Gregorio Navarette, a 47-year-old resident of Purok 2, Sitio Balubad, Barangay Anunas, died on June 12, 2024 due to gunshot wounds gained during the Anunas demolition operations led by Clarkhills Development Corporation.
Clarkhill’s heavily armed demolition goons and personnel from the joint force of the Angeles City’s Philippine National Police – Special Weapons and Tactics (PNP-SWAT) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Adjudication Board Sheriff Elizabeth Marasigan were reported to have initiated gunfire against the residents picketing and protesting at their self-made barricades.
“Ang nabalitaan ko lang, nakatayo lang daw siya [Gregorio Navaratte] sa may pader, sa may barikada. Eh, nakatayo doon, tapos nagka-putukan na agad,” said Dante Navarette, the brother of the deceased.
According to him, Gregorio Navarette was shot before the demolition goons had destroyed and infiltrated the barricades.
Following the demolition operations, Navarette and four (4) others injured by gunfire were brought to the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center for treatment.
According to Dante Navarette, though the other victims managed to survive and recover as they were shot in the legs and the feet, his brother arrived in the hospital in a critical condition as he was shot in the abdomen and sustained wounds in his intestines.
In a statement, the Anunas United Farmers, Settlers, and Descendants Association Inc. (AUFSDAI) expressed their sympathy and condolences towards Navarette and his family.
“Inialay ni Gregorio Navarette ang kanyang buhay para sa Sitio Balubad, kaya ang AUFSDAI ay taos pusong nakikiramay at naggagawad ng pagpupugay sa pamilyang Navarette at kaisa kami sa patuloy na paghahanap ng hustisya,” said the organization in the Anunas United Farmers and Homeowners Association Facebook Page.
In continuation of asserting claim over the 73 hectares of land in Sitio Balubad, Barangay Anunas, over 500 houses were destroyed by Clarkhills, adding to the more than 2,000 Anunas residents forcibly displaced since the start of the demolition operations in 2023.
Though there have been no updates on Clarkhills’ next series of operations on Anunas as of writing, Clarkhills’ security guards have been reported to be armed and stationed on the lands already claimed by the corporation.
News by Izzy Daguay
Layout by Yuan Simbulan