By CESAR JOLITO III
Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) has condemned what it described as a series of coordinated attacks and threats against staff of the development non-government organization (NGO) Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group Inc. (PDG) and members of farmer communities it assists in Negros Occidental.
In a statement, HRAN reported that on January 16 and 17, PDG staff member Analyn Mirano received threatening SMS messages from a person claiming to be a member of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
The messages allegedly warned her of harm if she refused to cooperate and insinuated that PDG had links to the New People’s Army (NPA).
The sender reportedly offered Mirano P30,000 monthly and assurances of safety for her and her family in exchange for cooperation.
HRAN also cited an alleged attempted abduction on January 17 involving community organizer Jose Macapobre.
According to the group, Macapobre was traveling by motorcycle from a community in Candoni when he was reportedly blocked by a black pickup truck and forced to enter. He managed to resist and escape after running toward nearby houses to seek help.
HRAN believes the perpetrators were personnel of the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, whose area of operations includes the 6th District of Negros Occidental.
The group recalled that PDG staff members Perla Pavillar and Federico Salvilla were previously charged with terrorism financing, but the case was dismissed by the court last year.
Meanwhile, HRAN said similar charges remain pending against former PDG staff Felipe Levy Gelle Jr., now a human rights defender, and Clarissa Ramos, widow of a slain lawyer.
HRAN further raised concerns over alleged intimidation of farmer leaders by military personnel deployed under the Re-engineered Community Support Program (RCSP).
It claimed that Danny Yonson, a member of Katilingban sang Mangunguma kag Mamumugon sa Malasbalas, Mindangon, was allegedly offered money and a mobile phone to act as an intelligence asset monitoring PDG staff activities.
Another farmer leader, Sherlita Responte, chairperson of Paghiliusa sang Magagmay nga Mangunguma kag Mamumugon sa Barangay Salong kag Camansi (Pammmangas), was reportedly visited by two army personnel from the 15th Infantry Battalion and accused of supporting the NPA.
HRAN said Responte was also compelled to attend a military summons in Barangay Salong.
In Sitio Napudyot, Barangay Orong, HRAN alleged that RCSP personnel from the 94th Infantry Battalion encamped at a barangay gym have been conducting nighttime surveillance on residents.
HRAN expressed alarm over what it described as the growing militarization of farming communities and attacks against community organizations and development NGOs. The group cited Supreme Court pronouncements that red-tagging and similar forms of malicious labeling pose threats to life, liberty and security.
The organization called on the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the reported incidents and implement measures to protect the affected individuals.
HRAN also urged the public to stand up for human rights and oppose actions that undermine freedom of association and other civil liberties./CJ, WDJ