Several areas in Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental have been placed under a one-week lockdown since October 9. The Philippine Army forced residents to evacuate their homes to conduct operations in the area. The lockdown came after encounters between the 94th Infantry Battalion and New People’s Army (NPA) since October 6. As of 9:00 AM today, there are up to 15,024 evacuees in Himamaylan.
Karapatan Negros Island has provided a timeline of events, including a report of a fake encounter between the 94th IB and NPA on the morning of October 7. Rather, the Philippine Army had fired indiscriminately using cannons and a helicopter mounted machine gun on rivers, sugarcane fields and forest trees around the encounter site up to areas of Barangay Carabalan and boundary sitios, Double Yarding and Yunit 1, of Barangay Mahalang.
Since the lockdown, numerous reports of human rights violations have come in.
On October 6, seven sugar workers were arrested and beaten, and held for three days until a barangay official assured the Army they were not members of the NPA. These were Pablo Abela Jr., Lito Abela, Angelo Abela, Aplredo Abela, Homer Liansing, Angelo Alejo and Hendro Alejo.
Strictly guarded checkpoints have been set up, where even local government unit rescue vehicles are unable to pass. Residents are starving because there are not enough food packs, while children are in need of milk and diapers.
The evacuation centers are guarded and evacuees are often checked for their identities. The report from Karapatan noted the situation is not unlike a prison, where no one can freely go in and out of the evacuation center.
Some residents were allowed to return to check on their animals, some of which were found to already have been killed and slaughtered. Several houses were ransacked, including the home of the Tabuy family, who the Army accused of being NPA supporters.
Residents of Sitio Cunalom, Tugas, Lunoy and Bulod in Barangay Carabalan are unable to reach the evacuation centers as government troops are profiling each one of them. Karapatan reports the AFP has a list in hand they are using to profile residents. Karapatan also noted they received reports that elements from the Philippine Marines were enforced on October 9.
Today, October 11, elements from the 94th IB captured and killed Apolinario Gatmaitan Command-NPA Spokesperson Juanito Magbanua in Sitio Medel, Barangay Carabalan.
As per a report from Bulatlat, Magbanua should have been accorded hors de combat (unable to fight) status as he was suffering from hypertension and arthritis and chose to stay in Sitio Medel to closely monitor the mass evacuation of civilians as well as the NPA’s maneuvers during the ongoing military operations in the area.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, claimed that Magbanua was killed during a 10-minute clash between the 94th IB and 10 NPA fighters. However, the NPA stated there was no clash in the area and only four shots were fired, which killed Magbanua.
Karapatan emphasized that the declaration of a week-long longdown impinges on civilian’s freedom to movement and that the LGU must stand with its constituents and provide for their basic needs and not be under the marching orders of the military.
Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod declared the entire city under a state of calamity on October 10.
The indiscriminate bombing by the Philippine Army must also be denounced as this is clearly prohibited by the Geneva conventions and international law, Karapatan added.
Karapatan also highlighted the potential reasons for the military atrocities occurring in Himamaylan. Government and business entities are eyeing the area for the rich natural resources and possible mining extraction in Himamaylan and nearby Tayasan, Negros Oriental.
One of the previously implemented government projects which affected Himamaylan and other nearby cities and municipalities is the Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin Project (IHRBP). It has displaced many communities and disadvantaged small farmers. Logging company, Mosser, is also currently operating in Himamaylan.
Karapatan concluded its report with a call to resume peace talks, stating heightened military operations does nothing to address the roots of armed conflict.
Paghimutad 