v11n0203

Date of incident: 8 December 2008
Place of incident: Purok 9, Poblacion, Compostela
AHRC-UAC-068-2009
Roldan Anover went to the residence of Domingo Regamas (his
nickname is Boy), administrator of plant 98 of FBAC, to request
a cash advance. At Domingo’s house, there were two men not
know to him inside. One of them, Aaron, introduced himself as a
soldier and liaison officer for Wiper. But his companion did not
introduce himself.
Aaron directly told him that it is okay to have a union or
organization but they should not affiliate with the KMU because
it is a legal front of a rebel group, the nPA and the latter is their
enemy. Aaron told him: “Iatras ninyo ang membership sa Kmu
ug mubalhin mo sa lain nga grupo (withdraw your membership
from the Kmu and transfer to another group).” Aaron asked where
he lived but Roldan did not tell him.
On 2 April 2009, from 5pm to 6pm, Roldan was on his way
to the Namaos office when his motorcycle malfunctioned at the
road. when he stopped to check it, two other motorcycles also
stopped close to him. It is evident that the persons onboard
these motorcycles were following him. They began talking and
telling him that they are giving livelihood programmes to union
members, in particular to the namaos members. he later realized
that the persons he was speaking to were soldiers because they
were armed, one of who was Elmer Saraom. Elmer told Roldan
that they would be willing to help but on condition that they will
no longer attend the mass mobilizations, for example Labour Day
demonstrations, held every may 1st.
One of them told him: “Kadaot ninyo Dan, (his nickname) wala
moy mga baruganan. mga gahi mo’g ulo! (you are hard headed
person)”. The soldiers were referring to an incident wherein
the group did not attend the consultation they organized and
conducted about Philippine health Insurance (Philhealth).
Later Elmer spoke of their real intention: “Actually bay, ang
tuyo gyud namu diri, mao ang paglumpag ug ang pagsilhig
sa mga nPA sa kabukiran (you know, our purpose really is to
dismantle and wipe out the nPAs in the mountains).” Roldan did
not speak further because it was already evening by that time
and the motorcycle had not been repaired yet. The soldiers later
left the area.
On December 9, Roldan’s fellow worker, Danny Jacinto, also
the former chairman of namaos, cautioned him to be careful
because he had been told that someone had made a sketch of the
way to his home and the pattern of his daily routine. They also
learned that soldiers had been monitoring his activities.
article 2 � June-Sept 2012 Vol. 11, No. 2-3
“
It is okay to
have a union or
organization but
they should not
affiliate with the
KMU because it is a
legal front of a rebel
group.
-” - Aaron Barona,
Liaison Officer of the
group called Wiper
under the military.
71