SEVERAL farmers in Barangay Bi-ao, Binalbagan claimed that on September 21, they were made to surrender as members of the New People's Army (NPA), which they strongly denied.
Danilo Tabura, paralegal officer of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas, said farmers Juanito Siagino, Remias Estacion, Bebiano Sarasuela, Lydia Garilao and Sonya Somido, representing his brother Dennis Bertolaro, were among the 60 farmers who were said to be invited by some officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to a gathering on September 21.
But they claimed that members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army reportedly considered them as part of the rebel group and they were made to surrender on that day.
They said that such an act was a form of harassment and a human rights violation because they are not NPA members.
They want the military to clear their names.
"We cannot just work in a farm because of such label when there is no truth to it," said Siagino.
