Military ‘abducts’ CamSur farmer, still missing

First update (May 19, 2021):

Farmer Ed Navalta was abducted at 5 PM yesterday, May 18, by military elements in Ragay, Camarines Sur, Defend Bicol Stop the Attacks Network says.

Navalta is also a market vendor in Ragay and serves as Camarines Sur People’s Organization (CSPO) District 1 coordinator. As of press time, Navalta’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Last May 12, various barangays in Camarines Sur experienced house-to-house operations from the military, after the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), through its Regional Task Force, deployed military agents to 10 barangays.

Last May 2 also saw activists Sasah Sta. Rosa, spokesperson of Jovenes Anakbayan and Pastor Dan Balucio, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Bicol illegally arrested in Camarines Sur.

Karapatan Bicol added that this 2021, there had already been about five cases of extrajudicial killings in Camarines Sur.

More details to follow.

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Earlier updates:

January 7, 2021:

41-year-old Camarines Sur People’s Organization (CSPO) member Aldrin Lagdaan Enriquez was killed at his residence in Favorito 1, Sagrada, Iriga City, Camarines Sur, yesterday, says Karapatan Bikol.

A fact-finding report says that at around 12:20 AM, about 30 uniformed and civilian-wearing personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Camarines Sur surrounded the victim’s residence. At that time, Enriquez’ two children — aged 9 and 12 — were said to be with him, and it was unclear if he was shot in front of his children.

The arresting officers allegedly barged into his home, asked for his name to confirm his identity, and then fired on him several times.

May 12, 2021:

Military presence heightens in CamSur barangays

National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), through its Regional Task Force (RTF-ELCAC), deploys military agents to 10 barangays in Tinambac, Camarines Sur, human rights alliance Karapatan Bikol says.

They added that military presence has been prevalent for three to six months, with the barangays of Salvacion, Turo, Pantat, San Ramon, and San Roque among others experienced house-to-house operations.

“Pinangangambahan ng mga residente sa nasabing bayan ang dalang terror ng mga militar dahil sa mahabang rekord nito ng pang-aabuso, pagnanakaw, pagpaslang, at iba pang paglabag sa karapatang pantao, liban pa sa dalang banta ng pandemyang COVID19 sa kalusugan ng mga nasa komunidad,” Karapatan Bikol says.

They continued that there have been about five cases of extrajudicial killings in Camarines Sur in 2021. All having been separately slain among the militarized barangays. One of them was Brgy. Niño Jesus Captain Elmer Casabuena, who was reportedly killed by more than 30 armed police and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) elements after receiving a warrant from the San Jose, Camarines Sur Regional Trial Court.

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