Militants report increased surveillance by state forces

CAGAYAN DE ORO Militant groups on Tuesday, November 28, said they have recorded a spike in the number of threats, harassment, intimidation against activists as well as in the number of cases being filed by state security forces against members of “progressive” groups.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) spokesperson Wildon Barros said many of their members are now under surveillance by different intelligence groups of the government.

Barros said he sees the crackdown order as “serving the interests of oligarchs, big companies, and imperialist countries.”

Along with hunting down for activists, Barros said the crackdown will also railroad the possible expansion and extension of the martial law declaration, intensifying militarization in the countryside.

Kristine Cabardo, regional chairperson of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) in Northern Mindanao, said members of LFS have also been receiving texts and calls from unknown numbers.

“Red-tagging has become prevalent, just because we are supporting legitimate cause such as free education for all. There’s nothing illegal about making our voices heard and calling on the government to provide action to issues,” she said.

After President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement ordering the arrests of activist groups which he accused are “legal fronts” of the New People’s Army (NPA), Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of Kalumbaylumad organization said, there have been rise of trumped up charges filed against lumads.

Goaynon said he recorded a total of 70 trumped-up charges filed against Indigenous Peoples in different lumad communities in Bukidnon.

Goaynon pointed out that the absence of propeople organizations would pave the way for multinational corporations to grab their ancestral lands.

“There is plan for the extension of a 1.2 hectare oil palm plantation in Mindanao, and there is no other target for this expansion to be completed but the ancestral domain of lumads,” he said.

He also disclosed that many lumads are now in hiding, scared that authorities might arrest them. Just like what happened to Joseph Paborada, a member of PangalasagKalumbay lumad organization.

He said, last October 14, his house was visited by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Carandang, commanding officer of the 58th Infantry Battalion, and was personally asked to surrender.

“I was asked to surrender because they said, I am a supporter of the NPA. In my area, farmers are tagged as NPA, They now call us farmers many names. But I refused to surrender because I am not an NPA supporter,” he said.

Barros said, progressive groups remain unfazed despite the threats, announcing even that a big rally will be conducted on December 10, in celebration of the International Human Rights Day.

“We are working within the bounds of law, we are registered. And besides, the courts are still open, it is now the burden of police and military on how they will gather evidences to prove that we are members of the NPA,” Barros said. SS-CDO