Himamaylan City – Last August 27, 2020, the 94th Infantry Battalion arrested four farmers on trumped up charges of allegedly possessing arms and tagged as “communist terrorists”, three of whom are part of the local community police volunteer task force “Bantay Bayan”, according to human rights group September 21 Movement.

The four farmers detained were Jovel L. Pacheco, 41 y.o., Francisco S. Verde, Jr., 37 y.o., Gene Boy S. Verde, 32 y.o., and Ronald V. Pacheco, 22 y.o. The army stated that they were in possession of one (1) Cal. 22 rifle, two (2) revolver pistols, one (1) home made shot gun, and an ammo of a 40mm grenade launcher, along with “other war materials.

According to the 94th IB’s press release, an alleged five-minute armed encounter took place between five alleged New People’s Army rebels at Sitio Cunalom in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City during the early hours of the morning. They further stated that a soldier was wounded by the farmers but otherwise was in stable condition.

However, human rights groups state that no such conflict occurred and that all the supposed arms were evidence planted by state authorities. On top of such, they added that Jovel Pacheco was only passing by and not affiliated with the three others who were Bantay Bayan members. All four individuals are stated to be small farmers and workers in nearby plantations. Eventually, charges were dropped against Jovel Pacheco and was released, while the remaining are expected to be also released soon, although it remains to be seen if a case will still be filed against them.

The government of Himamaylan, according to September 21 movement, is also helping them. The organization also condemned the illegal and trumped up arrest of the farmers, stating that cases stomping on people’s human rights are once again on the rise. They state that whatever case the army may have against suspects, it is completely reckless & dangerous to tag people as terrorists without due process, and a result of the abuse granted by the Anti-Terror Law and those in authority.

Meanwhile, a 23-year old female youth form Kabankalan illegally arrested last August 2020, whose case was being covered by recently murdered human rights defender Zara Alvarez, was brought to the Bago District Jail two weeks ago and still is barred from seeing her family.