Manila, Philippines – The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women condemned Marcos and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the recent militarization and aerial strikes in Escalante, Negros Occidental, and San Joaquin, Iloilo for threatening the lives of the peasant communities especially the women, children and elders and their livelihood.
The peasant women’s group slammed it as a crime against humanity and a violation under the International Humanitarian Law and Republic Act No. 9851, particularly indiscriminate attacks and attacking the civilian population.
“Isang malaking krimen ang pagbobomba sa komunidad ng mga magsasaka at hindi pagkilala sa karapatan ng mamamayan sa kanayunan para mamuhay nang mapayapa at walang takot. Dapat itong kundenahin at pagbayarin si Marcos at AFP sa mga kasalanan nito sa mamamayan,” Zen Soriano, Amihan National Chairperson exclaimed.
News reports said that at least five rockets were fired by a helicopter in Escalante, Negros Occidental that occurred on February 22, 2024. It was perpetrated by the 79th IBPA which resulted in the forcible displacement of more than 300 families. In San Joaquin town, Iloilo, the aerial strike happened on February 29 at around 3 am affecting the residents of Brgy. Torocadan, Dongoc and Langca in the said town.
“Nitong nakaraang taon, sunud-sunod ang militarisasyon at pambobomba sa mga komunidad ng mga magsasaka tulad ng Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga, Masbate, at Negros Occidental na nagresulta ng inhustisya at paghihirap. Libu-libo ang pwersahang napalayas at nawalan ng kabuhayan. Kaya, dapat labanan ang counter-insurgency programs ni Marcos na pangunahing apektado ang mga magsasaka at sibilyan sa kanayunan.”
Amihan reiterated its call to end the militarization of rural communities, especially after military bombings and aerial strikes on various peasant communities that have resulted in the mass trauma of poor peasants in the affected communities.
Soriano added that it should be immediately investigated as it constitutes violations under International Humanitarian Law. Moreover, Amihan called on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incidents.
“We urge all freedom-loving Filipinos, women and child advocates, civil society groups, legal luminaries, and netizens to support the call of stop militarization now and stop the bombings, uphold human rights and the International Humanitarian Law, and call for the immediate pull-out of military troops in the peasant communities. We should all hold Marcos and the AFP for their crimes against the Filipino people,” Soriano ended.###