A soldier from the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) threatened to kill a farmer in Himamaylan while the same unit carried out sustained harassment of communities in Kabankalan, according to human rights groups.

The Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) said a soldier identified only as “Rica” from the 94th IB threatened to kill Bukloy Tagini, a resident of Sitio Asaran, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City.

According to HRAN, Tagini was forced to join drinking sessions with troops so he would be pressured to disclose information about the New People’s Army (NPA) once intoxicated.

The September 21 Movement South Negros reported that since May, the 94th IB has conducted harassment and intimidation against members and leaders of people’s organizations in Kabankalan City.

The group cited surveillance of leaders, house visits and interrogations about organizational funds, red-tagging of association officers, and the disruption of meetings.

It added that soldiers have camped in communities and gone house to house to pressure residents to stop their involvement in organizations.

HRAN called these operations ‘tokhang style’, adding that these are “reminiscent of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign now employed by the Philippine Army in these southern communities.”

The group said soldiers of the 94th IB point their guns at innocent farmers and farmworkers and hijack government services meant for civilian agencies.

HRAN recalled that the same unit had been linked to the killing of Crispin Tingal, the torture of Alberto Piadoche, and other cases of abuses against civilians.

On the observance of International Humanitarian Law Month, HRAN urged the Philippine government to abide by international treaties and stop military encampments in civilian communities.

The September 21 Movement and HRAN said the activities of the 94th IB violate basic human rights and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

They called on the 94th IB and the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army to withdraw from southern Negros communities.