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Army
troops scored for harassment
By: KIT BAGAIPO
The
Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Carmen
town is being accused of harassment of civilians and farmers
whom they alleged as members of the New Peoples Army (NPA).
Last
Friday, human rights group Karapatan reported to the Chronicle
that two farmers and a leader of a peasant group in barangay
Montesuerte, Carmen had been harassed by elements of the military
unit.
According
to Karapatan-Bohol chair Liza Serenio, the peasant leader
identified as one Leonardo Aparece, 59 and his wife Eugenia
Aparece, 56, and two others were accused by Army troops as
members of the NPA.
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Aparece,
a press relations officer of Humabol-Carmen chapter,
said in his affidavit that last November 22, around
9 a.m. he arrived at his residence when he saw his neighbors
gathered in their house.
He
was told by his wife and neighbors that members of the
302nd IB wanted to get inside their house. The neighbors,
most of whom were also members of the farmers' organization,
went to Aparece's residence after seeing the troops
going there.
Eugenia,
who is ill, was alone when the Army troops came who
questioned her how often their group hold meetings.
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Two
other farmers, Jason Socorin and Lito Quinsena, also residents
of said barangay, where present when the troops came.
In
a joint affidavit, Socorin and Quinsena claimed that they
were in Aparece's house to borrow a straw mat where they would
dry their palay.
They
said four military men in full combat gear approached the
Aparece house while they saw several others who concealed
themselves in a grassy area near the residence.
According
to Socorin and Quinsena, the military men, who hid their name
tags, pointed their weapons at them while asking them questions.
When
asked by Eugenia what they wanted, one of the troops said
they were looking for a cow that was allegedly stolen from
a nearby village.
However,
Quinsena said he was shocked when one of the soldiers aimed
his camera at him and took a picture.
According
to Serenio, barangay Montesuerte farmers have organized themselves
as part of the village is covered under the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program. The farmer-beneficiaries were already
given certificates of land ownership.
According
to Aparece, this was not the first time military troops harassed
his family and members of their organization.
Last
year, Aparece claimed, the chairperson of their peasant organization,
Epifanio Estillore, was also shot by CAFGU men.
In
2003, Aparece's son, Leonardo Jr. was also accused as member
of the NPA by elements of the 302nd IB.
Leonardo
Jr. was allegedly tied-up by the soldiers which bore frightening
memories to his, according to Aparece.
Serenio
said Karapatan will file complaints against the 302nd IB at
the Commission on Human Rights based on the affidavits of
Aparece, Socorin and Quinsena.
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