Katribu denounces illegal arrest of youth activist, Agta in Isabela; raises concern over victims’ safety

Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas strongly condemns the illegal arrest of Andy Magno, a member of Kabataan Party-list Cagayan Valley, and an Agta woman on April 20, 2025, in Barangay Dicamay Dos, Jones, Isabela.

The 86th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 5th Infantry Division (ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have refused to disclose the location and condition of the two individuals, raising grave concerns about their safety and well-being.

Contrary to the 5th ID’s report of two encounters between the 86th IB and New People's Army in Brgy. Dicamay Dos and Brgy. Tappa, San Mariano, local residents have attested that no such incidents occurred. Instead, military forces recklessly opened fire on civilian homes, endangering innocent lives and coercing villagers into surrendering firearms they did not possess.

The military is falsely claiming an armed encounter to cover up its illegal arrest of Magno and her Agta companion, despite no such incident occurring. This deliberate fabrication is a clear attempt to mislead the public, justify their actions, and evade accountability.

This latest act of state violence follows a troubling pattern of militarization and repression in Cagayan Valley, coinciding with the ongoing Balikatan military exercises. Human rights groups have consistently raised concerns over the increasing number of attacks on activists, particularly those advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ rights to self-determination and ancestral lands.

Katribu urges the military to allow the families and human rights organizations to visit Magno and her Agta companion, and demands their immediate release. We call on the public, human rights defenders, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights organizations to speak out and condemn these continuing attacks. The Armed Forces of the Philippines must be held accountable for its relentless attacks on Indigenous Peoples and civilian communities.

Reference:

Beverly Longid

KATRIBU National Convener