Group slams ‘militarization’ of villages

TACLOBAN CITY—A human rights group condemned the alleged “militarization” of some villages located in this city’s northern area.

Kenneth James Perez, deputy secretary general of the Katungod-Siniranang Bisayas, said the presence of soldiers reportedly belonging to the 19th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Kananga town in Leyte did not only stoke fears among the villagers but also resulted in their economic dislocation.

He said soldiers belonging to the 19th IB were seen on several occasions in the barangays of Suhi, San Roque and Tigbao, all located in the northern part of Tacloban.

Perez said the soldiers were first noticed in these villages on July 10. Since then, their visits have become frequent.

He claimed that in one instance, resident Zosimo Mabag, who was said to be the chair of the farmers group Katig-uban han mga Gugti nga Parag-uma (association of small farmers) in San Roque, was shot by a man suspected to be a soldier.

“Their presence in these villages has resulted in economic dislocation among farmers who, out of fear, no longer attend to their farms,” Perez said.

Reached for comment, Lt. Col. Francis Cabugon, 19th IB commanding officer, dismissed the claim of Perez, saying that his soldiers were not harassing the civilians.

Cabugon, in a text message, said his soldiers visit these barangays as part of their campaign on “peace and development.” A military detachment of the 19th IB is located in Tabanguhay.

“There is no truth to the claim of harassment. That is a recycled issue  because their sectoral group could not penetrate these areas due to our presence in the area,” Cabugon said.

Cabugon has labeled San Roque, Suhi and Tigbao as “white areas” which mean that members of the so-called sectoral group of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army are based there.

Jeanette Baclaocos, village councilor of San Roque, said that while she has seen soldiers in their barangay, they had not done anything wrong.

“They just pass by our barangay on their way to their detachment which is located next to our barangay. We have yet to know that they have harassed any of our village people,” she said.

Baclaocos, who chair the village’s council peace and order committee, said the incident involving Mabag was reported to her.

But Mabag did not provide the details of the shooting incident that allegedly occurred on the night of Aug. 29, Baclaocos said.

Mabag was not around when the Inquirer visited San Roque, some 15 km from Tacloban City proper.

Allan Abello, barangay chair of Tagpuro, another barangay in Tacloban City, said he had no information of any wrongdoing allegedly committed by soldiers who sometimes visit his village.

Adoracion Peregrino, city operations officer, also said the presence of the police or soldiers should not alarm civilians.

Peregrino added that based on the information she received, there were residents from these barangays who were said to be members of militant groups such as Katungod and Sagupa (Samahan han Gugti na na Parag-uma), a farmers group.