By Veronika Barbosa

TACLOBAN CITY – A farmer filed a complaint on September 22 with the Commission on Human Rights Regional Office 8 against the Philippine Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion (IB) due to intimidation against her and her family.

Accompanied by the National Union of People’s Lawyers Eastern Visayas and Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas, Brenda Lagado said that the first incident happened on July 28 in their house in Jaro, Leyte. “We were visited by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At first, they were just checking in on us but they eventually pressured us to confess that we have connections with the New People’s Army even if we have none.”

In the same month, Lagado said that her 16-year-old cousin was also interrogated by soldiers and alleged military assets.

“He [my cousin] was tending to farm animal when he was approached by seven soldiers and seven other individuals. At first, he was told to wait for a certain Basas who was supposed to talk to him but the latter did not arrive. He was instead confronted by a certain Simon who later grabbed him by the collar, hit him with a piece of chopped wood, and threatened that he will be hanged or electrocuted if he does not cooperate with them.”

Lagado said that his cousin was coerced by at least 14 men to divulge information about certain individuals that the victim does not know about.

She said that in August, a certain Sgt. Andres visited their house and compelled her to go to the barangay hall to purportedly “clear her name” which she refused to do. “We already went to the barangay before but the harassment still continued.”

In the same month, Lagado said that a child development worker of the Daycare Center where her child 3-year-old child was enrolled in, also experienced interrogation. “The teacher told us that a certain Cris Edison Rivera, who we later found out was from the 93rd IB, asked for the name and even live birth of my child. He also interrogated the teacher and asked information about our family.”

On September 11, Lagado received a letter from an unknown sender via express delivery. The letter included an unknown number and contained statements maligning Brenda and her family. “The letter pressured me to cooperate and call the number written on the letter within 24 hours or else they would let my entire family and my husband know that I have a relationship with an NPA rebel.”

“I am scared for my family and worried about my children’s safety. I am scared because the military have pictures of my family and even my children,” Lagado said.

In a statement, Katungod SB condemned the 93rd IB’s series of harassment targeted against the Lagado family and their intimidation tactics involving innocent children.

“Children are not the tools of war…they should never be used, threatened, or assaulted to serve the military’s agenda. The 93rd IB, the entire AFP, and the NTF-ELCAC should all be held accountable for using a child and physically assaulting a minor to force the family to surrender or report to the 93rd IB.”

Katungod SB called on the Commission on Human Rights to swiftly investigate and to protect the Lagado family against further intimidation and harassment. (DAA)