About The So-Called “Encounter” In Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental
PRESS STATEMENT November 17, 2018
Reference: Rey Alburo
Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (NNAHRA)
I. “Abu Sayyaff or ISIS Landed in Coastal Areas of North Negros” is a story that came from the mouths of soldiers deployed in Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City, Negros Occidental. Early morning of November 16, the soldiers who occupied the residential areas did not wear any nameplates so the residents became wary and asked about their presence. It was the soldiers from the 62nd IB and 79th IB who told the residents that “naa Abu Sayyaff diri,” (They are after the Abu Sayyaff). This story immediately spread in the community.
Why Scare the People with This False Information?
II. The Encounter is Fake. The news of an ENCOUNTER in Sitio Puting Bato, Brgy. Washington, Escalante City was first reported by local radio stations like Hapi Radio Sagay, Bombo Radyo Bacolod and Aksyon Radyo Bacolod before noon of November 16. The reports said that the military engaged 10 elements of the CPP-NPA in a “running gun battle.”
Residents of Puting Bato attest that soldiers already swarmed the whole area by as early as 5:00 am. The so-called encounter happened only around 10:00 am, according to the AFP. Classes in the nearby elementary school was already ongoing at that time. Before the so-called “encounter,” teachers and students were ordered by soldiers to stay down, indicating that soldiers were already planning on firing their weapons.
The residents, who did not dare go out because of the “Abu Sayyaff scare,” said that they could not see who the soldiers were firing at. But while some soldiers appeared to be maneuvering and shooting, many other soldiers were just relaxed and even cooking rice very near the so-called “encounter site.” The shots came from only one direction and was more like indiscriminate firing or strafing. This caused panic and fear among many residents because the military fired in the populated area, and shots were flying near the elementary school.
III. Militarization is Real and the AFP Confirms This. The military poured several armed units into the area as confirmed by Col. Benedict Arevalo of the AFP’s 303rd Brigade. The units he mentioned were the 79th Infantry Battalion, 6th Special Action Force Battalion, Joint Intelligence Task Group and CAFGU/SCAA.
Checkpoints were held to control the movement of the population. All transportation was on hold. Relatives of residents were not allowed to immediately check on their family. Media coverage was also constricted. These facts were also confirmed and reported by field reporters of local radio stations.
IV. FAKE NEWS: Suspects in the Sagay Massacre were in puting bato.
THE TRUTH: A family of survivors of the sagay massacre are trying to rebuild their lives with their relatives in the puting bato but the military continues to threaten and harass them. The family is repeatedly maligned by the police and military as “fake grandparents” of the 14-year old witness but the truth is that they are survivors of the massacre and their own son was one of those killed.
For several instances since his deployment last month, Col. Benedict Arevalo of the 303rd Brigade of the AFP has repeatedly publicly maligned and red-tagged human rights organization KARAPATAN-Negros and now, the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates or NNAHRA as “nagpapanggap na advocates” (pretending to be advocates) and “ginagamit lang ng CPP-NPA” (only used by the CPP-NPA). Just as Col. Lozanies before him, who red-tagged the bungkalan and the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), we condemn Arevalo for his dangerous statements against legitimate peasant organizations and human rights advocates.
Let us not wait for another massacre to happen here in Escalante City. Remember that the 1985 Welgang Bayan was a brave action against dictatorship and tyranny. All the tyrants will fall and the truth shall prevail.
The people of Negros will never allow the sacrifices of our martyrs to go to waste!
RESIST CRACKDOWN!
FIGHT TYRANNY!
STOP KILLING FARMERS!
Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
Federation of Agricultural Workers | Philippines
