Uwazi

Police arrested at least 20 people at the Pride March in Mendiola, Manila, on Friday, June 26.

Ten members of LGBTQ+ rights group Bahaghari, 8 from other progressive groups, and two drivers have been detained at the Manila Police District.

They were being charged with disobedience of person in authority in relation to Republic Act 11332, otherwise known as the Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases, and Batas Pambansa 880, otherwise known as Public Assembly Act.

The protesters were observing physical distancing and other health protocols when the police arrived to disperse them.

The police did not cite any violations while arresting the protesters and only told them, "Nasa batas iyan na bawal iyan (It's in the law that it's prohibited)," without citing any specific law.

Prior to the the "grand mananita� themed indignation rally on Philippine Independence Day, June 12, human right lawyers had stressed that the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act as well as the public health law, Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases Act, do not prohibit rallies.

At 10 am on Friday, the group marched from Morayta and held a program near the Mendiola Peace Arch to �resist [President Rodrigo] Duterte�s tyranny.�

The Bahaghari-led protest was held to celebrate Pride month and to oppose the anti-terrorism bill.

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Bahaghari spokesperson Rey Valmores-Salinas argued, while being taken away, that they were just excercising their rights.

Salinas, who was among those arrested, said the program was peaceful.

�Hinuli man kami ngayon, walang pandemiya, walang lockdown, at mas lalong walang mga pasistang baboy ang makapipigil ng pagsinag ng Bahaghari (We may have been arrested now but no pandemic, lockdown, or facsist pigs could stop us from making Bahaghari shine)," Salinas, who was already onboard the police vehicle, added.

According to human rights group Karapatan, �queers have the right to protest, speak out, and to take action against a draconian terror law that will impact on citizens� rights.�

�We call on PNP to #FreePride20! To all members of the LGBTQ community and our allies, your support is very important. Let us show them that Pride is not just about the colors that we wear, it is about our love, our solidarity for those who fight for our humanity,� said Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay.

A video posted by Karapatan paralegel officer Jon Callueng showed that the police also attempted to arrest an intern at independent news group Manila Today, who was mistaken as a protester.

This is not the first time for police to arrest protesters during the pandemic, even if they did not violate quarantine rules.

On 26 June 2020, 18 LGBTIQ rights defenders, including NGO workers, were arrested by the police during a peaceful Pride March in Manila, the Philippines.

The local court denied the motion filed by lawyers of Tacloban community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and two human rights defenders during the first hearing, June 23.

Judge Georgina Perez of Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 junked the omnibus motion to quash information, to quash issued search warrant, suppress evidence and return seized items not included in the search warrant.

Cumpio, executive director of online media outfit Eastern Vista; Marielle Domequil, staffer of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) � Eastern Visayas; and, Alexander Abinguna of Katungod Sinirangang Bisaya, the local chapter of Karapatan in the region, are charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. They were arrested along with two others following the February 7 simultaneous raids of Eastern Vista office and joint offices of Bayan-Eastern Visayas and Alliance of Peasants in Eastern Visayas in Tacloban City.

The two others � Marissa Cabaljao of People�s Surge and Mira Legion of Bayan-EV � were charged with illegal possession of firearms and allowed to post bail in February. Cumpio,Domequil and Abigunia remain detained in Tacloban City Jail.

Altermidya, of which Eastern Vista is a member, lamented the court�s decision. �We fear that with this development, the motion to dismiss Frenchie Mae�s case and the other motions filed by her lawyers will also yield an unfavorable ruling,� Altermidya National Coordinator Rhea Padilla told Bulatlat.

�Our call to drop all charges against Frenchie Mae and to immediately release her is now more urgent than ever,� Padilla added.

�To detain our colleague Frenchie Mae for over four months is already a grave travesty and mockery of Philippine democracy. At a time when volunteer human rights defenders and community journalists are needed as frontliners to observe, report, and extend support to their communities in the arduous battle against COVID-19, the spurious charges that locked them up resulted in great disservice to the people. How many stories of the marginalized and underrepresented remain unreported because Frenchie Mae�was not able to perform her duties due to her incarceration?� Padilla said further.

A fact-finding mission in February revealed that the evidence were planted, with guns and ammunition allegedly recovered under the beds and under the tables. A witness said the raiding teams forced all people in both offices to head outside and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint. Members of the raiding team then went inside both offices unaccompanied by any witness, as required by the law, and stayed inside for about 10 minutes.

It was only about 45 or so minutes into the raid were members of the barangay council appeared in the scene to serve as witnesses. It was only when the search party and the barangay officials entered the offices this time around were the guns, ammunition, and explosives were found on top of beds and tables.

Padilla called on fellow journalists and the public to continue demanding Frenchie Mae�s freedom and �resist all attempts to silence critical media and truth-tellers.�

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), College Editors Guild of the Philippines as well as international groups Committee to Protect Journalists, International Association of Women in Radio and Television and AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters) have issued statements calling for the immediate release of Cumpio.

On 23 June 2020, a media worker and two NGO workers detained on false charges were denied proper legal defence during the trial by a court in Tacloban, the Philippines.

In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) condemn the latest attempt by government agents to disseminate false information and libelous claims against human rights defenders. Similar to the red tagging of PAHRA by the 303rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army last April, anonymous groups disseminated on social media, a poorly constructed �matrix� identifying Ritz Lee Santos III as part of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.

On Sunday Santos posted on his facebook timeline an �illustration board� identifying him as a member of the PKP because he organized a rally protesting the Anti-Terrorism Law. The material held no further proof nor details of these accusations. Other human rights lawyers and media personalities in Mindanao were also wrongfully accused as supporters of terrorists.

Contrary to these allegations, in fact, Santos is a board member of Amnesty International, iDEFEND�s Steering Committee member and Executive Director of Balaod Mindanaw, a member organization of PAHRA and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA).

Last week, hundreds of cloned accounts of protesting students also appeared on social media, some of which have appropriated their photos and their online data.

Religious leader Sr. Mary John Mananzan has been repeatedly accused by PCOO Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy of being a high-ranking member of a terrorist organization.

In 2018 President Duterte tagged more than 600 personalities of being members of the communist party including former UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, in an attempt to activate a witch hunt using the Human Security Act, which has since been replaced by the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. The accusations drew national and international criticism for putting human rights defenders� lives at risk and has prompted the UN Secretary General to suggest a psychiatric examination for Duterte.

Likewise, the Foreign Affairs Department has led missions overseas to vilify legitimate civil society organizations as terrorists to try and stem financial and material support for their activities. In local areas posters have been put up in public places pointing to community organizers and activists as terrorists including church workers, students and lawyers.

The government�s fake news and terrorist tagging machinery, including vigilante groups, are �locked and loaded� for the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, following which we believe, will be head on assaults on public dissent and political opposition.

In the midst of a global pandemic which has exposed the serious incompetence of government�s crisis management � failed lockdowns, unaccounted billions for COVID19 response, plummeting economic conditions, corruption at the highest levels in agencies dealing with the pandemic, erratic and uncoordinated decision making- government prioritized the doubling down on political repression and �lawfare� against its own citizens.

Government does this to escape accountability for its failures. It mobilizes the national security apparatus to tag people into silence, while it continues to blame the people for the increase in COVID cases, for the economic collapse, for terrorism.

However, the people will not be denied of their rights, and the people will not give up their voices. We will join them, we will raise them, and we will be louder- against injustice, violence, tyranny. Until finally the new despot and his new cronies, meet the fate of his predecessor.

On 21 June 2020, Ritz Lee Santos III, NGO worker, was victim of online red-tagging after organising a rally against the Anti-Terrorism Law by social media accounts likely linked to the Government in Cagayan de Oro, the Philippines.

A court in the Philippines has found journalist Maria Ressa and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr guilty of "cyber libel", in a controversial case seen as a major test of press freedom under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a decision issued on Monday, the court sentenced Ressa, the executive editor of the news website Rappler, and Santos Jr to a minimum of six months and one day to a maximum of six years in jail. It allowed them to post bail, pending an appeal. They are the first two journalists in the Philippines to be convicted for cyber libel.

Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa also ordered the payment equivalent to $8,000 for moral and exemplary damages to the businessman who lodged the complaint. The complainant originally sought an estimated $1m in damages.

In a press conference following the verdict, Ressa vowed to fight the case, saying the case of Rappler was "a cautionary tale" for the Philippine media.

"It is a blow to us. But it is also not unexpected," Ressa said. "I appeal to you, the journalists in this room, the Filipinos who are listening, to protect your rights. We are meant to be a cautionary tale. We are meant to make you afraid. But don't be afraid. Because if you don't use your rights, you will lose them.

"Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right you have as a Filipino citizen. If we can't hold power to account, we can't do anything," she added, as she fought back tears.

Santos said he was "disappointed" of the verdict and felt "very sad" at the outcome.

The case is the first of at least eight active cases filed against Ressa and her media organisation since Duterte came to office in 2016.

Following the verdict, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said "the court decision should be respected", adding that Duterte "has never been behind any effort to curtail press freedom in the country".

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called the decision "a dark day" for independent Philippine media and all Filipinos.

"The verdict basically kills freedom of speech and of the press," the organisation said. "But we will not be cowed. We will continue to stand our ground against all attempts to suppress our freedoms."

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) described the latest development as "a menacing blow to press freedom".

Amnesty International's Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin described the verdict as a "sham" that should be quashed.

"The accusations against them are political, the prosecution was politically motivated and the sentence is nothing but political," Bequelin said in a statement.

"This guilty verdict follows the shutdown of ABS-CBN, which remains off the air - also after coming under the President's attacks. The international community cannot remain silent in the face of this brazen vendetta against the press."

The cyber-libel case against Ressa and her publication stemmed from a 2017 complaint filed by a businessman over a Rappler story that was published in 2012, before the cybercrime law was passed.

The businessman, Wilfredo Keng, said he was "defamed" when he was linked to the then-Supreme Court chief justice, who was later removed from office through impeachment.

The libel complaint was dismissed in 2018, but the National Bureau of Investigation reversed the decision and recommended to the justice ministry that Ressa and the reporter, Reynaldo Santos Jr, be prosecuted. Prosecutors said they were only following the law. 'Absurd' case

Around the same time, Duterte had sought to close Rappler for alleged foreign ownership and tax evasion, allegations Rappler denied.

The news site had attracted Duterte's ire for its relentless coverage of the so-called "war on drugs" during which thousands of people have died. It also exposed a pro-Duterte network circulating alleged fake news on social media.

In addition to Rappler, Duterte has seemingly also targeted and forced the closure of ABS-CBN, the largest media company in the Philippines, while the owners of the country's largest newspaper, Philippine Daily Inquirer, were forced to sell the publication to a Duterte ally after publishing news reports and editorials critical of the mounting deaths in the "war on drugs".

In a statement, the International Center for Journalists condemned the "state-sponsored legal harassment" in the Philippines.

"ICFJ will continue to support her and her team as they report the news - despite official attempts to silence them."

Ahead of the verdict, Carlos Conde, of Human Rights Watch in the Philippines, said the case against Rappler "should never have been filed to begin with."

"The absurdity of this particular case against Maria Ressa - prosecutors deemed the story in question 'republished' after Rappler corrected one word that was misspelled - suggests the desperation of those behind it to silence her and Rappler," Conde said in a statement to Al Jazeera.

While the article in question had been published in 2012, a spelling correction had been made to one word in 2014, something the prosecutors dubbed a "republication" of the article that put it within reach of the cybercrime law.

During an online forum on Monday, Jose Manuel Diokno, a leading human rights lawyer, predicted a "long battle ahead" as the defendants moved to file an appeal.

"This is not the end of it," said Diokno, a critic of the Duterte administration and opposition candidate for senator in 2019. "There's a strong need for us to generate a lot of public opinion, a lot of press on the government, on the courts, to look very deeply into this case. The ramifications of this case go deep into whether we can still call the country a real democracy."

On 15 June 2020, Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr, media workers, were found guilty of cyberlibel by the Regional Trial Court in Manila, the Philippines.

ON JUNE 13 around 8 p.m., four unidentified armed men barged into the home of community worker Elena Tijamo in Brgy. Kampingganon, Bantayan, Cebu. The abductors, masked and clad in black, reportedly put a tape on Elena�s mouth and tied her hands before taking her away.

Days after her abduction, she remains missing.

Tijamo works as a coordinator for non-government group Farmers Development Center (FARDEC), a regional peasant support organization based in Central Visayas.

Elena, called �Ate Lina,� by her colleagues, oversees the promotion of traditional crop varieties and natural farming methods to FARDEC�s partner-communities across the region. She also coordinated their group�s relief and rehabilitation drive in Yolanda-affected communities in Northern Cebu including Bantayan island.

Tijamo lives with her elderly parents, sister, and her daughter in Bantayan. They witnessed Elena�s abduction last Saturday, and remain at a loss why she was abducted.

According to Patrick Torres, executive director of FARDEC, the group received reports in 2018 that its partner communities in Bantayan Island were visited by the police and military. They reportedly discouraged community members from attending FARDEC�s meetings because the group allegedly �goes against the government�.

He added, �A few months ago, Ate Lina reported that a man claiming to conduct a survey for elderly Covid-19 beneficiaries visited her home but asked for her personal details instead. She later found out that the barangay had no knowledge of a survey.�

Prior to her abduction, Tijamo had shared to her FARDEC colleagues that her neighbors reported of unidentified men constantly asking for her home address.

After her capture, Tijamo�s family was contacted by her abductors. According to Torres, her relatives received text messages instructing them not to contact authorities, and that Elena �will be returned later�.

�But the following day, the abductors called again and allowed the family to talk to Ate Lina,� Torres said. �She was told that she will be released only if social media posts and news reports of her abduction were taken down.� Red-tagged

Torres believes that recent red-tagging incidents against FARDEC and its community workers are connected to the abduction of Tijamo. In November 2019, the organization was labeled a �local front of a communist group� by the military, particularly by Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Major General Reuben Basiao, during a hearing in the House of Representatives.

�The abduction confirmed our worst fear that there is a pattern. Community workers are first vilified through red-tagging, and just like what happened to Ate Lina, became under surveillance and then abducted,� Torres said.

He fears that this pattern would only get worse when the controversial Anti-Terror Bill is signed. �The law removes the protection away from civilians, and gives attackers the legality and freedom to arrest people like community workers,� Torres said. Illegal arrests in the Visayas

This is not the first time that a community worker was captured in the Visayas in recent years, Torres shared.

In March 2018, six community organizers in Negros, known as the Mabinay 6, were arrested and accused of being members of the New People�s Army (NPA). Only this month, a local leader of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), Gaspar Davao, was arrested in Cadiz City while on his way home.

�With the terror bill, anyone can easily be tagged as �terrorist�, and this makes it alarming,� Torres said, adding that they found it ironic that a recent protest against the bill resulted in the arrests of seven Cebu rallyists and a bystander.

�Ate Lina is being held hostage and threatened so she will stop her work among the farmers,� Torres said. �Whoever these people are, they are the terrorists.�

On 13 June 2020, Elena Tijamo, farmers NGO worker, was abducted by four masked men possibly in connection of recent red-tagging of her organisation in Bantayan island, the Philippines.

Laguna � Progressive groups in Iligan City refuteD claims by Iligan City Police regarding the June 12 arrest of 14 students who were protesting the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

On Friday, 16 students, among them members of Kabataan Partylist Northern Mindanao (KPL-NMR), staged a ma�anita-style protest in barangay Palao, Iligan City which lasted five minutes.

According to the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO), the students were invited to ICPO Station 5 for �violating the health protocols on social distancing.�

KPL-NMR and the Students� Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights of MSU-IIT (STAND-IIT) disputed this, stating that the police�s statement was �misleading and is clearly meant to save face and make their warrantless arrest appear legitimate.�

�As shown in a video recorded by one of the protesters, the students were not invited, the police officers dragged them by the arm, caught them in a chokehold and when the students asked them on what grounds they were being arrested, the arresting officers couldn�t cite any violations,� read a joint statement by KPL-NMR and STAND-IIT.

One the officers even shouted �Shoot them!� while the students were being dragged.

This, despite the fact that the students were able to produce legal documents for their protest while observing strict physical distancing. The students were also given ten minutes to conduct their program but chose to stage a five-minute protest, intending to clear out immediately after.

The 14 arrested students were then detained without probable cause for roughly seven hours before they were released before 6 p.m. KPL-NMR and STAND-IIT state that the students were subjected to abuse and intimidation, with one student choked by an officer in plainclothes while he was trying to explain. One student was also labelled as a �recruiter for the New Peoples� Army.�

The officers also confiscated the students� phones and interrogated seven of them before legal counsel arrived, taking personal information from them. Their legal counsel Kristine Campilan stressed that the police officers were violating Republic Act 7438 by conducting a �custodial investigation without the assistance of counsel.�

KPL-NMR and STAND-IIT contend that the state is �trivializ[ing] the protests as mere violations of the government�s social distancing measures,� instead of �addressing the root issues surrounding them.�

�These draconian measures are but a taste of what the government and its fascist machinery can do should the railroaded Anti-Terrorism Bill be passed. It shows how they can set their very own laws aside if these contradict their interests,� their joint statement read.

Not the only case

Police have also used intimidation tactics against protesters in other parts of the country. In Tuguegarao City, police threatened members of Kabataan Partylist Cagayan Valley with arrests should they continue with their own ma�anita.

In Manila, about 40 police officers were immediately deployed in response to a protest staged inside the De La Salle University � Manila campus. There were approximately 20 protesters conducting a short program, including former Deputy Speaker Atty. Erin Ta�ada.

In Manila�s San Pablo Apostol Church, UP Rises Against Tyranny and Dictatorship reported that police officers led by Station Commander Lt. Navidad and Vic Blanco confiscated placards from protesters despite observing proper social distancing measures.

Even the UP Diliman �grand ma�anita� wasn�t safe. Quezon City Police Department officers blocked the entrances along the Commission of Human Rights and the Asian Center, blocking protesters from entering the campus.

These protests were part of a nationwide series of actions calling for the junking of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, which critics have repeatedly slammed as actually targeting activists.

On 12 June 2020, 14 students were intimidated, forcibly dragged to a police station and temporary arrested for protesting against the anti-terror bill in Iligan, the Philippines.

The 7, including minors, belong to local progressive organizations in Cebu. A local journalist is reportedly also among them.

Police arrested at least 8 activists during a protest rally against the anti-terrorism bill on Friday, June 5.

The activists were arrested at the protest site near the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu for violating a ban on mass gatherings under the general community quarantine (GCQ), according to Cebu City police.

The rally started peacefully until the protesters were met by Cebu City police in combat gear and members of the SWAT team.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Melbert Esguerra, deputy director for administration of the Cebu City Police Office, told reporters that the protesters would be taken to the CCPO headquarters at Camp Sotero Cabahug pending the filing of complaints.

None of those detained have been charged as of this posting.

Bayan Central Visayas confirmed that the 8 belonged to local progressive organizations in Cebu. They also said there were minors among those arrested.

According to initial reports, among those arrested was Dyan Gumanao, a community organizer and a reporter for ANINAW Productions, a local affiliate of AlterMidya � People's Alternative Media Network.

Media were not allowed to see the detained activists when they went to the police office.

Videos showed cops, some in plain clothes, entering the campus and chasing down students.

The video also showed campus security guards watching as activists were being chased in the open field area of the college.

Under the Soto-Enrile accord of 1982, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are barred from entering any of the UP campuses without prior permission from the administration or unless they are in hot pursuit of a crime suspect.

The anti-terror bill, approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday and by the Senare months earlier, sparked outrage among human rights groups and concerned citizens, who noted that this law would hand too much power to President Rodrigo Duterte, who had been widely criticized for his human rights record. (READ: 'Draconian' anti-terror bill, feared to be used vs gov't critics, hurdles Congress)

As of posting, at least 27 protesters were still stuck inside the campus while police were posted outside, on Gorordo Avenue.

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines condemned the arrest of the activists. "Duterte's police and military are using militaristic approach instead of heeding the people's demands," the CEGP said in a statement.

UP Office of the Student Regent (UPOSR) also released a statement, urging police to release the detained protestors.

"This clearly manifests how the systemic targeting of critical voices is prevalent everywhere," UPOSR said. "When those in power are not even held accountable, students like ours who are only echoing the public�s sentiments are those who are handcuffed and silenced."

On 5 June 2020, eight including youth, NGO staff and a media worker were chased down by the police and arrested for protesting against the anti-terrorism bill in Cebu City, the Philippines.

Long-time urban poor leader Carlito Badion was killed in Ormoc City, Leyte.

He was found dead along a highway in Ormoc City on May 28, 2020.

Kadamay, where Badion served as its secretary general for a long time, assailed his killing, describing the slain leader as �determined and brave.�

Two days before his killing, Kadamay said Badion was red-tagged and received death threats.

In a statement, Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said Badion was �another victim of state-sponsored murders as his death comes after numerous incidents of political harassment, vilification, and red-tagging that he experienced.�

�Badion championed the cause of the homeless and the informally settled. He was instrumental in Kadamay�s housing occupation campaigns and community barricades against demolition. Because of this, he and other fellow urban poor activists were repeatedly and ruthlessly maligned and harassed, and were labeled as criminals, or worse as enemies of the state, as terrorists,� Gaite said.

