“The Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) has further exposed themselves as lying, desperate fascist
dogs. In the military’s malicious attempts to justify its dirty war and rights
violations against the people, meanwhile sabotaging efforts for a just and
lasting peace, it is resorting to laughable narratives, ridiculous plot twists,
and raw dishonesty,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay during a
mass action of peasants and Lumad at the Department on National Defense (DND),
Quezon City, on April 7, 2017 to call for an end to AFP’s all-out-war and the
pull-out of troops in communities.
“The Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) has further exposed themselves as lying, desperate fascist
dogs. In the military’s malicious attempts to justify its dirty war and rights
violations against the people, meanwhile sabotaging efforts for a just and
lasting peace, it is resorting to laughable narratives, ridiculous plot twists,
and raw dishonesty,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay during a
mass action of peasants and Lumad at the Department on National Defense (DND),
Quezon City, on April 7, 2017 to call for an end to AFP’s all-out-war and the
pull-out of troops in communities.
The following are among the
AFP’s fictitious narratives that circulated in the news and several online
platforms:
1.
On February 20, 2017, the 86th
Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army claimed they had a run-in with the NPA in
Maddela, Quirino, to which the residents disproved. There were, however, forcible evacuations of
some 691 residents of the said community because of the deployment of troops in
the area.
2.
On February 24, 2017, elements of
the 61st IBPA killed two farmers in Sitio Maknoy, Brgy. Jebaca,
Maayon, Capiz. They later released a statement that the casualties were members
of the NPA. The punong barangay, along with the families, insisted that the
victims were not members of the NPA, but were farmers. The punong barangay even
attested he knew the two victims since they were children. Maayon’s mayor,
Wilfredo Borres, relative of the victims, also refuted claims made by the AFP.
Criminal charges were filed by the victims’ kin against the soldiers; the
soldiers retaliated by filing trumped up charges against the witnesses in the
community.
3.
On March 8, 2017, the Western
Mindanao Command released a statement that it killed four bandits in a clash
with the Abu Sayaff group in an operation in Basilan. However, the casualty
involved a 1-year old child, a 59-year-old Bayan Muna coordinator and an MILF
member in Basilan. Another 11 year old was also injured. The WestMinCom
eventually acknowledged their mistake, offered their apologies, and hoped it
would be enough to evade accountability.
4.
On March 16, 2017, the PNP and
the AFP’s 24th IBPA claimed there were no aerial bombings in the
communities of Malibcong, Abra. This is despite testimonies of residents that
at least 14 phosphorous bombs were dropped in the rice fields and forests of
Brgy. Lat-ey and Bangilo, as well as photos of forest areas razed by fire due
to the bombings. Villagers also attested that four military fighter jets were
seen circling the community. The incident prompted at least 56 families to
evacuate.
5.
On March 23, 2017, the AFP
released a statement that reported hostaging and looting of some 237 families
who evacuated in Antipas, North Cotabato. The mayor of Antipas, however, later
clarified that the evacuation was voluntary, with residents fearing an armed
encounter given the President’s pronouncement of an all-out-war. The mayor also
refuted statements of hostaging and looting.
6.
On March 26, 2017, the AFP
released yet another statement blaming the NPA for the burning of Concepcion
National High School in Valencia City, Bukidnon. The AFP also added reports of
extortion of the school’s feeding program fund. The City Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office (CDDRMO) later released its findings that the fire was
due to a short circuit. Residents and the barangay captain also refuted reports
of seeing the NPA in the area. A teacher at the said school also belied reports
of extortion and said the school had no feeding program fund.
“In the context of the
ongoing peace talks, there is a need to be vigilant against warmongers in the
AFP and the Duterte administration who have more to gain in an all-out-war
setting. With the intensification of rights abuses, the AFP should know that it
will not win. State repression can only replicate an environment of fear, but
it gives credence and justification to the resistance of the people,” concluded
Palabay.