Argao residents: No military harassment

CEBU - Residents of barangay Langtad in Argao town denied reports of harassment by the military in their municipality.

Langtad barangay councilman Alex Villamora said there is no truth to the complaint raised by their barangay captain, Ariel Saragena, on military harassment.

Along with Villamora is another resident of the said barangay who was presented by the Central Command to the media yesterday to shed light on the alleged harassment done by members of the 78th Infantry Battalion in the area.

Villamora reasoned out that the Langtad barangay council is “being blinded” by their village chief who filed harassment charges without initially informing the Council.

He added that their barangay captain is being “mentally dominated” by Victor Lapaz, president of the Panaghiusa sa mga Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Sugbo (Pamana-Sugbo).

“Siya mao’y nag-dominate sa utok sa among kapitan. Kapitan Saragena is not anti-development. Hapsay iyang paagi sa una. Pero karong nag-apil-apil na si Lapaz, nabati na among dungog tungod niya (Lapaz),” Villamora said.

“Wa’y gihimong kalapasan ang 78th IB didto sa among barangay. Si kapitan nag-agad lang kang Lapaz unsa poy isulti niya against sa NorAsia (NorAsian Energy Limited),” resident Felomeno Zeta subsequently said.

Also, 2nd Lt. Ian Ampaso, team leader of the 78th IB, denied the harassment. He invited the two residents to testify such.

“Para nako, tumo-tumo lang na nga storya. Ga-sunod lang mi sa mga instructions sa CentCom,” Ampaso said. The 78th IB has requested extension of its stay in the barangay as it continues with its information drive.

Saragena is allegedly against the military and is siding with cause-oriented groups in the area. He reportedly does not want the presence of the soldiers in their barangay, much more the building of campsites.

Saragena reportedly said that “if the army insists in prolonging their stay, they can position outside of the barangay.”

Major Christopher Tampus, spokesperson of CentCom, said that they welcome the filing of complaints by Saragena but he requested the barangay captain to also file the case at the police, not just at the Commission on Human Rights.

Tampus said that it is Lt. Gen. Commander Pedro Ike Inserto who specifically ordered for the battalion to be deployed in the area and address the alleged insurgency situation there through the conduct of information campaigns.

“Langtad is a territory of the government, so why should they (78th IB) not position themselves in the area?” Tampus asked.

Meanwhile, Lapaz, through a text message, reacted on Villamora’s statements against him.

“Dili ko katoo nga ingon ana na siya kabakakon tungod kay leader siya og dawn rosary. Ang papel ra gyod sa Pamana-Sugbo mao ang paghiusa sa mga mananagat nga dili mayatakan ang ilang katungod labi na sa hisgutanan sa proyekto nga nakaapekto nila nga ang estado maoy nagduso,” Lapaz said. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)