Stop the Killings in the Philippines � Canada Network said Badion was a �leader who valiantly defended the right to housing of marginalized sectors.�

He has helped various communities facing threats of demolition such as Sitio San Roque in Quezon City and Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City � fighting with residents along barricades they built to defend their homes and livelihoods.

Badion also brought to fore the issues confronting substandard relocation sites.

On 28 May 2020, Carlito Badion, community-based defender, was shot dead by unknown assailants shortly after receiving death threats and being red-tagged in Ormoc City, the Philippines.

Journalists over the weekend condemned the misuse of a photo from a safety training seminar in 2013 to insinuate links between an ABS-CBN journalist and communist rebels.

The photo used was of Rowena "Weng" Carranza-Paraan�former National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chair�and other women journalists in a forested area crouching around what looks to be an injured man. "A MindaNews photograph of a simulation exercise during the first aid module of the country�s first all-women media safety training in Cagayan de Oro City in March 2013 has been maliciously used to red-tag a journalist, an act MindaNews vehemently condemns," Davao City-based MindaNews said on Friday.

In a series of social media posts published on Wednesday, May 13 over Facebook, a certain Aram dela Cruz accused Paraan, along with ten other women, of treating wounded communist rebels in the photograph.

"What is the real connection between Paraan and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People�s Army-National Democratic Front. Does ABS-CBN know this?" Dela Cruz wrote in Filipino in the posts, which also included a solo photograph of Paraan.

The photo and the false claim have since been spread by other Facebook users.

The picture was taken almost a decade ago, during an all-women safety training seminar organized by the NUJP at the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro City., MindaNews, which carried the photo in its 2013 article on the workshop, said.

According to an earlier fact check by journalism students at UP Diliman, "the 2013 training was held ... for about 20 journalists from Pagadian, Zamboanga, Lanao del Norte, Kidapawan and Surigao del Norte and development communication students from Mati, Davao Oriental."

Taken by photojournalist Vic Kintanar, the photograph shows a simulation module on administering first aid to an injured person facilitated by Paraan, a media safety trainer certified by the International News Safety Institute.

The ten other women as well as the "wounded man" in the photo were also journalists.
'Malicious twisting to mislead others'

Paraan, also a former Philippines Center for Investigative Journalism research head, currently serves as the head of "Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo", the citizen journalism arm of ABS-CBN Corp. whose broadcast operations were ordered ceased by the government after its franchise expired.

On her social media accounts, Paraan said: "Unfortunately, those who want to maliciously twist a media safety training photo taken in 2013, conducted in coordination with the 4th ID...are using the MindaNews photo to mislead others."

Though Dela Cruz's photos have been taken down, the same photos have been reposted by pro-administration Facebook page Enlightened Pinoy.

The two posts read in Filipino: "Run NPA run. Pictures of injured NPA rebels being treated in the forest," and "Exposed! Please explain. What is the real connection between Rowena Paraan, (NUJP) head of Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo of ABS-CBN, and the CPP-NPA_NDF? What are you doing in the mountains?"

"MindaNews condemns the malicious use of the 2013 photograph as it endangers the lives of Paraan, the 10 Mindanao-based women journalists in the photograph and the lone male reporter who acted as the 'injured' person," the news website said.

It adds that "the historic all-women safety training was organized by NUJP in coordination with the Philippine Army�s 4th Infantry Division, which handled two sessions."

NUJP, in a separate statement, said that it "has been holding media safety trainings all over the country for more than a decade amid the continued killing of media workers, intensified attacks and increased cases of harassment against the media."

It added: "It is utterly shameless but dangerous that a historic media safety training aimed at protecting and ensuring the safety of media workers is being used to malign, threaten and put journalists and the NUJP in danger."

Academics both local and international have said that the Philippines today is the "patient zero" of digital disinformation owing to cyber-troll armies linked to supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte. 'Utterly shameless but dangerous'

In a statement, the NUJP slammed the posts for twisting the photographs' narratives and endangering the lives of the journalists depicted.

The union is one of many progressive groups publicly accused of being a legal front for communist rebels by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which earlier erroneously claimed in a series of graphics that the halt order on ABS-CBN's broadcast operations was due to numerous legal issues.

These issues had been addressed at a Senate hearing but not at the House of Representatives, which did not hold hearings on bills to renew the network's franchise. The National Telecommunications Commission's cease and desist order against ABS-CBN was premised on the lapsed franchise, and not on the legal issues that NTF-ELCAC claimed.

After being criticized for being a peddler of false information, NTF-ELCAC said that communist rebels were "taking advantage" of the closure of the broadcast giant. It did not acknowledge or explain why it spread the false claims. In the past weeks, media groups have expressed caution over what they called shrinking space for fundamental freedoms, as the past two months of enhanced community quarantine have seen citizens arrested for posting opinions critical of the administration on social media.

On 13 May 2020, Rowena Carranza-Paraan, media worker, was victim of online red-tagging by an unkown social media account suspectedly linked to the Government in the Philippines.

Human rights watchdog Karapatan Rizal reported that their secretary general, Gloria Rodriguez and three other companions were temporarily detained on �violations� of the enhanced community quarantine in Antipolo, Rizal, May 7.

The group stated that Rodriguez, or Nanay Oya to her colleagues, 65, and her team were investigating reports related to a March 28 encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People�s Army. The encounter left two dead, with one missing. Karapatan Rizal responded to requests from family members of the missing individual, whose remains they suspect were taken by the military and eventually found on April 3, in Tanay, almost 80 kilometers away from the site of the encounter in barangay Puray, Rodriguez, Rizal.

Rodriguez and her team worked to recover the bodies for autopsy. They managed to secure a police report and a death certificate from the Rodriguez PNP on April 3, but were denied access to the remains. They have since continued to clamor and arrange documents for the release of the remains.

The group was filing necessary documents and had just come from the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Taytay when they were stopped at a checkpoint in barangay San Jose, Antipolo by soldiers of the 80th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.

Although her group had quarantine passes signed by barangay officials, they were arrested on May 7 on alleged ECQ violations and detained at the Antipolo Municipal Police Station around 7:30 p.m.

No charges were filed and the group was released that same evening, 9 p.m.

Karapatan Rizal was quick to point out that the incident was only the latest in a series of �harassment and delaying tactics� performed by the 80th IB designed to �deny the family of their latest victim justice and hide their crimes.�

As of this writing, Rodriguez and her team are still trying to secure the remains of the deceased.

The group noted that the military has been �characteristically uncooperative� to their requests, instead opting to �pass [them] around from agency to agency in hopes of frustrating the fact-finding mission.�

Karapatan Rizal also reported cases of harassment done against the family and relatives of the dead, as well as the imposition of �unnecessary qualifications� to dispute the family�s claim.

�These are the tell-tale signs that the military is trying to cover up their tracks,� Karapatan Rizal said. �It�s almost sickening how the AFP can just play with the tragedies of their victims like it was a game.�

The March 28 encounter occurred well within the period of simultaneous unilateral ceasefire between the AFP and NPA. Both sides claim that the other broke their own ceasefires by launching an attack in barangay Puray.

In a statement, the 80th IB claimed that they were conducting �community work� when they were ambushed by �about 30 NPA fighters�, resulting in a firefight.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines, however, disputed this. The NDFP said �sources within the military� stated that a team led by a Staff Sargeant Angot was conducting a patrol when they ambushed NPA members conducting a medical mission in the area.

�This is another addition to the 80th IB�s laundry list of human rights violations and crimes against the people of Rizal,� said Karapatan Rizal in a statement. �They are exploiting the pandemic and ECQ to spread fake news and black propaganda against the people�s clamor for mass testing and social amelioration.�

They condemned the 80th IB and called on them to �provide medical services and relief,� instead of �sticking to the fascism and harassment that they know.�

On 7 May 2020, four NGO workers were temporarily arrested by the police while conducting investigative work on rights violations during the lockdown in Rizal Province, the Philippines.

A Philippine radio broadcaster from the central island of Negros has been shot dead, becoming the third media worker slain in Dumaguete City since 2018 and the 16th nationwide since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in June 2016.

Cornelio Pepino was riding home from work on his motorcycle with his wife late on Tuesday when he was shot and killed, capping a turbulent 24 hours in the country's media industry, which also saw the closure of its largest television network.

According to the police report obtained by Al Jazeera, two unidentified male perpetrators on a motorcycle shot and killed Pepino, also known as Rex Cornelio to radio listeners in the community.

Before fleeing, the attackers shot the victim once more in the head, according to a radio report quoting Pepino's wife, Colen.

The 48-year-old Pepino was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In a video, Colen, who was unharmed, was seen weeping and begging for help on her mobile phone, while cradling her bleeding husband who was slumped next to their overturned motorcycle. Police said an investigation is "still ongoing".

The Philippines is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, with at least 186 media professionals killed since the country's return to democracy in 1986, according to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP).

Media observers say the level of impunity has reached an unprecedented level since Duterte was elected president.

This latest media killing comes as the country is under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Across the country, police have set up several checkpoints, raising questions about how Pepino's killers managed to flee.

Al Jazeera has learned that just days before Pepino's killing, a police checkpoint was set up near the area of the shooting incident, but that had been decommissioned after some of the restrictions were eased in the city. Critic of government corruption

In his afternoon radio programme, Pepino was known as a critic of corruption in local government in Negros. He had also criticised the distribution of allegedly overpriced food packs to communities affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

The management of the radio station where Pepino worked told Al Jazeera it was "saddened and angered by the senseless and brutal killing".

While "hard-hitting" in his commentaries, colleagues were quoted as saying the victim never used profanity and would never flare up with emotion on the radio.

"Authorities should leave no stone unturned in bringing the killers of journalist Rex Cornelio Pepino to justice," said Shawn Crispin, Committee to Protect Journalists senior Southeast Asia representative.

"Until the Philippine government shows it is serious about solving media murders, the vicious cycle of impunity will continue."

The Dumaguete Press Club said the attack could be "politically motivated since politics was his favourite topic, which might have hit the nerve of some political sectors", adding that "divine justice in all its forms will unmistakably come and be served". 'New level of impunity'

Meanwhile, the NUJP urged the Duterte administration to investigate the murder immediately.

"We demand justice for Cornelio Pepino, aka Rex Cornelio, and will continue to hold this government accountable for every death that remains unsolved."

In a statement, Joel Egco of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security vowed that "justice will be served" and that police have been directed "to hunt down the suspects".

"As in the past cases we handled, we will leave no stone unturned," Egco said.

Maria Ela Atienza, professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said that while the killing of journalists and targeting of media companies are nothing new in the country, "it got worse".

"The level of impunity and the killing of journalists and critics has been pushed to a new level by the Duterte administration," Atienza told Al Jazeera.

Since becoming president, Duterte has been known to denounce the press for critical coverage of his administration, including the deadly war on drugs that left thousands of people dead.

He had previously cursed foreign journalists for their reporting and said corrupt journalists are legitimate targets of assassination.

On Tuesday, the country's largest media company, ABS-CBN, which was a frequent target of the president's tirades, was forced to shut down after his allies in Congress refused to renew on time the station's 25-year licence to operate.

The government had also filed charges against the Rappler website and its editor, Maria Ressa and forced the country's largest newspaper, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, to sell the publication to billionaire Ramon Ang, a Duterte ally.

President Duterte, however, has repeatedly assured reporters that he welcomes questions from the media and that the country still has a free press.

"I have nothing against you. I am not at liberty to [be] angry at anybody," said Duterte.

Atienza said that given Duterte's popularity now as president, it is surprising that "the level of insecurity of his administration is so high it has to threaten and harass critics".

"This is worsened by a group of rabid bloggers and PR (public relations) machine working relentlessly not only through regular media but social media to attack critics and promote intrigues and fake news."

On 5 May 2020, Cornelio Pepino, media worker, was shot dead by unknown assailants for allegedly criticising the Government in Dumaguete, the Philippines.

At least 76 were arrested by authorities in separate incidents today, May 1.

Scores of those arrested were providing meals to the poor communities of Metro Manila. Ten volunteers of a feeding program in Marikina and 18 youth volunteers of a community kitchen in barangay Central in Quezon City were apprehended by the police.

In Jaro, Iloilo, 35 members of progressive organizations were arrested while holding a protest caravan on the killing of Bayan Muna officer Jory Porquia. Seven community journalists, including the daughter of Porquia, were also nabbed and charged with violation of BP 880, disobedience to persons in authority and Republic Act 11332.

Four other activists were arrested in Paso de Blas in Valenzuela City and two workers in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, described Labor Day in the Philippines, �Arrests of a grieving daughter and colleagues of a slain relief worker in Iloilo, of relief workers providing aid to hungry residents of Marikina and workers in Quezon City, and of those expressing workers� just demands for rights and welfare, staged/fake surrenders of workers in Laguna � these should make everyone realize that it is but just and it is but right to speak out and act for our people�s rights and wellbeing.�

In Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna, 16 Coca-Cola workers who were picked up by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday were presented to the media this afternoon as New People�s Army surrenderees.

�Why is the Duterte regime on mass arrest mode? Is that the only government response they are capable of? Why are Filipinos being prevented from speaking out on their legitimate issues and grievances?� said Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

Tulong Kabataan decried the arrest of their volunteers, including the group�s spokesperson Joshua Marcial.

�Many of our workers, the backbone of our society, have lost their jobs during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Millions are still uncertain regarding job security, as well as receiving social amelioration program and other aid from the government,� the group said in a statement.

Meanwhile, urban poor group Kadamay-Metro Manila reported that at about 4 p.m. members of the police went to the house of Fidel Columna, leader of Kilos na Homeless. The police reportedly said that they needed to be brought to the police station because of their social media posts. Also arrested are Marlina Abique and couples Danny and Ann Calunsad.

Harassment

Meanwhile, members of the ACT4PH team on the other hand were able to evade arrest by showing their permit to the police in front of the members of the media and barangay officials in Visayas Ave., Quezon City.

At least 50 state agents wearing civilian clothes on board private SUVs, two police mobile, and motorcycles flagged and cordoned the team�s vehicle at the corner of Visayas Avenue and Forestry Street this morning.

�Agents in plainclothes, without identifying themselves confiscated the driver�s license and, maliciously and falsely accused him of being seen at San Roque last night. For 30 minutes, the operatives held our team at the site, demanded that the teacher-leaders alight the vehicle and to present a permit for the activity,� the group said.

ACT4PH team showed the vehicle�s interior to prove that they only had food and facemasks with them.

�The operatives could not hold the team any longer as no violation can be found,� said Raymond Basilio, secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

�Blocking humanitarian activities of organizations and private groups is a third blow to the suffering people who have been locked down first, then neglected by the government,� Basilio added.

Meanwhile, members of Kilusang Mayo Uno were also harassed on the eve of labor day as they spotted police vehicles outside its headquarters. The group said that local organizations have also reported police and military deployment across urban poor and workers� communities in Metro Manila.

�As the country observes international Labor Day, we urge all Filipinos to condemn the Duterte regime for treating workers like criminals, instead of upholding their rights and improving their welfare,� Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson said in a statement.

On 1 May 2020, 28 community-based HRD, were arrested by the police for distributing food to urban poor groups during the lockdown in Quezon City, the Philippines.

A priest, a lawyer, members of the community media and activists were arrested in Iloilo City this morning, May 1.

Progressive groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay were holding an indignation caravan to demand justice for slain Bayan Muna Party-list Iloilo City coordinator Jose Reynaldo �Jory� Porquia when they were barred by at least 50 policemen.

Elmer Foro, secretary general of Bayan-Panay, said they negotiated with the police to allow them to lay wreath and light candles where Porquia was killed. When the police denied their plea, they decided to voluntarily disperse.

As they were about to leave the premises of Jaro Plaza, the police blocked them and were told that they were under arrest.

�We condemn in strongest possible terms the high-handed manner by which the Philippine National Police tramples the sovereign people�s rights to assembly, our right to protest, and our right to seek redress of grievances,� said Foro in a statement.

He added that these are people�s inalienable rights enshrined in the 1987 Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Among the arrested are Fr. Marco Sulayao of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), Diocese of Iloilo and National Union of Peoples� Lawyers-Iloilo Atty. Angelo Karlo Guillen.

Seven of the 42 arrested are journalists covering the protest caravan. They are Panaysayon staff Mc Mae Sulayao, Kervin Bingansinco, Krisma Nina Porquia and Gaybel Rei Gullen; Julrod Prino of Panay Today; Crimson Labinghisa and Bryan Bosque of Dampig Katarungan.

Panaysayon, is a video production group established in 2017. Dampig Katarungan on the other hand is a radio program in Aksyon Radyo Iloilo while established in 2010 and Panay Today is a digital print established in 2015.

Krisma is the daughter of Porquia.

They are currently detained at the Jaro Police Station and were charged with violation of Batas Pambansa 880, disobedience to persons in authority, violation of the Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, and a local ordinance.

In a statement, the NUPL condemened the series of arrests today.

�The directive and orientation of the police-military leadership is clear: no mercy, no quarters given and no local civilian official can stand in the way (especially if it involves the Left) because we call the shots. That�s San Roque, Norzaragay, barangay Central, Marikina and other,� said NUPL President Edre Olalia.

On 1 May 2020, 42 including a lawyer, media workers and community-based defenders were arrested by the police while staging a peaceful protest for the killing of a fellow defender in Iloilo City, the Philippines.

The police arrest two labor leaders from Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino who staged a protest in a subdivision in Rodriguez, Rizal

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The coronavirus lockdown has pushed millions to stay at home, but Filipino workers staged Labor Day protests on Friday, May 1, while maintaining distance from each other.

Several small protests pushed through without any problems, but two members of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) were arrested by the police Friday for allegedly breaking enhanced quarantine rules.

BMP vice president Lito Rastica and labor leader Renaldo Dulay led a protest with 6 other people in a subdivision in Rodriguez, Rizal. Cops arrested them before noon.

Since it's a holiday, the workers cannot post bail. BMP said that the labor leaders' inquest proceedings will be on Monday, May 3, yet, which means the two will be detained until then.

In other parts of the country, BMP members and communities held noise barrage outside their homes.

Women in Cavite, meanwhile, took to the streets to protest their dire condition. "Kung kulang noon ang ating pagkain, mas kulang pa ang pakain kasulukuyang nangyayari dulot ng COVID19 na ito. (If our food lacked before, now it's even lacking because of this COVID-19)," a woman said in a video. Silent protests, noise barrage

Organized by various labor groups, the workers' main call this year revolves around job security and better social protection.

On early Friday morning, unionists from the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation with the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Pier gathered at the Port of Manila.

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Those who joined the protest wore red shirts and face masks, while others donned face shields. All of them brought placards, calling for mass testing, a faster disbursement of cash aid, and hazard pay increase.

Fishermen under the fisheries group PAMALAKAYA Pilipinas, meanwhile, called for immediate government aid to agricultural workers.

KMU, BMP, and the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition and its member organizations organized separate virtual rallies as part of their call for "deep systemic change" post-lockdown.

More than two million Filipinos have lost their jobs or under a "No Work, No Pay" scheme in 87,301 establishments nationwide, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.

But those who have received aid so far is just a small fraction of the reported job displacement. Some 600,000 private and informal sector workers have received the P5,000 cash aid from the government, which is just 26% of the affected workers.

On 1 May 2020, two labour right defenders, were arrested by the police for allegedly breaking quarantine rules while joining a protest on Labour Day in Rodriguez, Rizal, the Philippines.

A leader of Bayan Muna Party-list was gunned down in Iloilo City this morning, April 30.

Panay Today reported that witnesses heard several gunshots and saw men wearing masks at barangay Sto, Nino, Arevalo District, Iloilo City.

Jory Porquia sustained nine gunshots according to his son, Lean.

�They killed my tatay, mercilessly. Nine gunshots to kill him, nine! He was alone. He was defenseless,� Lean said in his post in social media.

Siegfred D. Deduro, Bayan Muna vice president for Visayas, suspects that perpetrators are state agents. He said Porquia was harassed by members of Iloilo police prior his killing.

Porquia was leading the relief operations and education campaign on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to the poor communities in Iloilo City, which is also placed under enhanced community quarantine.

Deduro said that while Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Tre�as welcomed initiatives in educating and feeding the residents who are under the ECQ, these did not sit well with the police.

�They prevent activists in doing volunteer work in fighting the pandemic, even to the extent of spreading blatant lies that food served by activists is contaminated with COVID-19 virus. Apparently, the Philippine National Police gets instructions from their generals ignoring the policies of local chief executives,� Deduro said in a statement.

Colleagues and friends of Porquia strongly condemned the killing and demanded justice.

Porquia was an activist since martial law. After the Edsa People Power in 1986, Porquia served as officer-in-charge of the National Youth Commission under then President Cory Aquino.

Eventually, Porquia became an overseas Filipino worker, organizing and advocating for Filipino migrants� rights. When he returned to the Philippines, he helped form Migrante chapter in Panay. He was also one of the founders of Bayan Muna in the province.

�Jory is a great loss to the progressive movement for social transformation, but will inspire Bayan Muna members and all activists to persist in advancing �new politics� against the tyrannical rule of the current administration,� said Deduro.

Clarizza Singson of Karapatan Negros who knew Porquia since she was a student described him as jolly and artistic person.

�Kaupod Jory, you will be missed by the masses whom you served and loved!� Singson said in her social media post.

Meanwhile, Lean remembered his father as someone who has always been there when needed.

