In the Southern part of Quezon, eight battalions of the Army, the national police and paramilitary CAFGU have been deployed, quite a large figure relative to the area in which it operates. A case of abduction in Macalelon town in March 2011 was already reported to Karapatan. Unidentified armed men allegedly took farmer Felix Balaston to the 85th Infantry Battalion's camp. He remains missing to date.
Cases of threat, harassment, intimidation, illegal arrest and detention perpetrated against local farmers in Quezon have also been reported. Army forces are stationed in houses and barangay (village) centers. Detachments are mounted in about 50 barangays in the rural areas of South Quezon.
Oplan Bayanihan is but a replica of its predecessor. Like Oplan Bantay Laya, it is a counterinsurgency program designed by the U.S. government to quell all forms of resistance, armed or unarmed, by any means necessary.
Help stop Oplan Bayanihan. Help stop human rights violations.
STOP MILITARIZATION! SAVE THE PEOPLE OF QUEZON!
Via Karapatan-ST
