphasized. It said that only their struggle will gain true justice for their loved ones taken by the fascist military.
They also urged human rights groups, media, church people, students, and local officials to stand with Northern Samar farmers in exposing military abuses and calling for the expulsion of soldiers from their communities. “Investigate the truth behind the 8th ID’s lies, defend and side with the oppressed masses,” it said.
Meanwhile, the two others the 8th ID reported as killed in the alleged encounter are yet to be identified.