�How can I go home and grieve? How can we cry for justice when justice is elusive for people who fight for justice? I can only place my rage in words that mean nothing to those who killed you,� Lean said.

On 30 April 2020, Jory Porquia, long-term pro-democracy defender, was assassinated by unknown assailants in Iloilo City, the Philippines.

On 30 April 2020, the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, based in Murcia, Province of Negros Occidental published a post on its Facebook profile where it falsely links at least five human rights organisations with communist groups, and thus redtagging them and labelling them as affiliated with terrorists.

On 30 April 2020, at least five were NGOs victim of online red-tagging by the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army in Murcia, the Philippines.

Together with my family and organization, I vehemently condemn the relentless attacks and red-tagging against me, my children and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance through social media at this time of COVID-19 pandemic. These are undoubtedly perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and their minions. Many of their smear campaign materials are posted in their Facebook pages and individual accounts, and the fake and troll accounts of their minions.

We condemn in the strongest terms possible the latest malicious attack against me and my children last night on Facebook as attached. The disinformation post shows a photo of my children in their indigenous attire during the annual Begnas in Sagada. The Facebook account of my youngest son, who is a minor, was also locked for 5 days. Prior to these, series of red-tagging, political vilification, cursing me dead, and threats to myself, family and CPA were also posted on Facebook. These are direct threats, harassment, intimidation and political vilification especially against my children with a clear intent to harm not only myself but also my family. This is State terrorism.

To the AFP, PNP and their minions, why do you include attacking my children? They have nothing to do with my work and life as an activist. What you are doing is inhumane treatment and evil act. Is this the kind of AFP and PNP that we have in the Philippines? Wala din ba kayong pamilya at mga anak? Paano kung idadamay rin ang mga anak at pamilya ninyo sa trabaho ninyo bilang militar o pulis o mga alipures nila? Sya et na nan kanan tako en INAYAN wenno PANIYEW!

To the AFP, PNP and their minions, why red-tag and attack me? Am I a threat to you? I am just a civilian and activist serving the people. At this time of Covid-19 and socio-economic crisis, why don�t you focus your efforts and resources in helping the people and stop red-tagging and destroying families? You should engage in humane, professional, reasonable and meaningful discussion on issues I raised in social media. You should avoid personal attacks and threats. You should not curse us and attack my children. Stop red-tagging civilians especially at this time of pandemic when people are experiencing great health and economic hardships.

To those who truly believe in Inayan and God, we enjoin you to condemn these acts, call for accountability of the AFP and the PNP, and call for a stop to impunity that is allowing these to happen.

Let me reiterate: I am a civilian, environmental activist, and human rights defender. I am the current chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) For the Defense of the Ancestral Domain and Self Determination. When I was in college, I was a student activist fighting for student rights and welfare. Upon graduating from college, I volunteered fulltime with the CPA, working for indigenous peoples rights and human rights, social justice and democracy. I�m also an officer of national and international indigenous peoples organizations.

CPA was established in 1984 and its name speaks for what it has been doing for the past decades as a people�s organization. It is an independent alliance of indigenous peoples organizations and sectoral alliances in the Cordillera. It is a legal organization, not an armed organization, and not connected to the New Peoples Army (NPA) or any armed groups.

In the Philippines, State attacks thru red-tagging and political vilification are meant to demonize activists and their progressive organizations in public towards extrajudicial killings, illegal arrests, and enforced disappearance.

Let us call on the Philippine government, AFP and PNP to seriously adhere to human rights and international humanitarian law. Civilians and non-combatants must be protected by parties in the armed conflict: the AFP/PNP and NPA. The Philippine government, the AFP and PNP who are in power and duty-bearers have the primary responsibility to serve and protect civilians. The relentless attacks against civilians like me, my family and CPA by the AFP and PNP violate and contradict their basis of existence.

I believe there are good men and women in the AFP and PNP who take side with the people and perform what is expected of them for the rights and welfare of civilians. They can do more for the country and people to stop the attacks against the people.

On 27 April 2020, Windel Bolinget, leader of indigenous coalition 'Cordillera Peoples Alliance', his children were targeted by online red-tagging from the national police and military in Benguet, the Philippines.

Nine contractual workers from the Coca-Cola Femsa Plant in Santa Rosa were brought to Camp Macario Sakay in Los Ba�os, Laguna after finishing a 12-hour shift, where they were accused of being �members of the revolutionary New People�s Army,� April 23.

This would not be the first time Coca-Cola workers would experience harassment during the ongoing lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Between April 1 and 2, armed police officers visited the houses of Coca-Cola unionists and insisted they �surrender� as members of the NPA.

One worker, who asked for anonymity , stated that he and 10 others were asked by Jury Montellana, chairperson of Liga ng Manggagawa para sa Regular na Hanapbuhay sa Planta ng Coca-Cola (LIGA), to go to Camp Macario Sakay, but only nine of them decided to go.

Inside Camp Macario Sakay, the nine workers were interrogated in batches of three, and each batch was asked different questions. Some common questions were about who their instructors were, what courses they took, and if they �took an oath.�

Labor group Defend Coca-Cola Workers stated LIGA members were attending educational discussions such as a Course on True, Militant, and Nationalist Unionism, Union Administration, Collective Bargaining Agreement tactics, labor laws, and so on.

The nine workers were also promised regularization in exchange for not participating in union activities.

�Turncoat opportunist�

The nine workers also identified Rey Austria Medellin, a labor leader inside the Coca-Cola union, to be collaborating with the Philippine National Police.

A statement by labor group Defend Coca-Cola Workers identified Medellin as a known police asset whose job is to �point out who the leaders are and, alongside the PNP, go to their houses to intimidate at force to surrender as members of the NPA.�

The Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions � Southern Tagalog (RCTU-ST) condemned Medellin, calling him an �example of an opportunist leader who, after benefitting from the union�s struggle, is ready to sell out the union�s and his class� interests in exchange for minuscule rewards from capitalists and fascists.�

According to RCTU-ST, Medellin was a high ranking labor leader, and was in fact a victim of harassment from a certain Tom Garcia due to his involvement in the Coca-Cola union. Medellin was also plagued by financial trouble and struggled to raise his 10 children.

The Coca-Cola union was set to report the harassment faced by Medellin to the United Nations� International Labour Organization, while also preparing how to assist Medellin in his financial instability.

However, RCTU-ST Spokesperson Fortunato Magtanggol said Medellin �exposed himself as collaborating with the capitalists of Coke and the military� as early as February, when he expressed his plan to dismantle the union with the aid of Rene Escuadra, head of Coca-Cola�s security.

Last March 29, Medellin was identified by RCTU-ST as one of the �surrenderees� paraded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a �fake ceremony� on 40 NPA members at Camp Vicente Lim, presenting himself under the alias Rebo.

Medellin was also identified to have accompanied the police in harassing Coca-Cola workers in their homes, April 1 and 2.

�Shameful collusion�

Defend Coca-Cola Workers described the incident as a �clear case of harassment and anti-union practice�, calling it �shameful and infuriating� that Coca-Cola would �collude with the AFP and PNP to take advantage of the hunger, fear and struggle faced by many due to the COVID-19 pandemic.�

The group pointed out that both the Philippine Constitution and the Labor Code protect the workers� rights to unionize, engage in union activities, and to strike, citing Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution and Article 211 of the Labor Code.

Defend Coca-Cola Workers also stated that the �capitalists of Coca-Cola clearly want to break the union and take back the victories it has gained by conflating unionism with revolutionary movements and the NPA.�

About 430 Coca-Cola workers went on strike in 2013, which resulted in regularization and other benefits. edellin was one of the workers who were regularized following the three-day strike. Due to continuing concerns over contractualization and union-busting, 140 LIGA members staged a strike five years later in March 2018, which also resulted in a victory for the workers.

On 24 April 2020, nine labour rights defenders, were harassed and red-tagged by their employer due to their trade unionism in Santa Rosa, the Philippines.

Charges will be filed against former lawmaker Ariel Casilao and six other volunteers who were on their way to distribute relief packs in Bulacan province for allegedly violating quarantine rules, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.

The former Anakpawis party-list representative and six other volunteers of Sagip Kanayunan and Tulong Anakpawis relief operations were flagged down at a checkpoint in Norzagaray town Sunday morning.

They were brought to Norzagaray Municipal Police Station without clear explanation why there were brought there and then brought to Malolos Provincial Police Station �only to be yelled at for giving out �anti-government propaganda materials and accused of being supporters or recruiters of the New People�s Army,� Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura said Monday.

Casilao is vice chairperson of UMA.

Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya claimed the food pass acquired by the volunteers was unauthorized but fishers' group Pamalakaya said the food pass used for the relief efforts was issued by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources national director Eduardo Gongona.

In a statement on Sunday, SAKA (Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo) said the relief efforts in Bulacan have been done "in close coordination with Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-affiliated peasant organizations" since the start of the Luzon lockdown.

"Organizations would directly purchase fresh produce from farmers in San Jose del Monte and Norzagaray for distribution to different communities, and would also bring relief packs to these farmers for needs they cannot grow in the agricultural land they till and struggle for," the group also said. 'Attempted mass gathering'

The DILG spokesperson accused the team of volunteers of attempting to conduct a mass gathering in the guise of distributing relief goods. He also claimed that tarpaulins and �propaganda materials� were found in the jeepney that ferried Casilao and other volunteers.

Malaya said the volunteers will be charged for allegedly violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, which punishes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.

Casilao will be also charged for usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

�Anakpawis will have their day in court. The DILG assures them of due process. Sa korte na sila magpaliwanag,� he said. �Blatant harassment�

Casilao slammed on Monday what he called �blatant harassment and outright red-tagging at a time when aid is urgently needed by the poor.�

�The government should stop criminalizing organizations and individuals who simply want to give much needed relief as they should stop arresting the poor for asking for aid just like what they did with San Roque 21,� he said, referring to the residents of Sitio San Roque who were arrested after demanding food and financial aid during a protest early in April.

Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap, former Anakpawis party-list representative, said the incident was a �vile harassment� against humanitarian volunteers who are considered frontliners.

�Contrary to the statement of [Undersecretary] Malaya, we underwent through a proper process in applying for the food pass, so that our delivery of relief packs to the distressed fishing and farming communities will not be hampered,� he also said.

The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, for its part, urged Philippine authorities to work with organizations that try to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

On 19 April 2020, seven community-based defenders providing relief packs during the lockdown were red-tagged by the police and charged with false accusations in Norzagaray, the Philippines.

While they condemned her warrantless arrest, civic organizations in Cebu and in other parts of the country are calling for the immediate release of Cebuana entrepreneur and film writer Ma. Victoria �Bambi� Beltran.

Movement Against Tyranny � Cebu (MAT � Cebu), Concerned Artists of the Philippines, and DAKILA issued separate statements expressing condemnation of Beltran�s arrest past midnight on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

They also rallied to have the artist released from the custody of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO � 7) citing statements from Beltran�s camp that her arrest was without any legal basis.

Read: Police arrest Cebuana entrepreneur accused of posting false information

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella accused Beltran, whom he once appointed to the city�s cinema development council, of allegedly peddling false information.

Labella was referring to a Facebook post that Beltran made alleging that over 9,000 residents in Sitio Zapatera in Barangay Luz, Cebu City have already been infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

However, Beltran�s legal counsel Vincente Isles and DAKILA, a group of writers where she is a member of, said the post was of satirical nature and was not intended to sow public confusion and panic.

�This statement (which Beltran posted on social media) echoed reports from local news that health officials from DOH Central Visayas considered the whole sitio with a population of 9,000 as infected or presumed contaminated,� DAKILA said.

Both MAT � Cebu and DAKILA also called for local government officials to direct their focus on responding to the pandemic that has infected 165 individuals in Cebu City as of April 19, 2020.

�What we need is an efficient government willing and able to address the medical and socio-economic needs of its constituents, not a leviathan very eager to maintain its posture to the extent of persecuting ordinary citizens,� MAT- Cebu said.

The groups also share the observation that Beltran�s arrest was an attack and a threat to freedom of speech and expression.

�This targeting and arrest is a vicious attack on freedom of expression amidst the continuing failure of the national and local governments to ensure expanded and systematic mass testing and a comprehensive public information drive on the pandemic,� the Concerned Artists of the Philippines stated.

Beltran was arrested in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City at around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2020.

High profile lawyer Benjamin Militar, who is part of Beltran�s legal counsel, said they found out that police arrested their client without any accompanying warrant and that no legal basis was cited.

Police Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, PRO � 7 director, said Beltran would be facing charges for the violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Law.

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On 19 April 2020, Victoria Beltran, NGO worker, was arrested without warrant by the police over a satirical Facebook post related to COVID-19 handling in Cebu City, the Philippines.

Farmers and human rights groups are condemning the killing of a peasant leader who had been tagged as a member of New People�s Army (NPA) whom the military said was killed in a clash in Miag-ao town, Iloilo province last Saturday (April 18).

The leftist groups were also calling for the release of 11 persons, including minors, who were captured by the military and tagged as rebels.

The farmers group Pamanggas said John Farochilin was one of its council members and chair of the local peasant group Alyansa sang Mangunguma sa Miag-ao.

�We are saddened as we are angry at the cold-blooded murder of a dedicated peasant leader,� Cris Chavez, Pamanggas secretary general said.

Chavez said Farochilin was a key leader in the campaign to address hunger and poverty among farmers of Iloilo and to seek government assistance at the height of the El Ni�o weather phenomenon.

The Army�s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion overran a rebel camp at the village of Cabalunan in Miag-ao and killed one rebel after a 35-minute gunfight.

The 3ID said in a statement that soldiers arrested seven persons, including a minor, and recovered firearms, improvised explosive devices, medical paraphernalia and rebel documents.

In another statement, the 301st Brigade said soldiers had captured rebels, including five minors.

But the NPA�s Mt. Napulak Command, which operates in southern Panay, denied that a clash occurred between rebels and government soldiers.

In a statement, Ilaya Kanaway, the command�s spokesperson, said no rebel was killed or captured as there was no clash in the first place.

The human rights groups Karapatan said those arrested were civilians and residents of the village of Igpanulong in Sibalom town in Antique province.

Reylan Vergara, citing an account of the mother of one of those arrested, said the men captured by the military were just gathering honey from beehives which they intended to sell when they were chanced upon by the soldiers.

In another statement, the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army lauded the bravery of soldiers of the 94th Infantry Battalion during a clash with NPA rebels at a village in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental province last Sunday (April 19).

Maj. Franco Ver Lopez, civil military officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said 2Lt Ralf Amante Abibico, Cpl Joel Nobleza and Pfc Carl Venice Bustamante sacrificed their lives to protect the people from alleged extortion by NPA.

Four soldiers, who were wounded in the gun battle, were in stable condition, he said. They were Cpl John Cris M. Laus, PFC John Paul M. Geonzon, Cpl Lismer Jade J. Tumayao and Pfc Alexis I.Mepranum.

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On 18 April 2020, John Farochilin, peasants leader and community-based HRD, was killed by military over alleged link to rebel groups in Miag-ao, the Philippines.

A veteran peasant leader was arrested by authorities this afternoon at his residence in Purok 3, branagay Bonbon, Butuan City in Agusan del Norte, according to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Proceso Torralba, 71, has been charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection to the December 19, 2018 incident where 16 soldiers and paramilitary members were captured by New People�s Army (NPA) guerrillas.

KMP decried the charges as fabricated, saying that Torralba or Tatay Sisoy to his colleagues has been a peasant leader since 1985. He has been the chaiperson of the local chapter of KMP since 1988.

From 2009 to 2012, Torralba led the campaigns against high loan interest rates, and for the increase of farm workers� wages.

Torralba is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police in Ampayon, Butuan City.

KMP said Torralba has been suffering from a heart ailment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, making him vulnerable to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On 11 April 2020, Proceso Torralba, peasant leader and communty-based defender, was arrested by the police on false charges based on red-tagging in Butuan City, the Philippines.

An urban poor leader assailed the harassment of police officers against their ongoing community kitchen in Sitio San Roque, an urban poor community in Quezon City today, April 6.

Elements of Quezon City Police District station 2 arrived in the community and removed their placards calling for government aid. Among those written in their placards were: #TulongHindiKulong and #SolusyongMedikalHindiMilitar.

�They threatened to stop our community kitchen if we will continue with the protests and placards. Will these police officers feed us?� said Estrelieta Bagasbas, a community leader in Sitio San Roque and one of Kadamay leaders, told Bulatlat in a phone interview.

Dubbed as Kusinang Bayan or community kitchen, the local chapter of Kadamay in Sitio San Roque, along with their supporters, has been providing warm meals to their neighbors. This effort is now on its third day.

In an earlier interview, Bagasbas explained that supporters usually drop off ingredients to their community, which they then distribute to at least 10 community kitchens within Sitio San Roque. These kitchens are manned by other grassroots organizations in the community, allowing them to provide warm meals to at least 1,000 families who lost their sources of income following the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine, one of the government approach to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Despite the harassment, Bagasbas said the community kitchen continued its operations today, where they served pancit bihon and fried fish. Church groups such as the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the Task Force on Urban Conscientization of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines dropped off sacks of rice for the community kitchen today.

Sitio San Roque is among the urban poor communities in Metro Manila. Pocket demolitions, usually in the guise of road expansions, began in 2010. Residents have received relocation offers, but many have rejected as these are usually in far-flung communities where sources of livelihoods are scarce.

�While they besmirch our names, we continue to help our fellow poor. We may not have much, but we have supporters who have been extending assistance,� Bagasbas said, �Nairaraos namin ang pang-araw-araw na tulong.�

On 6 April 2020, an urban poor community was raided by the police and threatened to halt food supply if they do not stop the protest in Quezon City, the Philippines.

The ongoing lockdown in the Philippines due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has failed to defuse a standoff between a local community and OceanaGold Philippines Inc (OGPI) over a controversial gold and copper mine in the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

The situation escalated on April 6 when an estimated 100 personnel from the provincial and municipal police forces dispersed the community�s �people barricade,� composed of 29 community leaders and members of peasant groups.

The barricade was an extralegal measure supported by the provincial government after OGPI�s permit to operate the Didipio mines lapsed on June 20, 2019.

The latest escalation comes after President Rodrigo Duterte�s office authorized in January the entry of 63,000 liters (16,600 gallons) of fuel to the Didipio mining site. After the dispersal, the police detained Rolando Pulido, chair of the Didipio Earth Savers Multi-Purpose Association (DESAMA).

The 27,000-hectare (66,700-acre) Didipio mine straddles the border between the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, some 270 kilometers (170 miles) northeast of Manila. It�s believed to hold 1.41 million ounces of gold and 169,400 tons of copper.

The standoff comes at a time when gold prices, stabilizing at $1,600 per ounce since February this year, are expected to peak amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On July 1, 2019, local communities in Didipio and Alimit, hosts to the underground mines, set up a blockade to stop the entry of fuel tankers and service vehicles to the mining site. After a series of confrontations in the streets and in the courts, OceanaGold formally suspended its operations on Oct. 15, 2019, while it processes its application for an extension.

The community took over abandoned checkpoints, and with members working on shifts, maintained the blockade until the COVID-19 pandemic placed Metro Manila and the whole island of Luzon under an �enhanced community quarantine� � a lockdown that has suspended all domestic land, sea and air travel from March 15 until April 14.

Prior to the lockdown, residents blocked OGPI�s efforts to send in trucks carrying 630,000 liters (166,400 gallons) of fuel to run generators for its dewatering activities, which includes removing or pumping out groundwater from the mine site.

Governor Carlos Padilla clarified that the president�s letter allowing the delivery of fuel does not authorize the mining giant to continue its mining operations, which stalled for a lack of an extension.

�The provincial government recognizes the authority granted by the Office of the President to OGPI to transport fuel for its dewatering activities,� Padilla wrote in a letter dated March 10 to Eduardo A�o, the secretary of the interior and local government. �We have reservations, however, as to the amount of fuel to be transported to the mine site.�

Padilla said that 630,000 liters is �excessive if the same is to be used only for the dewatering activities,� adding that a tank of fuel, with a capacity of about 20,000 liters (5,300 gallons), can run generators for 50 hours during a power outage, which seldom transpires in the area.

Three tanker trucks, carrying roughly 60,000 liters, were delivered to the site.

Environmental groups have questioned the timing of the move as it comes while the country is under a state of calamity (a state of emergency during which the government has access to extra funds) due to a rising number of coronavirus cases. There were 3,660 confirmed infections in the Philippines and 163 deaths as of April 6.

�The national government violates its own pronouncements and orders � to give way for large-scale mining interests,� said Leon Dulce of the Kalikasan People�s Network for the Environment. �OceanaGold must be held accountable if the pandemic spreads in the villages affected by its operations.�

On 6 April 2020, an undefined number of indigenous community members were beaten by the police while protesting against mining-related activities by OceanaGold Philippines Inc, and an indigenous leader was arrested in Didipio, the Philippines.

Free expression groups and advocates are outraged at village officials and public school teachers in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija who forced a campus journalist into issuing a public apology over his criticism of the Rodrigo Duterte government�s handling of the corona virus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Arts and media alliance Let�s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI) said the officials and teachers �deserve nothing but our (LODI) contempt and scorn� for being �bad examples to the youth� when they forced University of the East Dawn editor in chief Joshua Molo into issuing a public apology over his online criticisms of the president and the government.

