A 35-year-old man, who was reportedly held in custody by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after an armed conflict with members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Masaling, Cauayan, has been returned to his family.
In an interview with Brigada News FM Kabankalan, village councilor Alvin Calvo said that Jose Jeford Escamilla has been returned to his family, after he was held in custody of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion, following an armed encounter with communist rebels that took place around 5 am on Monday, May 4, in Sitio Pulo, Purok 1.
Calvo said Escamilla is not a longtime resident of the village, as he is from Candoni, a town at least 70 kilometers away from the area where the encounter occurred. But later lived there, because of his wife, who is a native of the community.
The village official added that the military took Escamilla to ask a few questions, and he is now in the hands of his family in Candoni, after they coordinated with state forces.
“Okay na to siya mam, gi balik na nila,” Calvo said. (He is now okay, ma’am; they returned [him])
302nd Infantry Brigada commander Brigadier General Jason Jumawan earlier said that the encounter lasted about 10 minutes, following reports of the presence of rebel leader Rex Campus, alias “Kalbo,” who was allegedly connected to several civilian killings in southern Negros.
He added that the pursuit operation is ongoing and that bloodstains were observed at the scene, indicating wounds on the rebels’ side.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) condemned the incident, saying that a civilian must not be subjected to any attacks and that human rights must be respected.
“Civilian at all times must not be subject to attack, and human rights must be respected. To arrest a farmer and subject him to interrogation without the presence of counsel is violative of his right protected by the 1987 Constitution,” the group said.*
