Fear and panic

The military’s scare tactics on the people of Binuangan is not an isolated case. Other villages have been likewise militarized after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared an intensification of the all-out war against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the NPA, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). With the all-out war, leaders, members, and supporters of cause-oriented organizations, which the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tags as “front organizations,” became targets of attack.

In the towns of Lupao and Rizal in Nueva Ecija, municipal officials said residents are in a panic to secure community tax certificates (cedula) lest they be suspected of being rebels.

In Lupao, the municipal hall has run out of cedula after distributing 50 booklets (2,500 pcs) to its residents. In Rizal town, the municipal hall had to work overtime for three days, from Aug. 9-11, till 9 p.m. just to distribute cedulas to residents who came from far-flung villages and neighboring towns. “Nagpupunta sila dito nakasakay sa jeep, tricycle o kuliglig. Pami-pamilya, bara-barangay kung dumating sila dito sa munisipyo para kumuha lang ng sedula” (They come here riding jeeps, tricycles, and tractors. They come in droves, whole families, villages arriving here in the municipal hall to get cedulas.), a municipal worker of Rizal town said in an interview.

Even boys as young as 13 years old have been securing cedulas. “Nagmamakaawa sila sa amin na isyuhan na namin sila ng sedula kasi natatakot sila,” the municipal worker said, “Kaya kahit bawal kami mag-isyu ng sedula sa bata binibigyan na namin sila.” (They beg us to issue cedulas to them because they are afraid. That is why we give cedulas to them even if we are not supposed to issue it to minors.)

The cedula is used for legal and business transactions and is issued to residents 18 years and above, the municipal officer said.

Meanwhile, the mad rush for a cedula has given municipalities in Nueva Ecija a big bounty. In Rizal alone, the municipal worker said, minors and the elderly are made to pay P17.50 ($0.34 at an exchange rate of $1=P51.115) per cedula while adults pay P35 ($0.68) each. Rizal town earned at least P300,000 ($5,869.11) in three days after it distributed 211 booklets (10,000 pcs).
Fleeing

The continued presence of the military in villages has, however, caused deep anxiety among the residents.

In fact, unknown to the neighborhood in Binuangan, a family, whose identity is withheld, quietly sneaked out of the village earlier in the day to take refuge in a nearby town. A church leader, who asked not to be identified, said the family asked for assistance after a soldier marked their house with an “X” a day after the murder of Ka Orlan.

In Lupao, Arlyn Ragaza, St. James the Great parish priest, said some of his parishioners have left their town out of fear. This happened after two civilians were killed and three others abducted in Barangay Parista where soldiers belonging to the 71st IB PA are stationed. The families of the victims are now in sanctuary while witnesses are left tongue-tied.

One villager who asked for anonymity said about six of their neighbors who were called by the soldiers for questioning inside the military detachment committed suicide. “Hindi nila makayanan ang torture sa kanila” (They were not able to withstand the torture inflicted on them.), the villager said. Unconfirmed reports revealed that residents who were accused of being supporters of the NPA were made to list down names of guerillas that they know. Those who were unable to write any name were told to go home and were threatened that they will be “abducted by midnight.”

No leads

Even the police seem to be helpless in keeping peace and order in the communities. Police Sr. Inspector Jose Ocampo Jr., Lupao’s chief of police, said although the killings and abductions were reported to them, their investigations faced a blank wall as “they had no leads.”

“Pag tinanong namin ang mga tao, sasabihin sa amin wala silang alam. Pag tinanong namin ang military, sasabihin nila wala silang alam, hindi raw sila ang pumatay o kumuha. Wala naman kaming magawa,” (Whenever we ask the people, they tell us that they don’t know anything. If we ask the military, they tell us that they also don’t know anything and that they were not involved in the killing or abduction. We cannot do anything.), he told Bulatlat in an interview. Bulatlat

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