Army to probe soldiers’ abuses in Vizcaya town

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The Army is set to investigate reports that government soldiers on counter-insurgency operations have been harassing villagers of a remote Nueva Ecija town.

"We will initiate an independent investigation in addition to that to be conducted through the chain of command. Besides, my men and the local officials have talked about the problem," Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Gomez, chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, told The STAR.

Facing investigation are men of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion in Alfonso Castañeda, this province’s remotest town which is about four hours by land from San Jose City and the towns of Rizal and Pantabangan in Nueva Ecija.

Provincial officials led by Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma earlier expressed alarm over persistent reports that fear grips Alfonso Castañeda folk, especially in the poblacion (town proper), because of alleged militarization in the area.

"My constituents are now cowering in fear. They are now starting to abandon their homes because of threats and intimidation being employed by the Army," said Alfonso Castañeda Mayor Alfredo Castillo.

The mayor himself has been hiding in an undisclosed place due to alleged threats from some Army elements deployed in his town.

"My constituents keep on sending text messages to us about Army abuses against them. They are being harassed or branded as communist sympathizers if they refuse to give in to their soldiers’ demands, including attending meetings with them," he said. – Charlie Lagasca