By PATNUBAY De GUIA
Spokesperson, NDFP-Southern Tagalog
It has been a decade since Task Force Banahaw — headed by the butcher Major General Jovito Palparan — was implemented in the province of Laguna. It was a period when unabated extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, illegal detention and human rights violations against civilians and members of mass organizations took place in the province and region.
A period ingrained in the minds of the revolutionary community, a period that will never be forgotten. Now even though Palparan is being hunted down by the reactionary state for the abduction of two University of the Philippines students, the reign of terror and impunity as his legacy to the military is very much alive.
On 16 February 2012, combined elements of the 1st Special Forces Battalion, 1st Infantry Battalion, 59th Infantry Battalion and (paramilitary) CAFGU-CAA belonging to 202nd Infantry Brigade under the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA), indiscriminately fired at five (5) civilians who were hunting for wild animals at Barangay (village) Atingay, Magdalena, Laguna.
The five civilians are residents of Barangay Suba, Majayjay, Laguna. They were only armed with air guns to forage for food for their families when the military forces let off volleys of fire towards their direction.
Jessie Perez, 35, and Christian Royo Noceto, 15, were killed while Geno Banez, 15, and Francis Abanilla, 18, were seriously wounded and are currently detained by the Philippine Army at V. Luna Hospital.
On 17 February 2012, Edwin Robles was abducted. Members of the Special Warfare Group (SWAG) of the Philippine Army who pretended to be members of the New People’s Army are being implicated in the incident. Robles, a resident of Brgy, Buo, Magdalena, Laguna, is still missing at this moment.
Meanwhile, Imo Mirania of Brgy. Bungkol, Liliw, Laguna, was beaten by elements of the 1st Infantry Battalion under the 202nd Infantry Brigade on February 14, 2012. On the same day, Romeo Guyala, a barangay police, and his son, who are residing at Brgy. Olla, Majayjay, Laguna also suffered heavy punches at the hands of the military forces.
On 7 February 2012, two urban poor activists were illegally arrested in Bae, Laguna and are presently detained at Camp Vicente Lim. They are being charged of trumped-up cases like murder and illegal possession of explosives.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in the Southern Tagalog Region strongly condemns these atrocities perpetrated by the US-Aquino regime through its counter-insurgency program dubbed as Oplan Bayanihan. Lt. Somsoyata, Lt. Samaniara, Lt. Lacosa, at M/Sgt Galvez of the 1st Infantry Battalion are among the persons known by the locals for intimidating and accusing innocent civilians as members of the New People’s Army. Elements of the 202nd Infantry Battalions operating around the province are also notorious for getting drunk and disorderly, womanizing and making troubles while conducting Civil Military Operations (CMO) “not to promote war but to bring peace and development” to the communities.
The way the reactionary state raises, enriches and protects butchers like Palparan, the way it honors his legacy by continuing to wreak havoc, terror and massive human rights violations in the province must come to an end. Strictly complying with the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee’s order to arrest Palparan, NDFP-ST is one with Nilo Hatol Command-NPA Laguna in persevering to seek justice for the victims of these war atrocities.
Although it be that Oplan Bayanihan is propagandized for peace and progress it is designed to solely serve the needs and interests of the US imperialist and the local landlords, bourgeois compradors and bureaucrat capitalists. It undermines, represses and oppresses people’s freedom to genuine peace, justice and development.
The insatiable greed for power, the practice of amassing the nation’s wealth by the US-Aquino II regime fueled by criminal acts against the people is insufferable. Nevertheless, the state’s teeth of violence are no greater than the unity of the people. Herein lies the real power. And the truth about attaining justice and solving old-aged social problems like hunger, landlessness and unemployment through a broad and organized struggle of the oppressed and exploited never changed.
Justice for Jesse and Christian and all the victims of human rights violations in the Province!
Free Geno and Francis and all political prisoners in the country!
Expose, Oppose and Defeat US-Aquino II Regime’s Oplan Bayanihan!
Bring the human rights violators belonging to the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army and their predecessor, the Butcher Palparan, to justice!
Join the New People’s Army!
Reference:
Patnubay de Guia
NDFP-Southern Tagalog Spokesperson
Email: flintglass019@yahoo.com