�In their attempt to silence Joshua, they abused their positions of influence in the community and merely helped cover up the negligent and inept who Joshua wished to expose,� LODI said in a statement.

Molo caught the ire of Barangay San Fernando Sur officials and his former high school teachers when he questioned the Duterte administration�s �inaction� in posts on his Facebook wall. The post has since been taken down.

Molo�s posts piqued three of his former teachers at Cabiao National High School who professed their unquestioning support of the president.

LODI identified Molo�s former teachers as Jun Ainne Francisco, Rochelle Galang, Wilma Manalo, Mel Garcia, Delmar Miranda, Jonifel Ventura, and Rogelio Dela Cruz. The barangay officials are unidentified.

That Molo was eventually �forced� to issue a public apology and take down his posts have earned the ire of free expression and rights groups and advocates.

Violation to free expression

In an alert, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Redwire, an independent publication run by students of UE-Manila first broke the news and quoted friends who were in contact with the campus journalist as saying that the barangay officials threatened to file a libel case against Molo and have him picked up by police if he refused to apologize.

�A video posted on the UE Dawn editor�s social media account Sunday afternoon, April 5, showed him (Molo) making the �apology,� taking his cue from persons outside the frame of the image to begin reading the message he had prepared on his phone, a possible indication he was under duress at the time,� the NUJP said.

Before removing the video, the campus journalist posted a comment saying a former teacher had asked him to take it down, the group added.

LODI said the Molo�s criticisms of the government�s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic are �non-crimes� and that he was right in pointing out the slow delivery of relief items for the citizens placed under quarantine.

Molo�s student publication, the UE Dawn, also condemned �in the strongest possible terms� actions against its editor, adding �preventing someone from expressing his or her opinion on matters such as grievances against the government is an act of oppression.�

Alumni of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), the national alliance of student publications that count the UE Dawn as its member, expressed full support to Molo and condemned �the cowardly acts of harassment against him.�

�The coronavirus pandemic is no excuse to deny anyone, including students, the right to air grievances against government and to hold government accountable for its ineptitude and neglect. The limits on physical movement render free public debate online all the more important. Students have every right to participate in the debate,� the CEGP alumni said.

In a statement, the group asked Molo�s teachers to reconsider their plans to file charges against the campus journalist.

�[They should]�allow Joshua to freely speak his mind, and to instead to help him ventilate the valid complaints he is raising regarding the Duterte administration�s response to the pandemic. Teachers should be the last ones to discourage critical and independent thinking among students. Neither should they encourage blind, unthinking obedience to authority,� the CEGP alumni said.

Human rights group Karapatan for its part said, �We are alarmed on this incident as it is a case of curtailment of the right to free expression. Karapatan would like to remind authorities that the right to free speech is protected by the Philippine Constitution and international human rights instruments. Anyone who wishes to express dismay over government�s actions should never be threatened and penalized.�

Philippines Graphic editor in chief Joel Pablo Salud also publicly criticized Molo�s former teachers, asking �What sort of teachers would take the constitutionally-assured exercise of free speech against this university student editor? These are former teachers in high school; the young man is now in college,� he said.

�Is this the kind of system these teachers are propagating�coercion, intimidation, harassment of those who will exercise their right to free speech? To make matters more disturbing, these teachers were allegedly his former Campus Journalism instructors in high school,� Salud added.

Journalist Inday Espina-Varona said the barangay officials were wrong in coercing submission from Molo on issues way beyond the specific complaint.

�Threatening Molo with arrest on grounds of anti-government sentiment is a violation of his constitutional right to free expression,� Espina-Varona said,

�Acting like a dictator�

In the same statement, the CEGP also condemned Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia�s threat against Today�s Carolinian (TC), student publication of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, that published an editorial critical of the local executive.

�She [Garcia] is not exempt from the requirement of accountability of public officers, and she has no legal authority to limit what can or cannot be said, or what can be asked or commented on,� the article reads.

The editorial entitled �A governor is not above the Constitution� was a criticism of Garcia�s announcement to form a unit to track down people with critical online posts.

Garcia responded with an �invitation� to TC editor in chief Berns Mitra to �beam some light into your clearly uninformed mind that has hastily jumped to an erroneous conclusion.�

The former officers of the CEGP however said Garcia should simply answer the questions and concerns raised by Cebu campus journalists.

�The pandemic is not a license for Garcia to act like a little dictator. She remains a public servant required by law to be accountable at all times to the people,� they said.

On 5 April 2020, Joshua Molo, student journalist, was forced by his University professors and local administration to apologise for his criticism against Government's handling of COVID-19 pandemic in Cabiao, the Philippines.

President Rodrigo Duterte has slammed human rights lawyer Jose Manuel �Chel� Diokno and members of the opposition for supposedly resorting to �black propaganda� as the government grapples with solutions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country.

In his public address on Friday night, Duterte said Diokno and his colleagues in the opposition were pouncing on the Covid-19 crisis to gain political advantage for the 2022 elections.

�Itong si Chel Diokno sinabi pa niya sige ako mag-depensa sa inyo. Alam mo Chel Diokno, kayong opposition dilaw, huwag niyo pilitin ang pagkatao niyo sa gobyerno (This Chel Diokno, he even stated to defend these people. You know what, Chel Diokno, you in the yellow opposition, do not insist in putting yourselves in government),� Duterte said.

�Kayo nag-sige tagatakbo ng black propaganda kasi malapit na eleksyon, sabihin ko ngayon sa mga taong Pilipino, kung iyan ang ipalit niyo sa sunod na eleksyon, torpe talaga ang Pilipino (All of you who are pursuing black propaganda because election is coming, I will tell the Filipino people now, if you are going to choose them to replace the people in government in the coming elections, then Filipinos are really sheepish),� he added.

Duterte even ridiculed Diokno�s appearance, saying that the former opposition senatorial candidate was buck-toothed and talks like a janitor.

He also said Diokno was among �lousy lawyers� who are allegedly encouraging people to defy the law.

�Kung magsalita ka para kang, wag lang mainsulto kayong mga janitor�ito si Diokno magsalita parang janitor (If you talk you are like, I hope janitors would not get insulted�Diokno is talking like a janitor),� Duterte said.

�Alam mo kung bakit hindi ka nanalo? Kasi kalaki ng ngipin mo. Magsalita kalahati ng panga mo lumalabas (You know why you didn�t win in the last elections? Because you have big teeth. The way you talk, half of your jaw is showing),� he added.

Diokno, chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group, on Thursday, revealed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has summoned social media users who expressed sentiments on the government�s response to the pandemic.

He said NBI�s actions would bring a chilling effect since his client, who was summoned to explain, did not post misinformation but �fair commentary on matters of public interest.�

On his official social media accounts, Diokno has also called for mass testing for the novel coronavirus and cautioned the public on the use of the P275-billion government budget to fight the crisis.

In a radio interview on Saturday, Diokno said �now is not the time to go after anybody� as the country was still in the middle of the public health crisis.

�Sanay naman tayo sa ganyan na mga salita ng Pangulo, pero sana �di mawala ang pokus niya doon sa mga problema ng bayan, yung mga pangangailangan ng ating kapatid (I�m used to the disparaging remarks made by the President, but hopefully he won�t lose focus on the country�s problem, the needs of our countrymen),� Diokno said in an interview with dzMM radio.

�Now is not the time to go after anybody, but rather we all work together to address this problem,� he added.

On 3 April 2020, Jose Manuel Diokno, human rights lawyer, was publicly accused by President Duterte of 'black propaganda' for asking mass-testing for Covid-19 in Manila, the Philippines.

Twenty-one protesters demanding food and other assistance were arrested Wednesday in Quezon City for staging a rally without government permit, police said.

The Quezon City Police District in a statement said the protesters, who are residents of Sitio San Roque, were arrested at a portion of EDSA in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa around 11 a.m.

A video posted by DZRH on Twitter shows the violent dispersal of protesters conducted by the QCPD. One of them can be seen being dragged by authorities, while being berated for participating in the protest.

Among those arrested was a 47-year-old woman who led the group Samahan Ng Magkakapitbahay ng Barangay San Roque.

They were apparently part of dozens of protesters shown on videos that circulated on social media. Some of them held placards saying they have not gotten any help from the local government amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The local government of Quezon City denied these claims, saying there has been "continuous distribution of food packs throughout the city, both from the local government and the barangays to ensure that affected families are looked after during this crisis period."

"Nevertheless, the mayor has instructed city personnel to review the list to make sure nobody has been inadvertently left out," it added.

The city government said the residents crowded the area after being given false information that a TV crew was distributing relief goods there. The group Kadamay instigated individuals to hold the rally and claim they were not given aid, claimed Quezon City Task Force Action Officer Rannie Ludovica in a CNN Philippines News Night interview.

"Upon further questioning however, some residents acknowledged that they did receive food packs," the Quezon City government stressed.

As of March 31, the local government of Quezon City said it has distributed more than 952,000 food packs since the imposition of the quarantine, which has restricted people's movement. Quezon City has 151 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Of this number, 27 have died while 11 have recovered.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte called on authorities to release the arrested protesters "in the interim for humanitarian reasons," and issue them a warning instead. PNP reiterates: No mass gatherings

Police earlier said charges will be filed against the protesters for violations of the Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act, which was recently passed to address the COVID-19 crisis; and the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. They will also be charged for resistance and disobedience to authorities.

�Bago po sila hinuli, unang-una pinakiusapan natin sila para magsibalikan sa kanilang tahanan, subalit nagmatigas sila kaya wala tayo magawa kundi i-implement natin ang batas," said QCPD Director Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo.

[Translation: Before they were arrested, authorities first requested them to return to their homes, but they refused to do so, and there's nothing we can do but implement the law.]

Ludovica also said protesters are "targeting other barangays" in Quezon City, including Payatas, Batasan, Holy Spirit and Commonwealth.

"After po nito, 'yun na po ang isusunod nila para lalabas talaga na 'yung mga tao ay di na makapaghintay at gutom na," Ludovica said.

[Translation: After this, they also intend to stage protests in those areas to make it appear like the people are already starving and can no longer wait.]

Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Gamboa warned of "firm and decisive police action" against those who will organize and join "illegal mass actions" amid the state of national health emergency due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Under Luzon-wide quarantine, people are ordered to stay home, except those offering basic services, mass transportation is suspended and all mass gatherings are prohibited. Groups call for protesters' release

Cause-oriented groups Bayan Muna and Gabriela condemned the "violent dispersal" of the protesters and demanded their immediate release.

"We further call for immediate action on the people's request for food and financial assistance," Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said in a statement. "We demand the immediate release of the P8,000 cash assistance to the poor, the implementation of the P1,000 hike in SSS pension, and other social amelioration measures that were mandated by Republic Act 11469."

Gabriela Women's Party in a separate statement said, "using excessive force and detention will not quell the empty stomachs of Filipinos who up to this day remain denied of the promised P200-billion cash aid for the poor."

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases have risen to 2,311, with 96 deaths and 50 recoveries.

On 1 April 2020, 21 community-based defenders were arrested by the police for staging a peaceful rally demanding food due to scarce supply under the lockdown in Manila, the Philppines.

Human rights alliance Karapatan condemns in strongest terms the trumped-up charges against couple Reynaldo and Carmelita Camacho, who were arrested by the elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) without a warrant nor any legal basis in their home at Brgy. Tolang, Getafe, Bohol last February 8, 2020.

Reynaldo, according to their neighbors, is an upright citizen of Brgy. Tolang and even ran for councilor in the recent elections. He is currently a volunteer for the local peace and order group Bantay Bayan as well as a catechist of the Sto. Niño in Gestafe.

According to Eulalia Camacho Pacanza, elements of the 47th IB barged into their home after raiding three houses and one sari-sari store, and took their belongings including cellphones, a laptop, and PHP 18,000 worth of cash before “inviting” Reynaldo without declaring an arrest and boarding him in a white van. His wife Carmelita volunteered to accompany him to assure his safety. The couple are now being tagged and paraded by the military as arrested top leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) with guns and bombs allegedly confiscated from the couple.

“State terrorism, after all, is a lucrative business. It’s no wonder that the military is now rabidly manufacturing lies from photoshopping rebel surrenderees, planting guns and bombs in raids of offices of progressive organizations, to proliferating fake news of catching big fish of the NPA by staging arrests of innocent individuals through trumped-up charges as part of their modus operandi to collect thousands of pesos worth of bounty in their fascist counterinsurgency operations under Executive Order No. 70,” Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor said.

He further averred that the couple’s arrest was done by the virtue of a recycled and already dismissed case: “The case now being lodged against the Camacho couple was previously employed in the arrests of Roy Erecre in Davao in May 2014 and Fr. Rustico Tan in Oslob, Cebu in November 2017. Both the charges against Erecre and Fr. Tan were eventually dismissed, and we urge that this malicious allegations against them be immediately junked for the very simple reason that it is nothing but an already proven lie.”

“Karapatan joins the family of Reynaldo and Carmelita Camacho in demanding justice for their illegal arrest and in the dropping of the trumped-up charges and allegations against them. We also urge the Commission on Human Rights to investigate and hold accountable the deceptive military and their attacks on people’s rights,” the Karapatan official ended.

On 8 February 2020, Reynaldo Camacho, community-based HRD, and Carmelita Camacho, his wife, were arrested on false charges and red-tagged after their house was raided by military in Getafe, the Philippines.

Human rights group Karapatan condemns the arrest of its National Council member in Western Mindanao, Engr. Jennefer Aguhob, yesterday, February 5, 2020.

Aguhob was reportedly arrested based on a warrant for charges of murder issued on July 26, 2019 by Judge Victoriano Lacaya, Jr. of Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. She is currently detained at the Oroquieta City Police Station.

"The arrest of human rights worker Engr. Jennefer Aguhob based on charges she wasn’t aware of, based on incidents that she had no knowledge of, and based on an alleged crime that she had no participation in, depicts the kind of judicial harassment faced by human rights defenders and critics of this administration. By exercising human rights work, Aguhob and many human rights advocates are persecuted," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.

Aguhob, a resident of Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental and a recent law graduate, is currently Karapatan’s National Council member from Region 13. She participated in the organization’s council meeting in October 2019. Aside from conducting human rights work in the region, she was currently preparing to take the bar exams this year.

"Prior to her arrest, Aguhob had no knowledge that there was such a complaint filed against her and others. She was deprived of her right to due process, when she was arrested based on the said complaint,” Palabay stated.

Aguhob experienced several threats and harassment in the past two years. She was terminated from the Oroquieta City engineer’s office, after her military officials talked with her superiors.

Karapatan said the filing of trumped up charges against activists is a policy and practice by administrations in an attempt to stifle dissent. “The Duterte administration is more viciously implementing this with Executive Order No. 70 and martial law, declared or otherwise, in Mindanao,” she added.

The human rights group demanded for the release of Aguhob, as it pressed for the rescinding of EO70 and the enactment of measures for the protection of human rights defenders. “Release human rights worker Engr. Jennefer Aguhob!,” Palabay concluded.

On 5 February 2020, Engr. Jennefer Aguhob, WHRD and NGO worker, was arrested under false murder charges by the local court of Dipolog City, the Philippines.

Activist groups as well as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) demanded the immediate release of a journalist and four human rights advocates who were arrested for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives in two simultaneous raids in Tacloban City early Friday morning.

Arrested in the raids conducted by the police and the Army were Marielle Domequil, a staff member of the Rural Missionaries Philippines-Eastern Visayas; Mira Legion, a staff member of Bayan Muna; Alexander Abinguna, secretary general of Katungod-Sinirangan Bisayas; Marissa Cabaljao of People’s Surge and Frenchiemae Cumpio, journalist and executive director of independent news outfit Eastern Vista. Advertisement

Cumpio and Domequil were arrested at an office in Barangay Calapaniwan where police said they found firearms and ammunition.

Legion, Cabaljao and Abinguna were arrested at an office in Barangay Fatima where police also allegedly found several firearms, live ammunition and fragmentation grenades

Cabaljao was sleeping with her 1-year-old baby when the arresting team arrived, according to the human rights watchdog Karapatan. As of press time on Friday, the infant was with the mother and the four other detainees at the municipal police station in Palo town.Search warrants

The arresting officers were led by Police Lt. Col. Marvin Pedere of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police. According to the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Catbalogan City, Samar, the raids were conducted based on search warrants issued on Feb. 3 by Executive Judge Eligio Petilla of the Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 44. NUJP and Karapatan condemned the arrests, claiming the evidence against the activists were planted.

Karapatan noted that the search warrants were shown to the activists only after they were arrested. Long before Friday’s raids, the group said, it received reports of threats and incidents of harassment directed against the activists and their organizations. ‘Rights of defenders’

“Today’s arrests and raids should enrage [those] who stand for civil liberties and human rights, social justice and lasting peace in the country,” the group said in a statement. “We are calling on all advocates and communities to defend the rights of defenders against these attacks by the Duterte administration.”

NUJP assailed Cumpio’s arrest as part of the government crackdown on critical voices in the mainstream and alternative media.

“Since last year, the government has no longer bothered to hide the fact that the critical media have been included in their list of ‘enemies of the state,’’ the media group said. “Let us thwart this government’s attempts to muzzle freedom of the press and of expression, without which democracy cannot survive. Let us send out the message that we are free not because anyone allows us to be but because we insist on being free.” Cumpio had suspected state agents of following her and placing her under surveillance since September last year, according to the two groups. ‘Renewed crackdown’

At the House of Representatives, Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate and Eufemia Cullamat condemned the raids and called for the immediate release of the five detainees.

Zarate, the House deputy minority leader, said the raids were “part of the renewed crackdown on progressive groups in the country” and “followed the same pattern of mass arrests, then the filing of trumped-up charges based on planted evidence of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.”

On 7 February 2020, a media worker, 4 WHRDs and the 1-year-old kid of one of them were arrested in two simultaneous raids, where the police planted false evidences in Tacloban City, the Philippines.

It has been days since Jay-ar Mercado was killed by suspected elements of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion but Mercado’s family is still unable to have any peace.

Mercado was an indigenous people’s organizer and member of Bigkis at Lakas ng mga Katutubo sa Timog Katagalugan (BALATIK). He was conducting mass work with the indigenous community in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro when he was murdered by suspected state agents on Jan. 31.

On February 1, Mercado’s family began their search for the slain organizer. When they arrived at a local funeral home in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, they were informed that the military had already claimed and buried the body the day before.

The family then proceeded to Bulalacao Municipal Police Station, where four soldiers, allegedly from the 4th Infantry Battalion, accosted them. The soldiers questioned the family’s credentials and insinuated that they were not Mercado’s actual family.

An update from Karapatan Southern Tagalog stated that Mercado’s family has managed to talk with Bulalacao Mayor Ernilo Villas, who said that a court order is needed to exhume Mercado’s remains. According to Villas, the order came from Governor Humerlito Dolor.

The Municipal Health Office also claimed that the remains can only be exhumed after three to five years.

Karapatan-ST demands justice. “We are disappointed and angry at the military, who not only took Jay-ar’s life, but also blatantly violates the rights of the family by performing delaying tactics and depriving them of the right to claim their relative’s remains,” Kyle Salgado, Karapatan ST spokesperson, said in a statement.

Mercado’s death is the latest in a long line of attacks by state forces on the indigenous peoples and advocates going as far back as Oplan Habol Tamaraw under Jovito Palparan. Mindoro’s indigenous Mangyan population currently faces threats of development aggression from private corporations and state forces.

Last year saw increased militarization in Mindoro, as well as crackdowns on peasant organizers and rights advocates. The military has declared Karapatan Southern Tagalog persona non grata in Mindoro. “The death of Jay-ar Mercado is an addition to countless human rights violations perpetuated by the tyrannical rule of the Duterte regime,” Salgado said. “It is a reflection of how this reactionary government twists the mind of the people into thinking that our country is at peace.”The Philippines is the most dangerous country for environmental activists according to nonprofit organization Global Witness. In 2018, 164 activists were killed, including attacks on activists fighting against mining, hydropower, and agribusiness projects.

On 31 January 2019, Jay-ar Mercado, indigenous people rights defender, was killed by suspected members of the Philippines military in Bulalacao, the Philippines.

Policy research group Ibon Foundation on Thursday, January 30, condemned the "persistent raid-baiting" of the Duterte administration instead of addressing the issues raised by progressive groups.

"The public deserves the truth and to be informed about the issues that matter to them the most," the group said. "Instead, the government is red-baiting critical voices to silence opposition and to hide the real situation of the country."

The statement comes after an episode of One News' The Chiefs where Ibon research head Rosario Guzman and Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy discussed the numbers cited by the Duterte Legacy campaign. (READ: Making sense of the ‘Duterte Legacy’ infographic)

Ibon presented its own fact-checking of the data. Badoy, however, accused the group of being part of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

According to the group, Badoy's action is "symptomatic of the administration’s wholesale attacks on independent groups," in line with the government's counterinsurgency campaign.

"Usec Badoy’s behavior is being done to hide the worsening economic situation, prevent the radical reforms needed to develop the country, and promote its self-serving agenda," Ibon said.

"Under the pretext of ending the armed Communist rebellion, the Duterte administration cast its net wide and is attacking every group that is critical of its anti-people economic policies and authoritarianism," it added.

