Altermidya
By Reynard Magtoto
Days after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the National Security Policy (NSP) 2023-2028, human rights group Karapatan received reports of consecutive incidents of targeting individuals and progressive organizations in different places in the country.
Bicol region is no exception. Local human rights groups Karapatan Bicol Chapter and Defend Bicol reported separate incidents of threats and intensified surveillance on activists. They point to local state forces from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in Albay and Catanduanes provinces.
The Marcos Jr. administration approved in August a new security plan to supposedly harmonize government efforts and implement security-related strategies.
But according to Defend Bicol, the new security plan will likely be used by state forces to threaten and create fear among rights defenders and residents in rural communities.
“It will certainly target development workers and peasant leaders who are championing the rights of marginalized sectors in the region,” Nida Barcenas of Karapatan Bicol said.
Threats to rights defenders in Bicol
In Albay province, Karapatan Bicol reported that three members who identified themselves belonging to the 9th ID AFP but wearing civilian clothes visited the office of FARMER, Inc. located at Sitio Bololo Brgy. Zone 5 in Libon on August 23. The men were looking for peasant leader Maggie Seva who was out of the office at the time.
According to Fidel Mirando, one of the staff of FARMER, Inc., the men did not introduce their names and the purpose of the visit except to say that they were there to question Seva directly.
Fidel, who was then busy preparing organic fertilizers, said he was shocked when the intruders opened the gate without permission. They told Fidel that they had to take photos of the office to provide “proof to their boss” that they visited the area, or they will be reprimanded.
“They brought fear to the FARMER, Inc. staff, especially after taking pictures forcefully just to have something to report for their counter-insurgency program,” Barcenas said.
After visiting the said office, the three then went to the house of Seva’s relative at Velasco St. Brgy. Zone 1, Libon around 12:00 noon. The only present at the time were her two granddaughters who were both high school students. The three men did not introduce themselves and insisted on entering the house.
According to Karapatan Bicol, interrogating the children was a form of harassment and violated their right to safety and protection.
Two of the men reportedly even waited at a nearby carinderia where they could see the children and be on the look-out for Seva. They stayed near the residence for about three hours and left around 3:00 pm, according to Karapatan Bicol.
“The incident brought great fear to Seva’s two grandchildren, whose only companions then were their ill grandmother and younger siblings and cousins,” Barcenas said.
Seva has been serving as Administrative Officer of FARMER, Inc. for a long time. The regional non-profit institution often worked with other peasant groups in the region such as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol (KMB), peasant women AMIHAN – Bicol, Bicol Coconut Planters Association, Inc. (BCPAI) and fisherfolk LAMBAT – Bicol.
The group currently provides assistance and services to peasant communities. They assist in the funding of school supplies for the children of the farmers and providing production for their organic fertilizers. The institution also conducts trial farms of traditional seeds and provides training related to sustainable agriculture.
Under the FARMER, Inc, Seva has been known to lead engagements with the local government agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Philippine Coconut Authority for claiming aid, production materials for farmers and helping with land problems in different communities.
Meanwhile, in Catanduanes, human rights groups reported how the local PNP interrogated Ernesto ‘Tay Erning’ Nazareno of the Abaca Farmers Association. Police officers reportedly went to his house in Brgy. Asgad in San Andres on August 26.
The police visit to 72-year-old Tay Erning, who also serves as regional council member of KMB, was the third time during that week, according to Defend Bicol.
“Tay Erning is now unable to attend meetings and other organizational obligations for fear of his life,” Defend Bicol shared.
On August 21, three PNP officers visited Tay Erning in the afternoon while another visit occurred on August 25 where four officers went into his house. Details of the interrogation during those visits were still undisclosed.
Meanwhile, Professor Jose Bonifacio of Act Teachers and Rudy Suarez of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Catanduanes were also reportedly under surveillance of state forces, according to Karapatan Bicol.
NSP enabling more threats
“We can expect such malicious acts of terror-tagging and vilification under the national security plan, which will endanger the victims’ lives and security,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay decried.
While local government units have been ordered to dopt the NSP, Barcenas also expressed that the local officials should not become a tool of the repressive program and should support the rights defenders in their genuine advocacy for the development of the well-being and rights of the marginalized sectors.
Meanwhile, Defend Bicol asked the local Commission on Human Rights to closely investigate the alleged harassment perpetrated by the elements of state forces against peasant leaders and rights defenders in Bicol.
