November 21, 2005. Some forty farmers and volunteers were waking up early in the morning to prepare breakfast and start tilling the land in Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte that farmer beneficiaries of SAFABENCO (San Agustin Farmer Beneficiaries Cooperative) are trying to reclaim from a landlord when suddenly, with no warning or whatsoever, they were sprayed with bullets for around 30 minutes. Despite the shouts for mercy and to stop the shooting, men wearing camouflage fatigue and ski masks to cover their faces later identified as members of the 19th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, did not heed to the pleads for mercy. After the shooting, a survivor saw the soldiers spreading several firearms within the vicinity of the kamalig where the shooting happened from a sack. The incident killed seven farmers including a seven-month-old-pregnant woman on the spot, another one in the hospital and human rights worker Joselito “Itok” Tobe who was incarcerated.
The 19th IB claimed that they received intelligence report the members of the New People’s Army were gathering in that small hut to justify the heinous crime they committed. Until now, they’re still standing by their claims.
After five years, the farmers who were jailed and accused of false charges in two courts were acquitted with 1 more case pending and is doomed to be dismissed. Despite their acquittal, justice has not yet been served. Until now, the perpetrators are still running scot-free, the land that they were reclaiming has not been returned to the rightful owners.