The Duterte government has been widely criticized for its treatment of human rights defenders and activists in the Philippines. According to rights group Karapatan, at least 2,370 human rights defenders have been charged by the government from 2016 to 2019, the biggest number in more than a decade. (READ: Duterte's war on dissent)

Ibon, a policy group focused on socioeconomic issues founded in 1978, was previously tagged by the Philippine government as among groups whose funding was allegedly being used by the CPP. It has previously experienced cyberattacks against its website.

The group vows to push forward with its work amid greater attacks by the government.

"As with activists and other groups, we are undeterred and will continue to support the efforts of the people’s movement to reclaim the economy from the elites that have taken it over," it said. "We will also be taking measures to show that we do not condone the people’s money being used for a self-serving political agenda."

On 27 January 2020, IBON, a NGO, was falsely accused of being part of the Philippines Communist Party by a representative of the President's Office during an online show in Manila, the Philippines.

A field reporter of Radyo ni Juan based in Tagum City, Davao del Norte was harassed by police in Carmen town as he covered a protest by banana workers Jan. 21, according to an alert released by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

Radyo ni Juan reporter Glenn Jester Hitgano was covering the strike of workers of banana company Philippine Dream Farm Development when policemen cut short his interview and took took him to the police station, where he was held for an hour. The policemen also attempted to confiscate his phone and ordered him to erase his interview, but the reporter asserted his rights as a journalist.

“They subjected me to psywar and harassed me, saying I was not allowed to carry out interviews,” Hitgano said.

National alternative media group Altermidya denounced the intimidation and arrest of Hitgano.

“Altermidya condemns this attack on our colleague, who was clearly being coerced into silence by state forces who were uncomfortable with the truth. The arrest and intimidation of journalists like Hitgano is a blatant violation of media’s task of exposing the truth to the public,” the group said in a statement.

Altermidya said members of the Carmen police should be held accountable.

On 21 January 2020, Glenn Jester Hitgano, journalist, was temporarily detained and threatened by the police for covering a workers strike in Tagum City, the Philippines.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday, January 20, condemned the "brutal" killing of a local peasant leader in Northern Samar.

In a statement, the CHR said 35-year-old Jennifer Tonag is just one of the many victims who have "faced reprisals due to exposing state-perpetrated human rights violations and demanding for justice and accountability."

"The CHR calls for justice for the death of Tonag and all the human rights defenders in the country and around the world who sacrificed their lives to create a better future for everyone, especially for the marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged segments of our society," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

Unidentified men killed Tonag, organizer of the Northern Samar Small Farmers Association (NSSFA), while she was on her way home from a seminar sponsored by the Department of the Interior and Local Government last Friday, January 17.

She sustained two gunshot wounds, one on her hand and chest, and was declared dead on arrival at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital.

Tonag leads the NSSFA, a group helping farmers defend their land rights and other issues, in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar.

The CHR's regional office has already dispatched a quick response team to conduct an independent probe into Tonag's killing, De Guia said.

Call for repeal of EO

The CHR "amplified the clamor" for the government to repeal Executive Order No. 70 which created a national task force that sought to address causes of armed conflict with communists at the local level.

Human rights groups have said that EO No. 70 only led to massive red-tagging as well as threats and harassment under the guise of a counterinsurgency program.

"The commission reiterates its call to the government that it must desist from all forms of violence and harassment against human rights defenders," De Guia said.

"These attacks are in the context of increasing number of reported extrajudicial killings in rural areas alongside the intensified counterinsurgency program of the government," she added.

More than 100 human rights defenders have been killed since July 2016, data from rights group Karapatan showed. Many of the killings were in provinces that have long had conflicts related to land, with victims mostly coming from the farming sector. The killings exist alongside other incidents of legal harassment against activists by the Duterte administration."We strongly urge our legislators to prioritize the enactment and full implementation of a Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill that will give legal recognition and protection of the rights of defenders in the conduct of their work," De Guia said.

On 17 January 2020, Jennifer Tonag, WHRD and peasant leader, was shot dead by unidentifeid men in Lope de Vega, the Philipines.

The secretary-general of human rights group Karapatan received threats of death and rape, among others, during the annual celebration of International Human Rights Day on Tuesday, she said.

Cristina Palabay said she received a phone call and a series of texts from an unknown number. Related Stories How activists respond to being tagged as rebels

“I received a phone call from this number (a call which I took because I thought the caller might be a distressed victim or a journalist), presumably yet another caller from the military intelligence or paid hitman from the government threatening to kill me,” Palabay’s Facebook post on Tuesday read.

“He was asking where I live and said all the worst possible things that he/they will do to me.”

The caller subsequently sent texts containing praises of President Rodrigo Duterte and threats of rape against the Karapatan official. Screen captures of the said texts were included in Palabay’s post.

“Karapatan strongly condemns this verbal assault and series of threats against our secretary-general. Such use of words meant to demean Cristina on the basis of her identity as a woman is precisely indicative of the fascist character and toxic masculinity perpetrated and replicated by President Duterte and his supporters,” the rights group said in a Wednesday release.

Moreover, Karapatan said that aside from attacks targeting female leaders, the incident holds grave implications on the state of human rights in the Philippines considering it happened during a holiday meant to celebrate the observation of human rights.

“This latest attack confirms that as we commemorate human rights day, the Philippines has regressed to an all-time low with regard to its protection and respect for women's and people's rights,” the group said.

Despite the attack taking place through the official mobile number used by Palabay in media lists and press releases distributed during protests, including to police, Karapatan said that it will not be deterred.

On 10 December 2019, Cristina Palabay, WHRD and NGO worker, received sexual insults and death threats via phone calls and messages by an unknown person, in response to a speech she delivered hours earlier in Manila, the Philippines.

Independent think tank Ibon Foundation expressed alarm over a notice of “ocular inspection” from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in the wake of successive raids of offices of progressive organizations.

In a statement, Ibon Foundation said it received a call from a certain Col. Joaquin Alba of NCRPO at around 4 p.m. informing them that a warrant of arrest will be served on someone supposedly within the office building.

Ibon Foundation told Alba that the person indicated in the warrant does not hold office there but the latter insisted that they will still go to conduct “an ocular inspection.” The research group received information that a police team from Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was preparing to go to Ibon to ‘pick up’ someone (“may kukunin na tao”).

“This is alarming and we believe that it is part of the Duterte government’s worsening crackdown on activists upholding human rights and hence critical of its retrogressive policies and authoritarian governance,” the group said in a statement.

Ibon noted that the incident comes on the heels of a week of consecutive military and police operations against various activists and activist groups in Manila and Negros. “This included using spurious search warrants to raid homes and offices, planting guns and grenades, and arresting activists on bogus charges,” the group said.

Some 60 activists have been illegally arrested and detained in the past week.

Ibon is among many activist organizations and cause-oriented groups that have been red-tagged by the Duterte administration.

“The Duterte administration is attacking IBON because our research, education and advocacy work exposes Philippine economic realities that the government wants to conceal,” the group said.

The group also blamed the so-called task force to end local communist armed conflict for the ongoing crackdown against NGOs and progressive organizations.

As of press time, police forces have not showed up at the premises of Ibon Foundation building at Timog Avenue in Quezon City.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also alerted members of the Philippine media as Altermidya network holds office at the second floor of the building.

In a statement, Altermidya warned the Philippine National Police to stay away from its office. “Make no mistake about it, any breach into our office premises will be construed as a grave violation of press freedom and will be met with widespread condemnation and legal action,” Altermidya said.

On 7 November 2019, the staff of IBON Foundation, a human rights NGO, received a phone call by a self-proclaimed police colonel threatening toconduct a raid in the NGO office in Quezon City, the Philippines.

A union leader and community organizer was killed on Monday, November 4, in front of his wife in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Reynaldo Malaborbor, 61, was repeatedly shot in the head by an unidentified man while walking with his wife near their residence at 9:30 pm in Barangay Banay-banay.

Police said the gunman managed to flee the scene of the crime by foot.

Malaborbor was a longtime activist involved in several labor organizations. He served as coordinator of Makabayan Southern Tagalog during the 2019 elections.

He was among the 3 farmers arrested and accused by the military in 2010 of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. The case was dismissed in 2015.

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK- KMU) condemned the killing.

“The grizly details of the last moments of Rey Malaborbor goes to show that the de facto martial rule continues to claim victims in the form of its task forces to supposedly end the armed conflict,” the group said.

Malaborbor’s death comes amid what human rights groups call a “massive crackdown” of progressive organizations and dissent under President Rodrigo Duterte.

At least 60 people have been arrested during raids of offices and residences since October 31 in Manila and Bacolod.

On 4 November 2019,Reynaldo Malaborbor, worker rights advocate and community-based HRD, was shot dead by unknown assailants in Cabuyao, the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines – Gabriela Women's Party – which won a seat in the 18th Congress – was red-tagged by both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) in a hearing held inside the Batasang Pambansa.

Facing members of the House committee on national defense and security on Tuesday, November 5, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Major General Reuben Basiao presented a list of 18 organizations that are alleged communist fronts.

Third on the list was Gabriela, which is currently represented in the House by Arlene Brosas after the party-list group secured more than 446,000 votes during the May 2019 elections.

The congresswoman, however, was not present during Basiao's presentation. When she arrived at the conference hall, she requested to see the list once again.

"Mismo dito sa Kongreso ay tina-tag kami as a communist terrorist group? Ano ba 'yan? Ano bang nangyayari? Bakit ganyan?" asked the second-termer congresswoman.

(We're being tagged as a communist terrorist group even here in Congress? What gives? What's happening? Why are you doing this?)

Brosas lashed out against the AFP and the DND, asking if Gabriela's inclusion in the list is a "prelude" to martial law.

"Familiar naman po kayo sa mga ginagawa namin. Binoto po kami ng taumbayan. Binoto po kami. May mandato po kami. Bakit nakalagay ang pangalan ng Gabriela Women's Party in particular? Ano pong ibig sabihin nito? Prelude ba ito sa martial law na ang mga legal entities at legal organizations in particular ay tina-target ngayon ng AFP?" asked Brosas.

(You're familiar with what we do here. We were voted by the people. We were elected. We have a mandate. Why put the name of Gabriela Women's Party in particular? What does this mean? Is this a prelude to martial law, with legal entities and legal organizations in particular now being targeted by the AFP?)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana then said that based on documents recovered by the military across the country, Gabriela is a "legal front" for the Communist Party of the Philippines.

But the DND chief said they are "not red-tagging" Gabriela.

"There is no prelude to martial law. We are not red-tagging Gabriela. We are just saying that they are [a] front of the communist movement. We based this conclusion from documents that we captured from our operations all over the country," said Lorenzana.

"Palaging lumalabas 'yung Gabriela tsaka 'yung iba pang mga fronts nila. So what can you conclude there? I'm not saying you are communist. I'm saying that you are fronting, kayo 'yung legal front nila," he added.

(Gabriela's name keeps on popping up along with other fronts. So what can you conclude there? I'm not saying you are a communist. I'm saying that you are fronting, that you are their legal front.)

In a statement released after the hearing, Brosas once again slammed the AFP and the DND for their "attempt to criminalize dissent." (LISTEN: [PODCAST] Dapat bang gawing ilegal ang pagiging komunista?)

"Hindi kami armadong grupo at hindi armado ang mga miyembro namin. Sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang Konstitusyon at mga batas, hindi krimen ang mag-organisa at hindi krimen ang maging aktibista. Gabriela Women's Party strongly condemns this clear attempt to criminalize dissent and weaponize the law," said Brosas.

(We are not an armed group and our members are not armed either. Under the current Constitution and our laws, it is not a crime to organize and become activists. Gabriela Women's Party strongly condemns this clear attempt to criminalize dissent and weaponize the law.)

Gabriela's clash with the AFP and the DND came on the same day the Manila police arrested 3 members of progressive groups during a raid in Tondo past midnight.

On October 31, law enforcers in Bacolod City also arrested 56 persons affiliated with progressive and human rights groups during raids on their offices.

On 5 November 2019, at least 3 human rights NGOs were red-tagged and labelled as terrorist by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense in Manila, the Philippines, as result of their work.

Authorities arrested 56 persons they alleged were communist rebels and “rescued” six minors supposedly undergoing “training and “indoctrination” during simultaneous raids on the offices of three activist groups and a private residence in Bacolod City early Friday evening, October 31.

Several firearms and grenades were also reported recovered during the raids on the offices of the Bayan Muna party-list and Gabriela in Barangay Bata, the National Federation of Sugar Workers at Libertad, and the home of Bayan Muna’s Romulo Bito-on and his wife Mermalyn, who were both arrested.

All three organizations have long been openly accused of being “legal fronts” of the communist movement.

Bito-on, on the other hand, has been previously arrested and charged for being an alleged communist.

But human rights group and some of those apprehended denied the accusations they were rebels and said the weapons had been “planted.”

Video taken of the search at the nearby office of Gabriela showed a police officer inspecting a revolver and ammunition taken from a backpack at a corner of the yard.

Local media quoted Captain Cenon Pancito, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, as saying 49 persons, including the minors, were taken into custody from the Bayan Muna compound.

Among those arrested there were known activist leaders John Milton Lozande and Danny Tabura of the NFSW, Proceso Quiatchon of the human rights group Karapatan, Nilo Rosales of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, and Aldrin de Cerna of the Kilusang Mayo Uno.

Lozande said the raiders held them for around an hour and then he was called to a house in the compound and showed “an obviously planted” gun supposedly found in his bag.

Nine other persons were arrested at the Gabriela office and two more from the NFSW.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said among those arrested at the Gabriela office was Anne Krueger of the newly established alternative media outfit Paghimutad, which has been covering social issues, including extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses.

They were all taken to the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office.

Interestingly, the raids were covered by search warrants issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of Branch 89 of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City.

Karapatan, in a statement, called this suspicious and said this was reminiscent of the Oplan Sauron 2 operations in Negros Oriental in March, which were covered by search warrants issued in Cebu City.

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate also condemned the “dastardly Gestapo-like raid … simultaneously conducted by state forces against the offices of Bayan Muna, Gabriela and NFSW in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.”

He noted that the raids were conducted “at night before a long weekend so as to ensure that the courts are closed tomorrow so that the planted pieces evidence and subsequent trumped-up charges filed cannot immediately be challenged.”

Karapatan called the raids part of a “full-blown crackdown on activists and red-tagged legal organizations,” noting that earlier in the day, police arrested Cora Agovida, the Metro Manila chairperson of Gabriela, and her husband Mickael Tan Bartolome of the urban poor group Kadamay, and claimed a .45 caliber pistol and two grenades were seized from their home.

However, Pancito told media the raids, which he described as “part of cutting the source of manpower to Red areas,” or territory were the rebels operate, would prove to be a “big blow to the Red fighters of the New People’s Army” and would “trigger the downfall” of the insurgency on Negros.

On 31 October 2019, at least five HRDs, a journalist and a WHRD were arrested over trumped-up charges by the police as result of their human rights work in Bacolod City, Philippines.

Different groups assailed the recent arrests of a peasant leader and two Lumad volunteer teachers on Oct. 10 in Mindanao region.

The police arrested 68-year-old Virgilio “Ka Yoyong” Lincuna in Butuan City for alleged attempted murder which happened in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Lincuna is the chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)-Caraga and Unyon sa mga Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Norte (UMAN). He is also a member of the KMP National Council.

On the same day, Melissa Comiso, head of the Literacy and Numeracy Program of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP)-Northern Mindanao, and another teacher were also arrested by police operatives in barangay Limaha, Butuan City. Both are detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Butuan City.

Karapatan denounced their arrest and called for their immediate release. The group said the arrests of Lincuna and Comisa are part of the government’s crackdown against organizers, activists, and progressive leaders in Mindanao.

“These attacks have been aggravated and justified by State policies, foremost of which is the continuing martial law in Mindanao, intensified operations under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and Oplan Kapanatagan,” Karapatan said in a statement.

‘Lincuna, veteran of the progressive farmers’ movement’

The KMP-Caraga region said Lincuna is a veteran of the progressive farmers’ movement in the region. He is a farmer organizer since the 1980s and has led campaigns against plantations and mining operations as well as providing paralegal services to farmers victimized by human rights violations.

Caraga is a resource rich region and has been a constant target of investors for expansion of plantations such as palm and mining operations. The area has been militarized since peasants continue to resist the occupation of their land for business interests.

Danilo Ramos, KMP chairperson, said Lincuna led several peasant struggles in the region and gained victories such as increase in wages of farmworkers, an increase in palay and copra prices, lowering of land rent and interest rates.

Ramos said agrarian reform beneficiaries in Agusan Plantation Inc., Filipinas Palm Plantations Inc. in Agusan del Sur and Tubay Agricultural Center in Agusan del Norte are asserting their right and defending their position in almost 10,000 hectares of agricultural lands that are now under the control of plantation companies.

Clearly, Ramos said, this recent attack against Lincuna “is an attack on those who fight against land grabbing.”

Meanwhile, RMP said Comiso has been a long-time member of RMP and has managed a number of schools in the northern Mindanao.

“She has tirelessly sought to bring education to Lumad communities and work with her fellow Lumad and other advocates to achieve this goal,” RMP said in a statement.

According to RMP, Cosimo has been tagged as supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA) because of her service to the Lumad children. She has also been receiving death threats through SMS and Messenger and was put under surveillance by alleged State forces, which prompted her to seek sanctuary.

“We call for the immediate release of Lincuna and the two Lumad teachers. In light of the closure of Lumad schools on the basis of unverified and malicious military reports, such are indicative of incessant violations against indigenous and peasant communities,” Karapatan said.

On 10 October 2019, Virgilio Lincuna, social right activits, and Melissa Comiso, Luman school teacher, were arrested over fabricated charges by the police as result of their work in Butuan City, the Philippines.

A leader of women’s group Gabriela and her husband were arrested by elements of the Manila Police District and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group early this morning, Oct. 31.

According to a statement released by Gabriela, at around 5:00 a.m. today, ten policemen forcibly entered the house of Cora Agovida, spokesperson of Gabriela-Metro Manila and her husband Michael Tan Bartolome in Manila. The couple was instructed to drop to the floor while their two children, aged two and ten years old, and their companion were asked to go outside. A few minutes later, police claimed they recovered a.45 caliber pistol and two grenades from the residence of the couple.

The couple has been brought to the Manila Police District and charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The search warrant against the couple was issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89, the same court that issued the search warrant for the simultaneous raids of offices of people’s organizations in Bacolod City, Oct. 31.

Their children had been under the custody of the Manila Rehabilitation Action Center last night. The couple has requested the Children’s Rehabilitation Center to look after their children. As of press time, the transfer of custody is being processed.

Gabriela condemned the arrest and called for the immediate release of Agovida and Bartolome.

On 31 October 2019, Cora Agovida, WHRD and NGO worker, was arrested by the police over a false charge as result of her work in Manila, Philippines.

An activist doctor and professor received death threats a few hours after joining a protest demanding a bigger budget for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Dr. Gene Nisperos, president of the All UP Academic Employees Union-Manila Chapter (AUPAEU-Manila), received a text message Monday night, October 21, saying he and his family would be killed soon.

“I know where your condominium is. We will get your family one by one…You are dead by…including your children and wife,” the message read.

The message was sent by an unidentified person through mobile phone number +639567955995.

Nisperos blamed the climate of violence created by the Rodrigo Duterte government against those who seek substantial reforms and genuine change in Philippine society for the latest threats against him and his wife, also a doctor.

“In these times, those who do good and stand for what is right are persecuted. It [this administration] is sowing fear because it rules by fear. This must be opposed in whatever form and whenever it occurs,” Nisperos told Kodao.

As he was being interviewed by Kodao, Nisperos received another threat from the same number Tuesday morning.

A graduate of UP College of Medicine’s prestigious Intarmed program, Nisperos and wife, Dr. Julie Caguiat, served as community doctors in Mindanao before returning to Manila to advocate for community-based health programs in the national level.

Nisperos is an assistant professor who teaches Community Medicine in UP Manila.

Duterte government as suspects

The AUPAEU-Manila condemned the most recent death threats against Nisperos and family.

The union said the threat comes at a time when the AUPAEU-Manila is calling on all faculty, administrative staff, and researchers of the university to unite against the impending budget cut for the University of the Philippines, particularly on the UP Manila and Philippine General Hospital (PGH), and to campaign for the regularization of contractual workers, among others.

The union said the threats are attempts to sow fear among teachers and unionists who assert for their rights and to fight for a higher state subsidy for social services such as education and health.

“[O]ur Union will not tremble in the face of vicious repressive measures and increasingly fascist attacks by this administration,” AUPAEU-Manila said.

On 21 October 2019, Dr. Gene Nisperos, activist doctor and professor, received a death threat via sms by anonymous sender after he joined a protest in Manila, Philippines.

A human rights lawyer based in Roxas City survived an ambush attack late morning today, Sept. 23, after attending a hearing.

Lawyer Criselda Heredia posted on her Facebook account that her car was strafed while traversing Timpas, Panitan town in Capiz, just a stone’s throw away from a military camp Antonio Belo.

Nine bullets were recovered from the car, she told Bulatlat.

Heredia was accompanied by her daughter and a client.

In a message sent to Bulatlat.com, Heredia said the target of the assailant could either be her or her client.

In a statement, lawyers group National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers chapter in Panay held state security forces accountable.

