Military ops forced Quirino folks to flee – peasant group

By Aldwin Quitasol

NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino –The Danggayan dagiti Mannalon ti Cagayan Valley-Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Danggayan CV-KMP) reported that the ongoing military operations of the 86th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army against the New People’s Army guerillas brought fear and chaos to residents of San Martin, Villa Garcia and Villa Ylanan of Maddela, Quirino Province that resulted to their forced evacuation.

“Sa total war ng ‘Oplan Kapayapaan’, naghahasik ngayon ng sindak at pananakot ang mga tropa ng 86th IB sa mga mapayapang mga liblib na baryo sa Maddela sa pagsususpetsa na may mga NPA sa lugar. Sinadya nilang magpakalat ng maling balita na may naganap na labanan sa kalapit-bayan ng San Agustin, Isabela, at nagbantang bobombahin ng AFP ang mga baryong nabanggit,” (In the total war called “Oplan Kapayapaan”, the troopers from the 86th IB are spreading fears and inflicting harassment to the peaceful remote barrios of Maddela in the suspicion that there are NPAs in the area. They spread false news that an encounter erupted in the nearby town of San Agustin, Isabela, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines threatened to bomb the said barrios), Danggayan stated.

According to the group, a military helicopter and two army trucks arrived at the said barrios of Maddela.

The military chopper brought 30 soldiers to Barangay San Martin. One of the trucks brought 30 troopers to Barangay Villa Ylanan and 20 more to Villa Gracia.

The smaller truck brought 15 troopers to Barangay Tungcab proceeding to the barrios of Dipantan and Sangbay of Nagtipunan, Quirino.

Residents said they were ordered by the military to evacuate. Barangay San Martin Chief Paulino Lunag led around 50 of his constituents to the capital town of Maddela and they sought a temporary shelter in the barangay hall as well as the municipal hall in the area.

Danggayan said the 86th IBPA violated human rights of residents after its soldiers entered their barrios and conducted combat operations inside communities especially near the schools, community centers and in the middle of a residential area. “Tahasang nilalabag nito ang Pandaigdigang Deklarasyon ng Karapatang Pantao na niratipika n gating bansa at ang Government of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law,” (This is an outright violation to the International Declaration on Human Rights that was even ratified by our country and the GPh-NDFP CARHRIHL) added the group.

The peasant group condemned said military operations and demanded stop to operations of the 86th IB in the barangays of Maddela and Nagtipunan Quirino. Danggayan said that the troops of the 86th IB should pull-out from the barrios as the list of human rights violations by the AFP is becoming longer.

“Hayaang makabalik nang maayos at ligtas ang mga magsasaka at katutubo sa kanilang pamayanan,” (Let the farmers and the indigenous peoples go back to their communities) said the group.

The group also called for resumption of the peace talks between the GPh and the NDFP.