Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts

Volume IV,  Number 12              April 25 - May 1, 2004            Quezon City, Philippines


 





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Misamis Farmers Demand Army Troops' Pullout

A group of villagers have called for Army soldiers to pull out from Misamis Occidental. Based on their stories – of beatings and lootings they said the soldiers had committed in a recent military operation – they may have every reason to complain.

BY MARS MARATA
Bulatlat.com

Paterno Mejos, 48, was tending his farm when four soldiers belonging to the 10th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army approached him and told him to get his M-14 rifle.  He replied that he is a civilian and he has no firearm. The soldiers cocked their rifles and aimed at him saying, “You are a communist and you cannot do anything about your situation now.”

Mejos related his frightening experience during an inter-barangay (inter-village) people’s forum held last April 19 at Barangay Lower Bautista, Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental in southern Philippines. The forum was participated in by about 100 farmer-leaders from Barangays Lower Bautista, Masubong, San Agustin, Ventura, Guinabot, Dapacan, Alto, Siloy, and Bonifacio.

Mejos complained of the grave threats he got from soldiers simply because he did not leave the village after an encounter between them and rebels 

Other farmers also related during the forum their own tales of abuse committed by soldiers from the 10th IBPA.  Thirteen farmers complained that soldiers butchered and ate their goats and chickens. Some complained that their bags of clothes, blankets and bolos got lost. One farmer complained that soldiers conducting pursuit operations tried to force him to act as guide.  He resisted for fear of being caught in the crossfire in case a gun battle ensues. 

The forum was able to list 14 cases of looting, destruction of properties, coercion and grave threats allegedly committed by elements of Bravo Company of the 10th IB PA under a certain Lt. Col. Libertino.  These alleged human rights violations were committed in the course of pursuit operations conducted by the AFP unit following an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas last March 14. Four soldiers and one NPA fighter were reportedly killed in the encounter.

When confronted with the findings by the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights)-Western Mindanao, a Captain Toraino of the 10th IB denied the accusations stating that his men are professionals and well-disciplined and he cannot believe that his men can commit such human rights violations.

Meantime, farmer leaders participating in the forum resolved to exert all efforts at making the 10th IB account for these violations and to fight for justice for the victims.  They also called for a pull out of AFP troops in the area. Bulatlat.com  

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