Heredia, according to NUPL, has been “red-tagged in posters and has been personally threatened by a military agent who visited her office and warned her to slow down on her human rights advocacy.”

Apart from being a lawyer, Heredia is also a cultural worker who used to perform musical presentations and has mounted painting exhibits in both Iloilo and Roxas City.

NUPL-Panay said the attack came in the wake of the call of international organizations to President Duterte to protect lawyers in the Philippines.

Under Duterte, 47 lawyers, including judges and prosecutors, have been killed.

On 23 September 2019, Criselda Heredia, human rights lawyer, was victim of an attempted murder, perpetrated by unknown assailants in Roxas City, the Philippines.

On September 19, an ongoing surveillance and a threat of a raid by the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) of the Philippine National Police into the joint office of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) and the Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines (CEC-Phils) was reported by a reliable source to the two organizations.

This came after the two organizations participated in a number of important work on environmental defenders. Kalikasan delivered a testimony on the state of human rights and environment in the Philippines during the National Inquiry on Human Rights Defenders organized by the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) held last week, and CEC raised the issue of environment defenders during the ASEAN People’s Forum 2019 held in Bangkok, Thailand.

This is clear harassment and an obvious effort to silence civil society groups like CEC and Kalikasan.

On 19 September 2019, the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) and the Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines (CEC-Phils), two environmental NGOs were subjected to surveillance and threat of raid by the police as result of their recent advocacy work in Quezon City, the Philippines.

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Unscrupulous individuals are apparently trying to make money following an attack on a lawyer in this city on Monday.

At least three Cebu-based human rights lawyers received a call from a man claiming to be a leader of a gun-for-hire group from Davao City, who demanded P100,000 from them in exchange for sparing their lives. The caller said the lawyers’ names were on his group’s hit list.

But lawyers Magdalena Lepiten, Ian Manticajon and Kim Grace Mendoza suspected that the calls might have been a scheme to extort money from them.

The calls were received in separate times on Tuesday, a day after two men on board a motorcycle attacked lawyer Inocencio de la Cerna while he was leaving the Cebu City Hall of Justice.

De la Cerna survived the attack, but had cuts from glass shards after the suspects fired at his Toyota Land Cruiser.

Same number

Lepiten said she received a call at 9:39 a.m. Tuesday from a certain Bobby who claimed to be from Davao.

She said she did not entertain the caller and instead turned off her phone. Moments later, she said received a text message from the same number—0997-1779161.

The message read: “Ma swerte lang c dela cerna. ekaw ug dli ka makig coperate mamatay ka. 100K kapalit sa imung kinabuhe (Dela Cerna was fortunate to have survived. If you won’t cooperate, you will die. P100K in exchange for your life).”

Lepiten said she posted her conversation on her Facebook account to know if other lawyers received the same call. It turned out she was not the only one.

Mendoza posted on her Facebook account a recording of her conversation with the caller who used the same mobile phone number.

Probe

The man told Mendoza that she was next in the list after De la Cerna but he would spare her life if she had P100,000.

Mendoza, however, told the man to “just kill me” as she didn’t have the money. Irritated, the man called her “crazy (pagkabuang gyud nimo)” before dropping the call.

Manticajon, who missed a call from the same number four times on Tuesday, urged the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest the people behind the threats.

“Although it’s a scam, it still somehow instilled fear among us. It’s not alarming but rather annoying … The government must do something to make every citizen safe and feel safe,” he said.

Col. Gemma Vinluan, city police chief, said she created a team to investigate the matter.

“Although the motive here might be extortion, these lawyers should not take the threats likely. No matter what you call it, it’s still a threat,” she said.

On 3 September 2019, three human rights lawyers received death threats via call and sms by unknown person in Cebu City, the Philippines.

On September 14, 2019, Karapatan received information from its regional chapter in Southern Tagalog that Alexandrea Pacalda, a human rights worker affiliated with the organization, was abducted by six operatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in General Luna, South Quezon. She was initially brought to the 85th Infantry Battalion headquarters, and then later to the General Luna police station. At the police station, Alexandrea was forced to sign a certification indicating that she voluntarily surrendered. Thereafter, she was taken to the 201st AFP Brigade camp in Calauan, Quezon.

During the past days, Karapatan got in touch with Alexandrea’s family. Karapatan legal counsel Atty. Maria Sol Taule was also able to talk to the victim herself. Amid all the false reports circulating online, Karapatan would like to clarify a few matters:

Alexandrea Pacalda, 23, was a human rights worker of Karapatan. She is currently affiliated with Pinag-isang Lakas ng Magsasaka sa Quezon (PIGLAS-Quezon), a local peasant organization in the region. She was abducted by elements of the military and she continues to be under military custody. She was arrested without a warrant and continues to be under detention for five days now.

As of this writing, there have been no charges filed against Pacalda, unless they start planting evidence or put her name under Jane Does or ludicrous aliases in outstanding warrants of arrest. She is being held without charges for more than 36 hours now. Particularly, 118 hours have already passed. This already qualifies as arbitrary detention and the military should be held accountable. Alexandrea should be immediately released to her family.

Alexandrea Pacalda signed the affidavit of voluntary surrender while under duress. In a signed statement to her lawyer, the victim said that she was subjected to mental torture, and was merely forced to sign the affidavit. She added that she was not allowed to sleep and was starved for 24-30 hours.

Alexandrea’s family was likewise forced to affix their signature. While there was no physical coercion, Karapatan asserts that the coercive circumstance wherein the family was subjected to invalidates the giddy claims of the PNP and the AFP that she “voluntarily surrendered.” The military threatened the family with a criminal case to be charged against Alexandrea if they don’t agree to sign the affidavit. This signed document, though far from voluntary, is making the rounds in social media.

Alexandrea’s father broke down after meeting with Karapatan’s legal counsel. He said he signed the affidavit and convinced her daughter to do so, as they were held in a hostile environment. They were fearful of what the military can do to Alexandrea, given that she remains under military custody.

The father of Alexandrea was presented to the media. He initially stated that his daughter was a good person, but was forced to change his account because the military merely wanted the father to talk about the so-called “surrender” of Alexandrea. The family was also invited to join the parade of parents who claim their children are missing, despite being defied and opposed by the children themselves. The Pacalda family refused, and is currently in coordination with the Commission on Human Rights and Karapatan for her release.

Alexandrea was taken to the notary public on September 17, 2019. She was not provided a copy of the said affidavit. She was subjected to custodial investigation, yet an affidavit was drafted without the presence of a counsel of her own choice. The said affidavit, which has likewise been circulated online, was signed without the presence of her lawyer, and was done so while the victim was under pressure. All statements taken from any victim without the presence of his/her counsel of choice should be deemed inadmissible.

After Alexandrea was taken to the notary public and while in conversation with Atty. Taule and her family, she signed a short statement recounting how she was forced to sign the affidavit, as well as her mental and emotional disposition while under military custody. This statement supersedes previous claims by the military and the police about her alleged surrender.

Until now, the military refuses to release Alexa Pacalda. She is currently under the custody of the 201st Brigade in Calauag, Quezon.

On September 19, Capt. Benedict Alfonso Cagain, a civil military officer of the Army’s 201st Brigade, released a statement saying that Alexandrea is not being detained, and that she is free to return home to her family. As of press time however, Alexandrea’s family, accompanied by CHR, is asking continuously demanding for her release. The military refuses to heed the family and the CHR’s request, despite the lack of a case against Alexandrea.

On 14 September 2019, the young activist Alexa Pacalda was abducted, tortured by the Philippine's Army in Quezon City, Philippines, and later detained over false charges pressed by the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

An expert in forensic medicine and an anti-mining advocate, Doctor Benito E. Molino received a death threat via private message to his Facebook account which was posted by a certain Dexter Movilla, also known as Mark Minimo, on October 15, 2014 at 10:35 a.m. The message was (in Tagalog dialect), "Mxado kng ma papel mga tao nwlan ng trabho dhl sau tndaan m isang bala k lng mag ingat ingat k bka isang araw patay kna." (You're a meddler. People lose their jobs because of you. Keep in mind that one bullet can kill you. Beware, one day you're dead.) Another message was sent on October 12, 2014 at 8:08 p.m. It said, (also in Tagalog), "Wla pla mrami ng wlng trabaho nyan dhl sa pilit ny0ng ipahnto ang mining Alm nyo b dhl sa gnwa nyo mraming gl8 sa in u d mta2hmik buhay nyo sa gnwa nyo lahat ng mining pna hnto nyo." (People lose their jobs because you coerced the mining company to stop. Do you know, because of what you did, many are angry with you, you will not have peace because of what you did, you stopped all mining operations.) Dr. Molino, fondly called as "Doc Ben", 57, is at the center of the struggle against mining operations in Sta. Cruz. Currently, he has been at the receiving end of criticisms from supporters of mining companies in the province. Mine workers have blamed Doc Ben for the suspension of mining activities that cost them their jobs. Doc Ben is the chairperson of the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales (CCOS). CCOS is of the active anti-mining groups in the province that has been strongly campaigning for the cancellation of mining operations due to the vast amount of destruction in the environment that would eventually affect the health and livelihood of the people. According to Doc Ben, nickel laterite (soil layer rich in nickel compound) has clogged the natural flow of water from rivers, creeks, fishponds, shorelines and farmlands. Apparently, more than 300 hectares of farmlands have already been destroyed which has caused farmers of Sta. Cruz and Candelaria millions worth of income. On July 15, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office in Central Luzon suspended the operations of four mining companies that extract nickel laterite in the province, citing their "unsystematic mining or stripping method." Doc Ben claimed that the suspension order was only an initial victory for Sta. Cruz residents who, they say, have been struggling to revive their sources of livelihood, which are mostly farming and fishing. Recently, mine workers appealed to the provincial officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to lift the suspension order against four mining companies in Sta. Cruz, Zambales such as the Diversified Metals Corporation, Benguet Corporation Nickel Mines Inc., Eramen Minerals Inc., and LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc. Aside from his activities in the anti-mining movement, Doc Ben is currently working with the Medical Action Group (MAG), in partnership with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) for the protection of human rights defenders in the country. Doc Ben is a lecturer and an expert in medical investigation and documentation of torture cases. He is also involved in the investigation and documentation of alleged cases of enforced disappearances, particularly in exhumations.

On the 12th and 15th October 2014, anti-mining activist and human rights defender Dr. Benito E. Molino received death threats via private message to his Facebook account by one Dexter Movilla. Dr. Molino is the chairperson of the Concerned Citizens of Sta. Cruz, Zambales (CCOS) and has been strongly campaigning for the cancellation of mining operations due to the vast amount of destruction in the environment that would eventually affect the health and livelihood of the people. Currently, he has been at the receiving end of criticisms from supporters of mining companies in the province. Mine workers have blamed him for the suspension of mining activities that cost them their jobs.

On the 25th April 2014 at 9:30am in San Rafael Street, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City, worker's rights organization NAGKAISA led a peaceful rally outside the building where AsiaPro central office is located. Around 200 participants coming from various labor groups including the Partido ng Manggagawa, Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), SENTRO, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), and the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), attended the activity. Equipped with sound system, flags, streamers, banners, and position papers, the demonstrators criticized AsiaPro for its anti-labour union activities. On the 11th July 2014, officials of the AsiaPro Cooperative charged both Edcil Bacalso of NAGKAISA, a coalition of labour groups and Wilson Fortaleza of Partido ng Manggagawa (Workers Party), with libel, illegal assembly, and alarm and scandal. The charges were filed at the Office of the Prosecutor in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Based on his complaint affidavit, Mr. Edeward C. Milano, Head of the Business Unit for Luzon of AsiaPro Multipurpose Cooperative accused Bacalso and Fortaleza of distributing libelous materials to the public allegedly containing malicious and defamatory statements. Milano blamed the group of obstructing traffic flow and blocking pedestrians due to NAGKAISA's activity. Further, Milano stated that the public were disturbed due to the loudspeaker system used in the protest. The right to freedom of assembly and association and the right to freedom of expression are guaranteed rights under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Bacalso and Fortaleza's work in promoting and protecting worker's rights against unfair labor practices are the motive behind false charges of libel, illegal assembly, and alarm and scandal filed against them. AsiaPro is resorting to filing trumped up charges to weaken the campaign against its exploitation of workers.

On 11th July 2014, human rights defenders Edcil Bacalso and Wilson Fortazela were charged by AsiaPro Co-operative with libel, illegal assembly, and alarm and scandal. Bacalso and Fortaleza's work in promoting and protecting worker's rights against unfair labor practices are the motive behind the false charges filed against them.

Mr. Joseph D. Quiles, an instructor at the Marikina Polytechnic College, filed a perjury case (Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code) against: 1) Ernie Quisora, 2) John Clifford C. Bisol, 3) Eduardo V. Muerong, Jr., 4) Daisy Mae M. Viola, 5) Leneth F. Bacsal, 6) Crystal Ann P. Lusuego, 7) Applye B. Estuye, 8) Jimbo R. Cruz, 9) Rowel D.G. Chavez, and 10) Rheginald C. Padua. The said case is filed at the office of Assistant City Prosecutor Conrado C. Rosario. By virtue of a subpoena sent to Quisora and the other respondents, they already appeared in the preliminary investigation conducted on October 2, 2014, held at the Office of the Prosecutor. Based on previous accounts, it has been reported that Quisora, a student of Marikina Polytechnic College, and a Student Council volunteer, suffered minor injuries during a scuffle between him and Mr. Quiles, a college professor. Quisora suffered a bruise on his left hand. He also felt pain on his nape. The incident happened on December 20, 2013. Quiles and school guards alleged that Quisora is a supporter of the protest action conducted by the faculty association. Quisora and other student leaders already filed a formal complaint to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) against Quiles. Quiles filed the perjury case apparently as retribution and a counter attack against leaders and advocates of students' rights and welfare, particularly members and volunteers of the Student Council.

In October 2014, Mr. Joseph D. Quiles, an instructor at the Marikina Polytechnic College, filed a perjury case against 10 student human rights defenders: 1) Ernie Quisora, 2) John Clifford C. Bisol, 3) Eduardo V. Muerong, Jr., 4) Daisy Mae M. Viola, 5) Leneth F. Bacsal, 6) Crystal Ann P. Lusuego, 7) Applye B. Estuye, 8) Jimbo R. Cruz, 9) Rowel D.G. Chavez, and 10) Rheginald C. Padua. Quiles filed the perjury case apparently as retribution and a counter attack against leaders and advocates of students' rights and welfare, particularly members and volunteers of the Student Council.

On 30 July 2013, two journalists at the weekly tabloid Aksyon Ngayon Newspaper, Mr. Bonifacio Loreto and Mr. Richard Kho, were shot and killed by two unidentified men on motorcycles in the Quezon City neighborhood of the capital, Manila. It is reported that the two victims' criticism of corruption involving prominent politicians may have been the motive for the killings. Two days after these events, on 1 August 2013, Mr. Mario Sy, a freelance photographer, was shot twice and killed in his home in General Santos City by an unidentified man who had broken into his house. Sources further inform that Mr. Sy's photographs reported on drug trafficking for local newspapers, which may have been the reason for his assassination. Grave concerns are expressed that Messrs. Bonifacio Loreto, Richard Kho and Mario Sy were killed in connection with their journalistic activities. Further concerns are expressed that the lack of safe environment for journalists in the Philippines to perform their work independently and without undue interference, harassment and threats to their physical and psychological integrity severely restricts the right to freedom of opinion and expression. On 22 August 2013, a Joint Allegation Letter was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. No response was received.

On 30 July 2013, two journalists, Mr Bonifacio Loreto and Mr Richard Kho, were killed by two unidentified men on motorcycles in the Quezon City neighbourhood in Manila. Two days later, on 1 August 2013, Mr Mario Sy, a photograph journalist, was shot in his home in General Santos City. It is alleged that the killings, which occurred within the period of two days, were related to their journalistic activities reporting on corruption cases and drug trafficking. On 22 August 2013, a Joint Allegation Letter was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. No response was received.

An anti-mining activist from Nueva Vizcaya went missing since August 21, the human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley claimed this week. Bryan Epa, 34, was reported missing after police allegedly arrested him on August 21 in Barangay Salvacion, Dumlao Boulevard in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Barangay official Alfonso Shog-oy reportedly saw six policemen taking Epa aboard their patrol vehicle and announced during the arrest that Epa will be taken into custody because he looked "suspicious.' Shog-oy reported that Epa resisted arrest but was punched in the stomach by two of the policemen, and then hit in the hand by a baton. The following day, Shog-oy and lawyer Fidel Santos reportedly sought Epa at the police station, but they did not find him there. Later, the police claimed that they have released a detained person on the same night that Epa was arrested, but records showed instead that it was another person- Felix Bacsa, Jr.- who was released and not Epa. Epa has figured in the protest movement in Nueva Vizcaya opposing the entry of Australian mining company Royalco Philippines, Inc. He is also reportedly among the locals manning the barricades, set up since 2007 to prevent mining equipment. As such, the Manila-based group Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) is expressing its concern over the continued disappearance of Epa. According to KAMP, there had been 35 extra-judicial killings of indigenous peoples since Pres. Benigno Aquino III took office.

On 21 August, Bryan Epa, an anti-mining activist from Nueva Vizcaya was allegedly detained by law enforcement officials, and as of 27 August remains missing. He has played an active role in the Nueva Vizcaya community opposition of Australian mining company Royalco Philippines' opening of a mine in the area. UPDATE 2/12/2014: Epa remains missing.

MANILA, Philippines-Militant farmers on Wednesday decried the arrest of Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap and 10 other agrarian reform advocates at Hacienda Luisita, branding it as an example of human rights abuses purportedly committed every day at the sugar estate owned by President Benigno Aquino III's family in Tarlac. Hicap was attending a fact-finding mission on land distribution in the sugar estate at about noon Tuesday when he and his 10 companions were apprehended by members of the Philippine National Police. The group was reportedly being held at the Tarlac City Police Station on charges of illegal assembly, direct assault, trespass to dwelling and malicious mischief. In a statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas described the arrests of Hicap and the other agrarian reform advocates as an example of purported abuses experienced by farm workers and residents of Hacienda Luisita. "The national fact-finding mission team (was) in Hacienda Luisita to document political and economic rights abuses suffered by farm workers," KMP secretary general Antonio Flores said. "Unfortunately, the team experienced first-hand the day-to-day violence experienced by Hacienda Luisita farm workers and residents," he said. The KMP said no formal complaint had been lodged against Hicap and his 10 companions as of Wednesday morning even as they remained under the custody of Tarlac police. "The illegal arrest and detention of Ka Pando and 10 other land reform advocates show that Hacienda Luisita is under a state of terror," Flores said. "Even[a] person who supposedly enjoys parliamentary immunity was not spared. Imagine the life of an ordinary Hacienda Luisita farm worker at the hands of the President's family," he said. "And this state of terror is continuously being used as a major component of the Cojuangco-Aquinos and the Department of Agrarian Reform's campaign of deception and denial of Hacienda Luisita farm workers' rights to the lands," Flores said. The KMP reiterated its calls for the "free distribution" of Hacienda Luisita, insisting that the distribution of the landholdings "should be beyond the bounds of the bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program." "Hacienda Luisita should be distributed for free," Flores said, noting that the order of the Supreme Court to compensate the landowner "does not automatically mean that farmers should pay amortization." The group also accused the Tarlac Development Corporation (Tadeco), a firm controlled by the Cojuangco family, of land grabbing and eviction of Hacienda Luisita farm workers. The group said Tadeco issued a "notice to vacate" dated July 30, 2013 and received in August, instructing farmers in Barangay Sta. Catalina (now Cutcut) inside Hacienda Luisita to stop planting and leave the land within 15 days from the receipt of the letter. The KMP said farm workers in Barangay Balete received similar demand letters from Tadeco in what it called "blatant land grabbing."

