DAVAO CITY—Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has lashed out at the military for denying claims that soldiers had been violating the rights of civilians in Paquibato District here.

Duterte, who earlier asked the military to just bomb Paquibato areas instead of mauling civilians, said the abuses could not be denied.

Lt. Col. Roland Bautista, spokesperson of the 10th Infantry Division which has jurisdiction over the unit deployed in Paquibato, said the reported harassment of civilians were part of the lies being peddled by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Maj. Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, even said that soldiers deployed in Paquibato, a hinterland district about two hours’ drive from here, were there to secure the civilians from NPA atrocities.

But Duterte said his eyes would not betray him.

He said he saw the bruises of six residents of Barangay Panialum, who were mauled by soldiers after a land mine exploded in the area in January and wounded seven soldiers.

“A beating here and there,” he said while gesturing.

Duterte said he told Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro about the abuses in Paquibato, which the military and police have tagged as a communist hotbed.

Paquibato is where NPA rebels led by Leoncio Pitao operate. Pitao’s daughter was abducted and killed by suspected military agents early this month.

“I think you are the problem,” Duterte said to the military.

He said it was no wonder that the NPA has not weakened over the years.

“You’re just helping the NPA recruit more members,” he said.

Duterte also blasted the military for regularly rounding up civilians in the area.

Paquibato officials had accused the military of forcing residents to report to their camp and ask about their political affiliations.

They were also being forced to join the anticommunist Barangay Defense System, the officials said.

“You cannot just call civilians to report to your camp. You are not kempetai. Remember, you’re fighting your own countrymen here, this is not a Japanese invasion,” Duterte said. Germelina A. Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao