80-year-old father of NPA officer harassed by military

By Gina Dizon

PARACELIS, Mountain Province -- Octogenarian Pablo Naogsan was reportedly harassed by members of the 54th IB dawn of May 27 at his home here in barangay Butigue.

Sources revealed that a military platoon reportedly led by a certain Lt Roland Caringal forced open the door of the dwelling of Naogsan.

The military elements seemed to be looking for someone, it was learned.

The military elements also asked Pablo if he was the father of Simon Naogsan, reportedly a ranking New Peoples’ Army officer and spokesman of the Cordillera People’s Democratic Front.

The incident was reported to barangay officials and made known to the police officers of the municipality.

The incident was also made known to municipal officials who assured investigation of the incident.

Family members of the elder Naogsan said the men responsible for the harassment of the old man should be dealt with, charged in court and penalized for illegal search and harassment.

Following this, the CPDF condemned “intensifying militarization in eastern Mountain Province” highlighted by the raid at the house resided in by Naogsan’s father in Butigue by a platoon of the 54th Infantry Batallion led by a certain army Lt. Roland Caringan.

“In classic Gestapo style, the military troops stormed the house and totally destroyed the door then roused the sleeping and slightly deaf 80-year old Pablo Naogsan,” the CPDF statement said.

“The soldiers then ransacked the house without the benefit of any search warrant order, thus terrifying the elder who was alone at that time. The troops threatened the old man whom they accused of allowing the NPA to sleep in his house.

“The soldiers who had surrounded the house left after 30 minutes, as the breaking dawn exposed the commotion to the neighboring houses along the road.

“In wanton disregard of the respect for human rights, the soldiers of the 86th IB also under the 5th Infantry Division also raided the house of Delfin Uschong in nearby Kiling, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao province at dawn of May 24.

“In similar fashion, the raiders conducted an illegal search and ransacked the house of the farmer, then arrested the elderly Uschong and two nephews who were staying with him. The three were then brought to the nearby CAFGU detachment in Pakak, Kiling, Alfonso Lista, by the troops, who ordered the municipal chief of police to charge the three as suspected NPA members.

“The soldiers gathered all the neighbors in the sitio and accused them of supporting the NPA, and threatened them with reprisal if any complaint would be lodged against the military. The CPDF views as suspect the loaded motives of the AFP in conducting the illegal raids, especially since the helpless father of CPDF spokesperson Simon Naogsan is involved.

“The ongoing militarization in eastern MP and Ifugao throws into the waste basket any pretension of the military of winning the peace and adherence to human rights through Oplan Bayanihan.”

Meantime, it was learned that the three farmers of Alfonso Lista, Ifugao were illegally detained May 24 reportedly at the quarters of 86th IB.

Sources said the military forces claimed that the detained suspects were members of the NPA.

The three farmers were however released upon claims of some residents that the detained men are not members of the NPA.