AFP men detain 2 farmers; villagers scared to harvest

NPA-AFP clashes terrify Besao folks 

By Gina Dizon

BESAO, Mountain Province -- Two farmers were detained here last week by army soldiers for alleged illegal possession of firearms even as villagers fear harvesting their matured rice crops due to clashes between the New People’s Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Residents said military trucks filled with soldiers in full battle gear are going back and forth here in Dandanac, Tamboan with what they fear is an interval of clashes as government soldiers scour mountains of Dandanac looking for NPA guerillas.

Last week, three members of the AFP died in two bloody encounters at Dandanac between the two armed groups particularly the Leonardo Pacsi Command of the NPA and Philippine Army.

The 81st Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division and the 54th IB of the 5th ID of the PA are deployed in Besao.  

A resident from Dandanac this writer interviewed said this season is their ‘gapas ‘(harvest) and people are threatened with what could happen again between the two armed groups.

Villagers here around  70 households farm as their main source of livelihood.

Their rice fields are located some distance from the encounter area but near enough for villagers to be scared to walk to fields or actually  harvest.

Meantime, two farmers were arrested by elements of the AFP due to alleged illegal possession of two Cal. 22 firearms.

According to the two farmers they went to get their chickens from their farm at site Amboague to raise them at their home at Dandanac due to the clashes.  

Now they are apprehensive what could have happened to their pig left at Amboague.

The farmers in an interview said, military elements interrogated them to get information on NPAs they know and where they are camped.  

The two were arrested by elements of Alpha Company of the 81st IB led by  1lt Jade Lyzterdan Padinas Gavino.

Gavino and company brought the two farmers to the custody of the Philippine National Police at Besao PNP station.

Both were admitted at Besao District Hospital due to gastritis with one having a history of chest pains, and the other with a lingering limping condition.

As of press time, there are still no charges filed against the two farmers.