Military turns wrath on farmers, activists in Eastern Visayas

Military turns wrath on farmers, activists in Eastern Visayas

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
CALBAYOG CITY, Western Samar – On Nov. 17, farmer Romeo Galvez went to the municipal hall of Calbiga, Samar to process some papers. He was surprised when the police arrested him on charges of murder, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Later would Romeo, village chieftain of Buluan, Calbiga, know that the complaint against him was the same charge filed against his brother, Noel, who has been detained at the Catbalogan City Jail for more than a year. The complaint, filed by 1st Lt. Renante Morales of the 34th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, is in connection with the New People’s Army raid against soldiers on Dec. 10, 2009 at Bgy. Binanggaran, Calbiga.

Alberto Bersola, coordinator of Kapunungan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Weste han Samar (Kapawa), a local peasant group, said another village chieftain, Ildelfonso Nablo of Barangay Binaggaran and more than 60 other peasants, mostly members of Kapawa, have been included in the charge sheet as John Does and Jane Does.

Bersola decried the military’s practice of filing charges against farmers. “They are ordinary farmers, not NPA members,” Bersola said in an interview. “The military turns their anger on defenseless farmers.”
According to Kapawa, Romeo and Nablo are innocent. At the time of the incident, both were in Catbalogan,Samar to claim checks from the Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

caption for bersola : Alberto Bersola of the local peasant group Kapununguan Han Gudti Nga Parag-Uma Ha Weste Han Samar (Kapawa), shows the petition of local residents calling for the withdrawal of charges against their village chieftains.(Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)

Bersola showed two petition letters signed by local residents calling on the authorities to drop the charges against the two. The village chieftain of Barangay Beri, Lito Cabalhao, also testified in court that the two accused are innocent, saying that both are active in the Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC).

Galvez’s lawyer filed a motion to quash the warrant of arrest because the name indicated in the warrant is Romy Galvez, not Romeo Galvez.

Earlier, on Sept. 12, one farmer was shot dead and three others were arrested in retaliation over a raid at the municipal hall of Hinabangan, Samar by NPA guerrillas.

Based on Kapawa’s account, Mariano Abarracoso went to the site of the incident after the raid. He was shot by a policeman. When three of his relatives went to file a complaint, they were arrested. Adalberto Abarracoso, Mariano’s son, Roque Abadiano, son-in-law and Jornalia Acutim, daughter are now detained at the Hinabangan Jail.
According to Kenneth Perez, deputy secretary general of Katungod-Sinirangang Bisaya,the local human rights group, there are 22 political prisoners all over the region. Seven were arrested under the Aquino administration, including artist Ericson Acosta and three peasants in Leyte.

There are 360 prisoners all over the country, according to Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda)..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/10/military-turns-wrath-on-farmers-activists-in-eastern-visayas/