Ka Rocky Lucban, spokesman of the Rogelio Bantilo Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in the Second District of Northern Samar Province, said that the municipality of Silvino Lobos is now under the control of the 63rd Infantry Battalion.
A failure of elections was declared in the town after its ballot boxes were snatched by armed men in the interior barangays of Silvino Lobos. Thus, the town has no duly elected mayor or councilors until today. The town can only be reached by a two-day pumpboat-ride from the capital town of Catarman.
Lucban claimed that the peace and order situation has worsened in the area and the livelihood of the residents were greatly affected following the mass evacuation of some barangay residents to other towns in Northern Samar for fear of being caught in the crossfire between the Army and the NPA.
Lucban said that mauling of civilians by the Army, illegal interrogation, destruction of farm animals and other human rights abuses are allegedly prevalent in the town contrary to the claims of Col. Bernard De Luna, 803d Brigade Commander based in the capital town of Catarman.
For his part, De Luna said that NPA rebels have taken advantage of the hot political tension in the municipality to sow terror and confusion in the town. Former Silvino Lobos mayor Marites Guillamac also blames the NPA rebels for the worsening peace and order situation in the town.