On 17 September 2013, Fernando Hicap -an elected official- and 10 other agrarian reform advocates were arrested at Hacienda Luisita while on a fact-finding mission on land distribution. They were detained on charges of "illegal assembly, direct assault, trespass to dwelling and malicious mischief," although they were not officially charged. Activists have pointed to the arrest of a parliamentarian on a fact-finding mission as a representation of the extent of repression faced by farmers at Hacienda Luisita. UPDATE 19/09/2013: Rep. Fernando Hicap and nun Patricia Fox were not charged. The nine others remained in detention until they were freed on bail on 19 September. They were charged with "malicious mischief and direct assault" related to the alleged destruction of three security outposts owned by Tarlac Development.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines-Judge Reynerio Estacio Sr. handled many controversial cases involving politicians, suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits and policemen, and can even be considered a pillar of the Philippine justice system, according to people who knew him well. Any of those cases may have something to do with how his life ended on Friday morning. Two motorcycle-riding men shot Estacio seven times in front of his house on Narra Drive, Tugbungan village, as he was leaving for work around 7:40 a.m. Chief Insp. Felix Martinez, commander of the Tetuan police station, said Estacio was revving the engine of his car to drive off when the gunmen struck. His wife, Teresita, who was in the car was not hurt, but Estacio died while being taken to hospital, Martinez said. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno condemned the killing of the judge, and asked the law enforcement agencies to "act swiftly" and bring the perpetrators to justice. "I wish to express my deepest outrage over the killing of Judge Estacio," Sereno said in a statement released by the Supreme Court in Manila. "I offer my sincerest condolences to his widow, Teresita, and the other members of his family," Sereno said. "We remember our brother judge and thank his family for sharing him with the judiciary." Sereno said Executive Judge Peter Eisma of the Zamboanga Regional Trial Court had been instructed to closely monitor the police investigation of Estacio's killing and to provide support and assistance to the judge's family. Eisma was expected to send a report to the Supreme Court later on Friday. Defenseless judiciary Sereno lamented that the judiciary had no resources to combat violence against its members and that it had to rely on law enforcers to investigate and bring to justice the killers of judges. "We will not, however, let the killing of Judge Estacio remain yet another statistic due to the judiciary's lack of investigative or law enforcement capacities," Sereno said. "Within the bounds of our resources, we will look into ways of protecting our judges and looking after their families," she said. "The proposition that inter arma enim silent leges (in the clash of arms the law is silent) is unacceptable. In order that judges may continue to be fearless and undaunted in discharging their duties of fairly, impartially and swiftly dispensing justice, they must be insulated from the violence that comes from the clash of arms. The law must speak and speak loudly so that the arms are silenced-inter leges silent arma," she said. Attack recorded Investigators in Zamboanga said a closed-circuit television camera recorded the attack on Estacio and the footage could help police identify the gunmen. Martinez said, however, that it might not be easy to determine the motive and brains behind the murder. "We may unmask the gunmen, but we still do not know the principal in this crime," he said. Martinez said investigators were coordinating with the Hall of Justice "so we can review the cases handled by Judge Estacio." "What a sad news. We praise him for his sense of justice and strict observance of the law," lawyer Yasser Apion of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos said. Apion said one of the controversial cases that Estacio handled was the petition of Muslim students of the Universidad de Zamboanga to be allowed to wear veil on the campus. Many schools here have banned the veil or niqab following terror attacks in recent years, but Estacio struck the ban, Apion said. "We pray that the culprits will be brought to justice very soon," he said. Jalosjos case The Inquirer learned that Estacio was the judge who disallowed the inclusion of convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos on the Zamboanga City voter list in 2012. Jalosjos wanted to be registered as a voter in Zamboanga so he could run in the 2013 mayoral race. Estacio also cited for contempt in 2012 Senior Supt. Edgar Danao, then the director for Western Mindanao of the police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, for failing to present an Abu Sayyaf suspect in court despite the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.

On March 1, 2014, Reynerio Estacio Sr. was shot dead outside his house by unidentified assailants. Judge Estacio was renowned as an upstanding judge and had handled sensitive cases, from political corruption to human trafficking. However, the link between these activities and his death remain unclear.

Prominent Philippine journalist Maria Ressa has been re-arrested at Manila airport, allegedly for violating laws barring foreign ownership of media. Ms Ressa, the founder of news site Rappler, was granted bail after paying P90,000 ($1700; ��1300). It comes weeks after she was arrested over an alleged internet libel case. Press freedom advocates say the veteran reporter is being targeted by President Rodrigo Duterte because of Rappler's critical reporting on the government. Eleven legal cases have been filed against the outlet since January 2018. Ms Ressa, who was named one of Time Magazine's People of the Year in 2018, spoke to reporters as she was arrested. "Obviously this is yet another abuse of my rights. I am being treated like a criminal when my only crime is to be an independent journalist," she said.After her previous arrest on 13 February she spent a night in jail before being released on bail. What happened? Ms Ressa was arrested moments after stepping off a plane from San Francisco, ABS-CBN, reported. Before arriving, apparently aware that she might be met by police officers, she tweeted: "Landing in a short while to face my latest arrest warrant and the 7th time I will post bail."She then posted a series of tweets following her arrest, including a photograph from inside the police car. ater she tweeted again, writing: "Am posting bail for 7th time! For being a journalist." Why was Ressa arrested? The government accuses Ms Ressa, who has both Philippine and American nationality, of having violated foreign ownership rules and committed securities fraud. According to Philippine law, media organisations must be completely Filipino-owned. Rappler has denied government allegations that the website is being controlled by an organisation outside of the Phillipines, and press freedom organisations say the charges are designed to intimidate independent journalists. Human Rights Watch said: "The court case is unprecedented and speaks volumes of the Duterte administration's determination to shut the website down for its credible and consistent reporting on the government." n February, Ms Ressa was accused of "cyber-libel" over a report on a businessman's alleged ties to a former judge. Two months earlier she had posted bail on tax fraud charges, which she described as "manufactured". If convicted of one count of tax fraud, she could serve up to a decade in prison. The cyber-libel charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years. The repeated arrests of Ms Ressa have drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about worsening press freedom in the country. Rappler has reported extensively on President Deterte's hardline war on drugs, in which police say around 5,000 people have been killed over the past three years. In December, the website reported on Mr Duterte's public admission that he had sexually assaulted a maid. President Rodrigo Duterte has previously denied charges against Ms Ressa are politically motivated, describing the website as "fake news". Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the Philippines, making it one of the most dangerous in the world for reporters. In 2016, the president was criticised for saying some of those journalists deserved to die. Why Rappler is raising Philippine press freedom fears What is Rappler? Rappler was founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa and three other journalists and has gone on to become known in the Philippines for its hard-hitting investigations. It is also one of the few media organisations in the country that is openly critical of President Duterte, regularly interrogating the accuracy of his public statements and criticising his sometimes deadly policies. The president has banned its reporters from covering his official activities and last year the state revoked the site's licence. Ms Ressa is a veteran Philippine journalist who, before founding Rappler, spent most of her career with CNN - first as the bureau chief in Manila, and then in Jakarta. She was also the US broadcaster's lead investigative reporter on terrorism in Southeast Asia.

On 29 March 2019, Maria Ressa, journalist and WHRD, was arrested, allegedly for violating laws barring foreign ownership of media.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) website was briefly inaccessible twice on 8 February 2019 in a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, the group said in a statement. "According to our digital security partners, the two attacks happened at around 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., with attackers sending up to 426 gigabytes of traffic to our website, almost 10 times the 50 gb/s that brought down alternative news site Bulatlat," NUJP said. The site was back up at 8:30 p.m. This is not the first time NUJP's website was attacked. On 9 January 2017, the group reported that its website was attacked by a "massive denial of service." NUJP was also subjected to red tagging on 7 January 2019 by several local tabloids, which ran a similar headline, "NUJP pinamumunuan ng CPP-NPA-NDF" (NUJP Headed by CPP-NPA-NDF). One "Ka Ernesto', identified in the reports as a former member of NUJP, said the group had links with the Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison. "We believe the attack on NUJP site is related to the ones launched against Bulatlat and alternative news sites Kodao Productions and AlterMidya, all of which host NUJP chapters." Bulatlat (translated as the act of uncovering or exposing something) reported receiving continuous DoS attacks, which brought down its website for several days, from 19 to 29 January 2019. Alternative news websites - including Bulatlat, Pinoy Weekly, and Kodao Productions - were the targets of cyber attacks in December 2018.

On 8 February 2019, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an organisation promoting freedom of expression and freedom of press, had their website subject to cyber attack

According to an alert released by the RMP-NMR, a certain CPT. Lorefel Judaya INF, Intel Officer of 1st SFBn went to the home of Jandayan in Brgy. Macabalan, Manolo Fortich Bukidon and took her to the Barangay Hall for questioning on the allegation that she is Medic of the New People's Army. She was later informed that she needs to be brought to the Philippine Army's 1st SF Batallion camp in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon for further questioning. Further information stated that Gloria and Gleceria demanded for an arrest warrant and refused to go with Cpt. Judaya when the latter failed to produce said warrant. But Judaya was insistent on bringing Gloria with him, and Gleceria then decided to accompany her mother to ensure her safety. At 10:30 am, Gleceria was able to send a message that they are being held at the 4th IDPA camp in Patag, Cagayan de Oro City and their phones are about to be confiscated. Nothing was heard from them since. Jandayan is a Barangay health worker and is the point person of Makabayan Partylists to assist beneficiary patients in the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC). Jandayan is also a Gabriela Women's Party member. Balangiao on the other hand has been a member of Panday Bulig and is currently working with the RMP-NMR. Even without Martial Law, the rural poor and their supporters, including rural missionaries and lay workers have always been victims of human rights violations for their firm stand against anti-poor programs and policies of the government. With the ML in place, militarization of rural communities have intensified resulting to increasing number of victims of human rights violations such as extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention and filing of trumped-up charges. This harassment against Jandayan and Balangiao is not isolated and is part of the continuing attack against Church people, human rights defenders and the rural poor in Northern Mindanao. Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chair of Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization, and Ireneo Udarbe, chair of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao was illegally arrested last January 28 in Bukidnon. Meanwhile, 5 members of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) and two minors were also illegally arrested and detained last January 30 in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. We demand for the immediate release of Gloria and Gleceeria and we call on our fellow Church people to denounce this latest harassment. We also call for the immediate release of Goaynon and Udarbe, and of the five members of the MOFA and the withdrawal of fabricated charges against them. Furthermore, we demand for an end to these attacks against land and peace advocates in Northern Mindanao and an end to Martial Law in Mindanao. As Christians who vowed to fulfill our mission with the rural poor, we will continue to stand with them and will continue to expose the injustices committed against them.

On February 11, RMP-NMR staff Gleceria Balangiao and her mother Gloria Jandayan were forcibly brought to a military camp for "questioning" and were held for more than a week for interrogation. No charges were filed against them and their families were threatened that if they file a case against the military, the two captives will be thrown in jail for non-bailable offenses.

DAVAO CITY - An employee of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) received on Monday afternoon threating text messages from an unknown sender. RMP-NMR - an inter-diocesan and inter-congregational group composed of priests and lay people - also posted a statement about it on Tuesday. Fr. Allan Khen Apus, spokesperson of Karapatan in Northern Mindanao, did not name the employee for security reasons, but he said the employee received four text messages from mobile number 0906-154-0493. The sender addressed the RMP-NMR employee as "Tagalog," according to Apus. Below are the messages: "Tagalog nadakop na yung isang kasama niyo wala ka magresponde?"[Tagalog, one of your colleagues has been arrested, aren't you going to respond?] "Nawala ka dito sa cagayan tagalog ha ha haaa."[You have been missing here in Cagayan Tagalog ha ha ha.] "Bakit ka kasi nagpunta pa ng mindanao tagalog ka naman hindi ka dapat nakialam mabilis ka din gumawa ng kontra."[Why did you have to go to Mindanao. You're Tagalog. You should not have meddled. You're so quick to oppose.] "Tagalog kung gusto ka mag media ayaw lang sa mga npa."[Tagalog if you want join the media but not the NPA "NPA" in the fourth message stands for New People's Army. Apus said the text messages came a day after the arbitrary detention of Gleceria Balanguiao, another RMP-NMR employee, and her mother, Gloria Jandayan of Gabriela Women's Party. In a text message sent to RMP-NMR on Monday, Balanguiao said they were being held at a camp of the 4th Infantry Division in Patag, Cagayan de Oro City. In its statement issued on Tuesday, the RMP-NMR said: "We call on the faithful to lend their support in calling out these types of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders. Let us continue the good fight in supporting each other against the enemies of truth, peace and justice."

On 12 February 2019, an employee of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Sub-Region (RMP-NMR) , received on Monday afternoon threating text messages from an unknown sender

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - Journalist groups and a human rights organization denounced an anonymous list distributed to journalists in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, February 22, that tagged several groups and individuals as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The red-tagging document came from an unknown person and was given to journalists during a human rights forum in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday. The document, written in Bisaya, said, "Here is the list of several members of the Communist Party of the Philippines here in our city that are aspiring to wrestle the government." Among those included in the list are: lglesia Filipina Independiente priests Rolando Abejo, Khen Apus, Kris Ablon, and bishop Felixberto Calang Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Alliance of Concerned Teachers Journalist Leonardo "Cong" Corrales, his son LA, and his wife Ai Lawyer Beverly Musni and her lawyer daughters Czarina and Beverly Ann Musni Union of People's Lawyers in Mindanao Kabataan Partylist Karapatan-Northern Mindanao in a statement Friday deplored the list as yet another case of harassment against human rights defenders in Northern Mindanao. Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general, said that two brown envelopes with 13 copies each of the document were handed over by "military-looking" men to the security guards of Philtown Hotel, where human rights groups were holding an assembly. Palabay said the document tagged the names in the list as communists. "The notorious lists have further endangered the already perilous situation of human rights defenders. We have repeatedly raised how these arbitrary and baseless accusations incite threats to the lives and security of named individuals, the worst of which they become victims of extrajudiial killings," Palabay said. "We call on the Commission on Human Rights and the local government to protect the rights of defenders and make accountable those who continue to put their lives at risk," she added. But the 4th Infantry Division denied the allegation thrown at them by Karapatan. "To all our media friends, it's for Palabay to prove it...burden of proof," Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Osias of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command said. "My take on this is if Karapatan cannot prove that it came from the Army then I say that they[Karapatan] are the ones who made it to sow intrigues among our ranks!" he said. Captain Ryan Delgado, spokesperson of the Army's 403rd Brigade, and Captain Regie Go, acting spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, both denied that the document came from them. "This is the first time I've seen this document. We don't know where that came from," Go said. 'Virtual death sentence' The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in a statement deplored the inclusion of its member and former director Corrales, as well as his wife and son in the list. "There is nothing more cowardly and deplorable than to vilify persons and put them in mortal peril behind the cloak of anonymity," the statement said. "As has happened all too often, red-tagging is not mere intimidation. All too often it can be a virtual death sentence," the NUJP said. The group added: "Even media have not been spared from red-tagging and other acts clearly intended to intimidate a critical press into silence, as with the ongoing vilification campaign against the NUJP and the cyberattacks on alternative media." The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) also condemned the list. "The COPC strongly debunks the allegation that Board Member Leonardo Vicente 'Cong' Corrales is affiliated with the Communist Party of the Philippines as what has been stated in a document circulated during a press conference in a hotel this morning, February 22, 2019," the organization said. The COPC added, "Let it be known that we will stand with Board Member Corrales as we call on the authorities to investigate this red-tagging and ensure that media personalities be spared from this accusation." Corrales, meanwhile, said that whoever put him and his family on the list is a coward. "We are not, have never been and never will be members of CPP. My wife is a marketing executive with Gold Star Daily, where I am the associate editor. My son is a regular staff of the Commission on Elections-10 and is currently serving in the commission's city office. He is also currently studying at Xavier University College of Law. Our credentials are readily available," Corrales said. "We denounce this list as it is not only aimed to intimidate me in my work as a journalist but has endangered my family. We know fully well that red-tagging is a virtual death sentence." "On my end, I will not let this cowardly act push me to silence. I will continue speaking truth to power," Corrales added. - Rappler.com

On 22 February 2019, several groups and individuals - many of whom are HRDS - were tagged as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Karapatan's website www.karapatan.org has been inaccessible since January 20, 2019. We were careful not to automatically attribute this problem to a possible cyberattack against our web page. However, after much troubleshooting, our website continued to receive an abnormal load of traffic which was more than what the provider can handle. After requesting assistance from Quirum, a Sweden-based non-profit secure hosting provider for independent media and human rights organiztions, to investigate, initial findings show that the signature of the attacks was identical to those of Philippine alternative media groups Bulatlat, Altermidya, and Pinoy Weekly. We, therefore, confirm that the inaccessibility of our website is due to a targeted Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack from a source intent on silencing Karapatan's platform for online advocacy. According to Qurium, Karapatan's website has been monitored by the attackers since November 2018, when information and press statements, an average of three per day, were released by the alliance on various human rights violations. The attacks started on December 26, 2018. The attackers used several virtual private networks (VPNs). The attacker, Qurium says, can be a group of people judging by the number of devices they used. According to Qurium, this kind of attack against Karapatan's site and other alternative news sites is one of the worst that they have seen in the last ten years that they have been monitoring attacks against civil society online spaces globally. It was a continuous and relentless attack, taking our website offline for nearly a month, bringing us to the conclusion that those who commissioned such attacks have enormous resources and thousands or even millions of funds to spend. Since it was put online in 2007, Karapatan's website has become one of the primary sources of data and analysis on the human rights situation in the country. Our website is a space for us to provide information and expose rights violations in the Philippines, to report evidence-based analysis of the deteriorating rights situation in the country, to educate the public with access to internet on the need to promote, protect and uphold human and people's rights, and to advocate for fundamental societal change. Resources on this website date back to the administration of former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the current administration, and information on many cases, which at times do not receive ample attention from authorities, are published in this site. Together with those who support our advocacy, both online and offline, we persevered in maintaining the site, keeping it updated as much as possible, knowing fully well that the victims and their families need all the help and efficiency we can muster. With this, the only ones who can benefit from such attacks are State forces, with billions of intelligence and discretionary funds in their war chest and whom we have relentlessly made accountable through our human rights advocacy in both online and offline platforms. Karapatan strongly condemns this attack as a desperate move by those who have clear contempt on the exercise of people's rights. In light of similar attacks against alternative news platforms Bulatlat, Kodao Productions, Altermidya, and Pinoy Weekly and the politically-motivated charges against Rappler's Maria Ressa, this cyberattack reveals a systematic and devious effort to curtail people's basic rights to information, freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief, both online and offline. This is an extension of the Duterte government's attack against human rights defenders and against people's rights. This year, we have been grappling with the Securities and Exchange Commission Memorandum No. 15 which institutionalizes red-tagging and can seriously hamper the work of organizations through arbitrary and draconian provisions. Prior to this, we have dealt with online threats, banners branding us as "enemies of the State" and outright violations such as killings and arrests perpetrated against our colleagues. Clearly, this is an effort to silence us, but we will not cower. We stand in solidarity with the Philippine-based alternative media groups who have been subjected to similar attacks. They are among the most reliable partners of people's organizations in upholding the people's right to information and freedom of expression. We thank Qurium and all digital activists who are helping us, as we are back online since February 15, 2019. However, we remain uncertain if our website can withstand future attacks, which is why we call on all our partners among national and international civil society and human rights bodies, members of the media and academe, and human rights defenders to continue this support by providing spaces in your online platforms for statements, reports, and materials released by Karapatan. Amid constant threats of similar online attacks, we enjoin you to #MirrorUs to #FightBack, a solidarity online campaign that we will be launching to enable the release of public information from Karapatan through publication in various websites and social media accounts. You may contact us at karapatan@karapatan.org for further information on this campaign. Through your support, Karapatan, in all its years of activism and advocacy, has carried on despite numerous attacks directed against the alliance. As we remain vigilant, we will take concrete steps towards exacting accountability and exposing this deliberate and devious web of repressive tools to ultimately silence dissent and critical opinion.

Since 20 January 2019, KARAPATAN's, an organisation which works for the advancement of people's rights, has had their website hacked by an unknown source

Authorities in the Philippines have arrested award-winning journalist Maria Ressa, who leads the Rappler news website that is known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration. In a live stream posted by Rappler on Wednesday, officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) cybercrime unit were seen speaking to Ressa inside the website's headquarters. The NBI is a government agency under the Department of Justice. Rappler earlier said that an officer has prohibited its journalists from taking photos and videos inside her office, where the arrest warrant was served. Time honours Khashoggi, Maria Ressa and other journalists as 2018 'Person of the Year' In a short statement to journalists, Ressa said she had not seen the indictment before her arrest was issued. She said that "if possible", she would post bail immediately. "We are not intimidated. No amount of legal cases, black propaganda, and lies can silence Filipino journalists who continue to hold the line," Ressa said. "These legal acrobatics show how far the government will go to silence journalists, including the pettiness of forcing me to spend the night in jail." The arresting officers served the warrant at 5pm local time, just as government office hours ended, making it difficult for Ressa to apply for bail. In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the arrest of Ressa as "a shameless act of persecution by a bully government". "This government, led by a man who has proven averse to criticism and dissent, now proves it will go to ridiculous lengths to forcibly silence a critical media and stifle free expression and thought," it said. One of the political parties, Akbayan Partylist, also issued a statement in Ressa's support, saying they condemn the government for "the latest of the series of actions aimed at stifling press freedom in the country". "The arrest of Maria Ressa for fighting disinformation puts a target sign on all those who tell the truth," the statement said. "This arrest is deplorable. It highlights Duterte's fear of true, free and critical journalism." Last week, Philippine prosecutors announced that it will file a libel charge carrying up to 12 years in prison against Ressa, who was named a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for her journalistic work. The case - under a controversial cybercrime law penalising online libel - adds to legal pressure on Ressa and her company, which has already been hit with tax evasion charges that could shutter the outlet and put her behind bars. Rappler has drawn the administration's ire since publishing reports critical of Duterte's signature anti-drug crackdown that has killed thousands of alleged users and pushers since 2016. However, the new case against Ressa and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr stems from a 2012 report written about a businessman's alleged ties to a then-judge in the nation's top court. Philippines journalist charged with tax evasion (2:59) The cybercrime law, however, came into effect after the publication of the report. While investigators initially dismissed the businessman's 2017 complaint about the article, the case was subsequently forwarded to prosecutors for their consideration. 'Gross violation of press freedom' Amnesty International Philippines said Ressa's arrest was based on a "trumped up libel charge". "This is brazenly politically motivated, and consistent with the authorities' threats and repeated targeting of Ressa and her team," it said. The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of media personnel, also denounced condemned Ressa's detention. "The arrest of Maria Ressa is an outrageous attempt by the Philippines government to silence a news organisation that has been courageously investigating corruption and human rights violations in the country," Ravi R. Prasad, IPI director of advocacy, said in a statement. "The manner in which Ressa has been pursued by the government by slapping legal cases against her is not only shameful but also a gross and willful violation of press freedom." Duterte has lashed out at other critical media outfits, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper and broadcaster ABS-CBN. He had threatened to go after their owners over alleged unpaid taxes or block the network's franchise renewal application. Some of the drug crackdown's highest-profile critics have wound up behind bars, including Senator Leila de Lima, who was jailed on drug charges she insists were fabricated to silence her. Ressa, already on bail for the tax charges, has maintained that the new case lacks a sound legal basis. The law that forms the foundation of the case takes aim at various online offences, including computer fraud and hacking. Nonoy Espina, chairman of the NUJP, earlier warned that the case would set an ominous precedent. "This is an extremely dangerous proposition since it essentially means anyone can be made liable for anything and everything they posted even way before the Cybercrime Law," he added.

