Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today condemned the persistent harassment against its leader and chairperson Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos. KMP said Ramos has been subjected to nonstop surveillance by unidentified men believed to be intelligence agents of the government.
The latest documented incidents happened on January 3 and 15, respectively wherein motorcycle-riding men were reportedly looking for the whereabouts and residence of Ramos in Malolos City, Bulacan. In one incident, one of the intelligence agents asked: “Taga-saan ba si Danilo Ramos? Matagal na namin siyang hinahanap kasi terorista siya.”
“This dangerous and brazen case of terror tagging poses a direct threat to the life of Ka Daning, his family, and other peasant leaders and members of the KMP and the progressive peasant movement,” the group said in a statement.
KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka (Defend Farmers) note that the surveillance and harassment against Ka Daning have escalated since last year. After the August 2023 documented incident of surveillance against Ka Daning, Tanggol Magsasaka immediately submitted reports to and held dialogues with the Commission on Human Rights to expose the state-sponsored rights violations.
Despite such circumstances, Ka Daning remains critical and outspoken on the policies and programs of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Malacanang that affect farmers and fisherfolks.
“We demand a stop to the harassment against Ka Daning. We demand a stop to the attacks against farmers and the peasant masses who feed the nation. Instead of heeding the plight of farmers and strengthening domestic agriculture, the Philippine government weaponized laws and used them against farmers, fisherfolk, peasant women, agricultural workers, and the rural youth.”
“We call on all democracy-loving individuals and institutions, especially workers, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples’ rights advocates, Church people, environment defenders, and all sectors here and abroad to support Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos and all farmers fighting against landlessness, injustice, and impunity in the Philippines,” the group concluded. #
