Soldiers of the 43rd IB forcibly entered and ransacked several houses in Barangay Caputoan, Las Navas, Northern Samar on June 9-10 in search of a 4-month-old infant. Residents are perplexed why they are hunting the infant.
Soldiers entered the homes of Barangay Kagawad Junie Obiado, Vivencio Obiado, Aning Reponcion, Oking Mañoso, Itong Reponcion, and Naroy Tursido. With muddy boots, the soldiers went up to the second floor and entered rooms, flashing lights even under the beds.
Soldiers also tried to pry open the Jennifer Reponcion’s empty house, stopping only when neighbors objected.
Three 43rd IB soldiers also harassed Caputoan Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Joy Salajendo at the house where she was staying in the poblacion. They pressed her to identify the individual who withdrew money from her account on a mobile payment service, whom they accuse of being “NPA.”
Salajendo herself does not know whom the soldiers are referring to. They threatened taking her to the military camp unless she speak.
The 43rd IB even stormed Salajendo’s parents, Ningning and Ninoy, at their home in the village for interrogation. They told the couple they would render Joy jobless and held at house arrest in town unless they confess.
The hunt is only one of the cases of harassment and disruption by the soldiers.
In Barangay Paco, they are relentlessly harassing the entire Yanay family. Soldiers went to Dadi and Seding Yanay, both over 70 years old, on the night of June 9 for investigation. The 43rd IB shot young peasant Olid Yanay on June 13.
The 43rd IB then called the two barangays’ residents for a meeting to order them fence each of their homes. They imposed the “one entrance, one exit” policy on the two communities to further restrict civilian movement.
The soldiers also coerced residents to support and assist military operations because “more NPAs remain.” The masses retorted, “You who are armed cannot handle it, how much less can we.”
The 43rd IB’s overlapping crimes gravely violate international humanitarian law.
