The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas vehemently condemns the fascist troops of the 63rd Infantry Battalion for the cold-blooded killing of a 16-year old peasant in Borongan City, Eastern Samar, and the subsequent cover-up by the 802nd Infantry Brigade and 8th Infantry Division.
Based on initial reports, the military lied in claiming that they killed a member of the New People’s Army in an encounter in Sitio Bagong Barrio, Barangay Pinanag-an last June 15. What happened was not an encounter but an indiscriminate strafing of unarmed civilians, resulting in the death of the teenager.
The victim, identified as “Jason,” was in their family farm outside the barrio with at least one other minor when two heard gunshots. As they were running in fear, fascist troops suddenly strafed them. Jason died from gunshot wounds while his companion was able to escape uninjured.
Following the policy restrictions imposed by the military on their village, the two minors had previously sought permission from the 63rd IB RCSP troops who were encamped in their village, to leave their community to work in their farm. Despite this, the two were targeted by the soldiers’ indiscriminate firing.
Killings, cover-ups Marcos-approved
The NDF-EV also holds accountable the entire chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including commander-in-chief Bongbong Marcos Jr, for the Borongan incident. Marcos has tacit approval of the unabated killing of peasants and children by virtue of the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development and Memorandum Order Number 83, which are essentially a continuation of the Duterte regime’s fascist state terrorism.
Jason is at least the seventh peasant killed by state troops just in the last 12 months. Other victims include:
• Noel Lebico Sr. and Arnel Aquino, killed by the 8th ID in Barangay Nagoocan, Catubig, Northern Samar this month;
• Renato and Reymark Gabac, killed by the 87th IB in Barangay Sto. Niño, Paranas, Western Samar last February;
• Jerick Jugal, killed by the 20th IB in Barangay Sulitan, Catubig, Northern Samar in November 2024; and
• Ryan Arnesto, killed by the 74th IB in Sityo Canonghan, Barangay Osmeña, Palapag, Northern Samar in July 2024.
The Borongan incident also marks the fourth killing of a minor since the 20th IB strafed two underage copra farmers along with peasant Arly Rebay in Barangay Roxas, Catubig in February 2022. A two-year old was also shot to death with his grandfather by the 63rd IB in San Jose de Buan, Western Samar in 2023.
Since 2022, at least 11 peasants have been killed in Eastern Visayas. Many more were killed before. Then and now, the 8th ID claimed claimed all the victims were combatants.
To whitewash the crime committed by their underlings, Brig. Gen. Vestuir of the 802nd IBde and Maj. Gen. Ariel Orio of the 8th ID have gone as far as to paint the underage victim as an armed combatant and publish photos of a rifle, ammunition and a temporary camp that was actually staged away from the place of the strafing.
But their fiction has been exposed. The victim’s family and the residents of Sitio Bagong Barrio have bravely taken to social media to dispute these claims and establish the truth regarding the incident. They are now standing up for their loved one as well as the countless victims of military brutalities, whose stories rarely reach public knowledge and to whom justice has been elusive.
Unite to stop the killings
The NDF-EV calls on the people of Eastern Visayas to unite, stand up for their rights, and expose the crimes of the fascist state troops who are subjugating them and destroying their lives and livelihood. Everyday, they bear the sufferings of de facto martial law, especially now that the number of combat battalions in the region has reached a historic high. They are left with no choice but to wage all forms of struggle including armed struggle to attain genuine justice and peace.
We are also calling on all peace-loving organizations and institutions, youth groups, the academe, religious formations, the media and all those who believe in basic human rights, to help bring attention to the worsening state terrorism in the region. They should stand with the peasant masses in calling to stop the killings, pull out the military in the barrios and fight for their democratic rights.
We would also like to appeal to local media in particular, for them to exercise caution in reporting news churned out by the AFP and double-check information from local communities. Numerous statements released by the AFP are, in fact, part of efforts to cover up their crimes against the people. We also implore you to help local peasant masses expose the repression which they are forced to suffer as AFP forces occupy their communities. We hope you will stand up to the noble duty of journalism to promote the truth.