January 19, 2003
Reference: Marie Hilao-Enriquez

Press Statement
Secretary General

Mindoro Occidental, Philippines: A paradise or the next killing fields?

After the massive and destructive military deployment in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines that has resulted in grave human rights violations in the province - Albarillo twin murders, murder of Choy Napoles, Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy - now comes the intensified militarization of Mindoro Occidental, Philippines.

Military troops belonging to the 16th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the command of Col. Indanan have laid siege to the province. Two thousand soldiers with two (2) tanks, five (5) howitzers and three (3) spy planes are reported deployed in the three municipalities of Mamburao, Abra de Ilog and Paluan.

According to initial reports from Karapatan-Mindoro Occidental, six (6) residents of Sitio Talahib, Brgy. Harison in Paluan were abducted by unidentified soldiers and are still missing, after the government elements intensified their military operations in the area.

Prior to the incident, local people's organizations were harassed during the commemoration of Human Rights Day last December 2003. On
January 7, 2004, a peasant, Norberto Vargas, was abducted by unidentified men believed to be elements of the 16th IB in Barangay Wawa, Iriron, Calintaan. He remains missing to this day.

With this current situation, human rights groups like KARAPATAN, fear that Mindoro Occidental would turn into another killing fields similar to the fate of Mindoro Oriental, the island's other half.

A Quick Reaction Force has been organized by Karapatan-National in coordination with Karapatan-Southern Tagalog to invewstigate these reports and the effects of massive military operations and deployment and other possible human rights violations in the area. ###