On 13 February 2019, Maria Ressa, who leads the Rappler news website that is known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, was arrested

The Philippines' Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted news website Rappler, its chief executive officer and executive editor Maria Ressa, and former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos, Jr. for cyberlibel for an article the news website published seven years ago. The DOJ announced its decision in a resolution dated Jan. 10 but was made public only yesterday, reported GMA News. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which acted on a case filed by a businessman named Wilfredo Keng. Keng filed the complaint against Rappler for allegedly publishing false information about him in an article titled "CJ using SUVs of "controversial' businessmen." Written by Santos, who was then working for Rappler, the article reported that Keng was allegedly involved in "illegal activities, namely "human trafficking and drug smuggling.'" The article also said that then-Chief Justice Renato Corona used a vehicle that belonged to Keng when Corona was attending his impeachment trial at the Senate. Keng, however, denied that he owned the vehicle which Corona used during that time. The article was published on Rappler's website on May 29, 2012 and was updated on Feb. 19, 2014. Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog said Rappler, Ressa, and Santos Jr. committed libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. In the resolution that was obtained by ABS-CBN News, Dayog said: "The publication complained of imputes to complainant Keng the commission of crimes. It is clearly defamatory." Dayog added: "Under Article 354 of the Revised Penal Code, every defamatory imputation is presumed to be malicious, even if it be true if no good intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown. The presumed malice is known as malice in law. The recognized exceptions, where malice in law is not present, are the absolutely or qualifiedly privileged communications." "The publication in question does not fall under any of the absolutely or qualifiedly privileged communications. It is not qualifiedly privileged as a "private communication made in the performance of any legal, moral or social duty,'" Dayog also said. According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ressa said that she could not be accused of cyberlibel because the Cybercrime Prevention Act was not yet in effect when the article was first published in May 2012. The Act, also known as Republic Act 10175, was approved on Sept. 12, 2012. The DOJ disagreed with Ressa because it said the article was updated in February 2014 and remains online to this day. On the other hand, the DOJ dismissed Keng's complaints against former and incumbent Rappler board members Manuel Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda Gloria, James Bitanga, Felicia Atienza, and Dan de Padua and former corporate secretary Jose Maria Hofile_a due to the absence of evidence that would prove their participation in the alleged crime. The cyber libel case is just one of the many legal woes that Ressa and Rappler are facing. Rappler and Ressa have been charged at the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) with three counts of violating the internal revenue code for allegedly failing to submit the correct information in their tax returns in 2015. They were also charged with one count of tax evasion at the CTA. It does not end there. One count of tax evasion was filed against Rappler and Ressa at the Pasig Regional Trial Court. Ressa has maintained that the charges were politically-motivated because it has been critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

On 10 January 2019, Maria Ressa, chief executive officer and executive editor of progressive news site Rappler and Reynaldo Santos, Jr., a former Rappler reporter were indicted for cyberlibel for an article the news website published seven years ago.

National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant Randy Malayao was shot dead inside a passenger bus in Nueva Vizcaya early morning Wednesday, January 30. Malayao, 49, was aboard a Victory Liner bus bound for Isabela when the bus made a stop in Aritao town in Nueva Vizcaya past 2 am on Wednesday, according to the spot report of the Nueva Vizcaya police. Aritao town police chief Geovanni Cejes said Malayao was sleeping inside the bus when an unidentified gunman shot him. Police reports said the gunman boarded the bus when it stopped in Aritao. "The victim was still inside the bus when the suspect gunman went inside the bus then fired two successive shots upon the victim causing his untimely death," said the spot report. The police said the suspect "immediately came down the bus then boarded his getaway motor vehicle together with his companion/driver." Two unidentified suspects were seen aboard a black Yamaha Mio near the crime scene. Police recovered a bullet and two pieces of cartridge case at the scene. As an NDF panel consultant on political and constitutional reforms, Malayao joined the peace negotiations in Europe under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, and had attended peace forums around the Philippines. He was among the 656 people that the Department of Justice had wanted a Manila court to declare as terrorists in February 2018, but was no longer on the shortened DOJ list of 8 people in a January 3 petition to the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19. Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), condemned the killing. "These series of attacks follow one thread: get those who fight the oppressive and exploitative system and who work for fundamental change fast and quick," said Olalia. Bayan Muna said the murder of Malayao "is part of the coordinated and direct attacks against progressive groups like Bayan Muna and the Makabayan bloc in the run up to the elections." Malayao had apparently attended a campaign conference of Makabayan before his murder. "This is another nail on the coffin of the peace negotiations. It is truly tragic that while we are going all out to resume the peace negotiations, the militarist hawks in the Duterte administration are the ones running the show," said Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate. Malayao, an activist since his college days, was in jail from May 2008 to October 2012 as the main suspect in the killing former Cagayan Governor Rodolfo Aguinaldo. The court has dismissed the charges against him in the Aguinaldo killing. -

On 30 January 2018, Nandy Malayao, National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant was shot dead inside a passenger bus in Nueva Vizcaya

PROGRESSIVE groups in Northern Mindanao have expressed alarm over the sudden disappearance of two leaders of Lumad and peasant organizations in Cagayan de Oro City last Monday, January 28, but police said the two were arrested on the strength of a supposed arrest warrant. The families and colleagues of Lumad leader Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of Kalumbay Regional Lumad organization, and Ireneo Udarbe, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao, failed to reach the two and declared them missing since Monday morning. However, a police official in Northern Mindanao confirmed that the two were not missing but were arrested by virtue of an arrest warrant for attempted murder and frustrated murder, issued by a court in Cagayan de Oro. Police said Goaynon and Udarbe, whom the police tagged as leaders of the New Peoples Army (NPA), were charged with four counts of attempted murder and frustrated murder. They were arrested through a joint military and police operation. "They are not missing. Udarbe and Goaynon were arrested at Barangay Patag by virtue of a court-issued arrest warrant according to our records," PRO Northern Mindanao D Director Timoteo Pacleb said. Reports said Goaynon and Udarbe left their office in Barangay Bulua, past 10:00 a.m., Monday. Their last communication to a Kalumbay staff was to inform that they were stuck in traffic on the way to their meeting place from their office. However, the two never got to their meeting place and none of their relatives and friends have seen or heard from them since then. Calls to Goaynon were picked up but no one answered while Udarbe's phone was still ringing but no one was picking up. The two can no longer be reached as of this writing. The two were supposed to attend a meeting with Pig-uyonan, a member organization of Kalumbay, in Barangay Carmen, this city. Pig-uyonan was scheduled to have a dialogue with the members of the 65th Infantry Battalion, facilitated by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) last Monday. Last January 22, Pig-uyonan together with Goaynon filed a complaint against the 65IB for harassment and forced surrender. Goaynon has been complaining over a tarpaulin bearing his picture hanged in Talakag, Bukidnon which accused him of recruiting the lumad to the New Peoples Army (NPA). Police claimed that firearms, fragmentation grenades and subversive documents were seized from their possession during the arrest. PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Superintendent Surki Serenas said the two will undergo inquest proceedings for illegal possession of guns and explosives. The two were detained at the jail facility of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Human rights groups have argued that the charges made against the 2 lumad leaders are trumped up and aimed to target and intimidate the HRDs

On 28 January 2018, Datu Jomorito Goaynon, chairperson of Kalumbay Regional Lumad organization, and Ireneo Udarbe, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao, were arrested by police officers on trumped up charges

A member of a farmers' group affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) was shot dead in San Roque village, Rizal town, in Zamboanga del Norte, a human rights group said Tuesday. Jennifer Aguhob, spokesperson of Karapatan in Western Mindanao, identified the victim as Sergio Atay, of Barangay Upper Dioyo, Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental. The 35-year-old activist was a member of a local peasant group Magbabaul, an affiliate of KMP. Aguhob said Atay's body was found on January 29, Tuesday at about 8:30 a.m. "His was found riddled with 5 bullets, all in the head. Medico-legal investigation shows that he had torture marks and was hogtied," Aguhob said. Citing accounts from his family, Atay traveled along the highway of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental, and Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte, on January 28, at 10:00 p.m. "He was on his way home. He and his wife were under surveillance, visited by military several times last year for their active involvement in the peasant group," Agubob said. He was last seen alive when he was stopped, held and interrogated at the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) check point in the same area," she added. Aguhob suspects that Atay's active involvement in Magbabaul and KMP was the reason why he was interrogated by the RPSB elements. "His family is seeking for justice," Aguhob said. She added that Atay's body is now at the morgue and Karapan is forming a quick reaction team to probe the killing. /cbb

On 29 January 2019, Sergio Atay, a member of a farmers' group affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) was shot dead in San Roque village, Rizal town, in Zamboanga del Norte

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued new guidelines for non-profit organizations. Under the new guidelines issued by the SEC, non-profit organizations will be subject to heightened monitoring to protect them from money laundering and terrorist financing abuse. In particular, the SEC now undertakes the task of identifying non-profit organizations that are "at risk and have vulnerabilities." These organizations will be assessed as either "low risk," "medium risk," "high risk," and "blacklisted." At risk non-profit organizations will be subject to "enhanced monitoring," the scope of which is unknown and rests fully on the SEC to determine. The SEC also requires mandatory disclosures of information such as submitting a full list of donors. A group of lawyers, however, hit the new SEC memorandum, saying that some of the information now required by the SEC are not required disclosures under the Corporation Code. "Any information gathered by the SEC under the guidelines is subject to sharing with law enforcement and other agencies of the government. Worse, the SEC is empowered to perform virtually any act necessary to conduct investigations of violations (not only those consummated but also those about to be committed), such as the power to subpoena witnesses, compel attendance, take evidence, and even enlist the aid and deputize all enforcement agencies - civil and military," the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said. The lawyers' group said the SEC memo threatens the existence of non-profit organizations and disrupts their advocacies. "It will be instrumental in violating the fundamental freedoms of individual members, especially those who have been maliciously tagged as part of "communist fronts," subjecting them to surveillance, harassment and other rights violations, and constricting civic space," the group said. However, the SEC said the new rules are meant to protect non-profit organizations from terrorist financing. It also said the new rules do not aim to disrupt non-profit organizations' charitable activities and other cause oriented activities.

On 11 January 2018, The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued new guidelines for non-profit organizations, that subject them to "enhanced monitoring" and targetting by the government

Suspected communist rebels belonging to Guerilla Front 54 allegedly killed on Wednesday a town's representative of the indigenous peoples in the Sangguniang Bayan in Magpet, Cotabato. The victim identified as Antonio Takinan, 50, was an ex-officio member of the SB. Police Senior Inspector Jose Marie Molina, Magpet Police chief, said Takinan had multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot on Wednesday afternoon. His two companions, Robello Tambunan and village watchman Rene Soriano, were injured. Molina said at least three armed men attacked Takinan and his companions while they were on their way to Barangay Bantac. Takinan was able to retaliate. However another three armed men fired at them using a caliber .45 pistol and M 16 rifles. Takinan had just attended their regular session at the Sangguniang Bayan Hall at the municipal hall in Barangay Poblacion when the incident happened. Molina said the victim has received several threats from Kumander Bobby Rosete. The latest threat was recorded on March 18, 2018. "He has constantly been receiving threats from Kumander Bobby as per information we gathered from the victim's wife," Molina told this writer. He disclosed that Takinan has told his fellow tribe members not to support the NPA but instead encouraged them to join the training of the Civilian Active Auxiliary or CAA. The victim was also responsible for the entry of some Indigenous Peoples (IP's) for training to become future soldiers. Molina added that Kumander Bobby even instructed Takinan to meet him in an undisclosed village in Magpet. Takinan however refused to meet him despite several calls made by the rebel commander. After the ambush, the suspects immediately fled toward the northern portion of Magpet situated within the tri-boundaries of Arakan-Antipas and Magpet. Soriano and Tambunan were brought to a private hospital for medical treatment as they sustained gunshot wounds. Takinan's fellow SB members condemned the attack and called it an act of cowardice. -KG, GMA News

On 4 March 2018, Antonio Takinan, a town's representative of the indigenous peoples in the Sangguniang Bayan in Magpet, was shot to death

On March 22, 2018, Garito Malibato, 23, Manobo, and a resident of Brgy. Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, was shot dead by elements of the Alamara, a paramilitary group under the control of the 73rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army. The Alamara has been implicated in many rights violations against indigenous communities in Mindanao, including the killing of 15-year-old student Alibando Tingkas in January 2016, the killing of 60-year-old Umayamnon tribe leader Matanem Pocuan in February 2017, and the shooting of farmer Ande Latuan in July 2017.

On March 22, 2018, Garito Malibato, an environmental rights defender, was shot dead

Karapatan strongly condemned the killing of peasant leader Ronald Manlapat, 30 years old and a member of the local chapter of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NSFW) in Hacienda Joefred, Brgy. Luna, Sagay City, Negros Occidental yesterday, February 22 at around 5am. He was shot by an unknown assailant at the back of his head. Previously, Manlapat had been receiving threats for being actively involved in organizing laborers and farmers in their village. "This is unconscionable. In an ideal situation, peasants like Manlapat should get support and services from the government. But for insisting on suitable wages as laborers on a farm, they get bullets instead. To add insult, killings of peasants have remained unpunished," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay. Palabay cited the cases of NFSW leader Alexander Ceballos who was killed last January 20, 2017, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) members Wencislao Pacquiao and Webby Argabio Sr., who were killed last January 20, 2017 and November 8, 2017, respectively, as among the recent cases of extrajudicial killings in Negros. The island is widely known to have been plagued by persistent issues of landlessness, landgrabbing, underpayment of wages of agricultural sugar workers, poverty and labor right violations, with the continuing dominance of big sugar barons and landlords in the province. "The culture of impunity which this regime embraces must end. We call for an independent investigation on the killing of Manlapat and all peasant activists who are staunch campaigners of genuine agrarian reform," Palabay concluded.

On 22 Feburary 2018, Ronald Manlapat, a member of the local chapter of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NSFW), was killed

OEBU CITY-Five security guards are facing criminal charges for killing four sugarcane farmers and wounding another on Wednesday in Siaton town, Negros Oriental. Complaints for multiple murder and frustrated murder were filed at the prosecutor's office on Thursday afternoon against Roswil Antanoy, 29; Edilberto Pancho, 41; Reynante Rubia, 36; Nelcher Abordo, 27; and Jason Ramos, 31. They were detained at the police station of Siaton pending resolution of the complaint against them. The five were accused of killing farmers Jessebel Abayle, 34; Carmelina Amantillo, 57; Consolacion Cadevida, 66; and Felimon Molero, 66. Another farmer, Lito Prudencia de Jesus, 28, was wounded and was recuperating at the hospital. In a phone interview, PO3 Euberto Kinkito Jr. of Siaton Police, said personal grudge appeared to be the motive in the shooting. The farmers worked in a sugarcane farm, about 200 meters from the national road in Sitio Bondo, Barangay Napacao, Siaton. The suspects belonged to Nico Security Agency that was tapped by farm owner Gaspar Vicente to guard his farm. But the farmers caught the ire of the security guards because they would report to the owner any infraction committed by the guards, said Kinkito. Police investigation showed that the suspects went to the tent where the farmers were resting and shot them several times. One of the suspects then threw a hand grenade at the victims. The suspects fled but were caught two hours later in Napacao during a hot pursuit operation by the police.

On 22 Febuary 2018, Jessebel Abayle; Carmelina Amantillo; Consolacion Cadevida; and Felimon Molero, all of whom were working towards defending their land was killed

A tribal leader of the Langilang-Manobo tribe and his son were shot dead by armed men inside their home in Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte on Sunday dawn. The victims, Datu Banadjao Mampaundag and his son, Jhonard Mampaundag, were attacked around 4 a.m. inside their home by the armed men posing as soldiers but were believed members of the New People's Army (NPA). AFP Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) spokesperson Maj. Ezra Balagtey said the attackers were Tagalog-speaking members of the NPA who entered the house of the Mampaundags and murdered the two tribal leaders. Balagtey said a medical team from Talaingod was sent to give assistance but they stopped when the team heard an explosion. The remains of Banadjao and Jhonard are still in Sitio Igang waiting to be retrieved. The NPA members were believed to be in an ambush position and could possibly attack army troops who would respond to the incident. The incident happened a day after Banadjao came home from the two-day "Panagtagbo Alang sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan," an Indigenous Peoples Leaders' Summit held in Davao City at the Green Height convention Center on January 31 and February 1. Banadjao was one of the participants of the gathering at the EastMinCom headquarters in Panacan, Davao City where President Rodrigo Duterte called on tribal leaders from four regions in Mindanao to "dissociate from the NPA." "Distansya mo as NPA. Ayaw mo pakig away (You distance yourselves from the NPA. Do not fight them," he had told them. The two-day IP Leaders Summit was aimed at providing the "lumads" with an avenue to air their concerns to the national government. Two of the issues included security and lack of economic opportunities. Banadjao was also one of those who signed a manifesto calling for a push on their struggle and fight for self-determination based on their customary laws, cultures and traditions passed by their ancestors that are deeply rooted in their communities. In the manifesto, they vowed not to fail Duterte in his peace and development program spelled-out in the administration's 10-point socioeconomic agenda. (PNA)

On 4 Febuary 2018 Datu Banadjao Mampaundag - tribal leader of the Langilang-Manobo tribe- and his son, Jhonard Mampaundag, were attacked around 4 a.m. inside their home by the armed men posing as soldiers but were believed members of the New People's Army (NPA)

ANOTHER Lumad leader was allegedly killed by the New People's Army (NPA) in Alegria town, Surigao del Norte on Friday, February 9, just a week after a tribal was gunned down by members of the communist group in Davao del Norte. In a statement, Captain Al Anthony Pueblas, Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the 402 Infantry (Stingers) Brigade, said Dakula Guillermo Tiambong, 58, a farmer and a tribal leader, was shot to death in front of his family while in his farm at the mountains in Sitio Palo 10, Barangay Camp Edward, Alegria, at 2:30 p.m. Tiambong is an officer of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the Mamanwa Tribe in Alegria. According to the victim's daughter, Girlie, his father had previously received death threats from the NPAs for being an active advocate on peace and development in their community. "Walay sala ang akong amahan nganong ila man kining gipatay? Giyatakan sa mga NPA ang katungod namong mga tribu nga magpuyong malinawon (Why did they kill my father? The NPA have stepped on our rights as Indigenous Peoples (IP) to live peacefully)" Girlie said. Lieutenant Colonel Allen Raymund Tomas, Commanding Officer of 30th Infantry Battalion, condemned the recent atrocity perpetrated by the NPA and expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family. "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Dakula Guillermo Tiambong whose daughter is an active youth leader," Tomas said. The slain tribal leader attended the three-day IP summit dubbed as "Panagtagbo Alang sa Kalinawug Kalambuan" at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City wherein they met President Rodrigo Duterte and had a dialogue regarding their issues and concerns in the community. "Datu Tiambong is the voice of the Mamanwa tribe during the three-day IP Summit in Davao where President Rodrigo Roa Duterte met them last January 30 to 31 and February 1, 2018," he said.

On 9 Febuary 2018 ,Guillermo Tiambong, 58, a farmer and a tribal leader, was shot to death in front of his family while in his farm at the mountains in Sitio Palo 10, Barangay Camp Edward, Alegria, at 2:30 p.m.

On January 25, 2017, Arturo Colao was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Puting Balas, Talisayan town. The victim was attending a birthday party when the assailants stopped a meter from where he was sitting and started shooting. Colao sustained a gunshot wound on his hip. This is the latest of a series of attempts on Colao's life.

On 25 January 2017, Arturo Colao, An organiser and provincial leader of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) - an organisation that works to protect the environment and defend farmers and lumad people's land , was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Puting Balas, Talisayan town

Peasant activist James Flores, 33, resident of Purok Cadena, Brgy. Mankilam, Tagum City, Davao del Norte was shot dead by an unidentified assailant around 6pm of January 20, 2018. Flores was tying his groceries to his single motorcycle parked at the back of Gaisano shopping mall in Tagum City, when an unidentified gunman shot James multiple times. James was a staunch peasant rights activist and a member of Pederasyon sa tanang Asosasyon sa mga Mag-uuma ug Lumad sa Agusan ug Davao (PAMULAD).

On 20 January 2018 James Flores, staunch peasant rights activist and a member of Pederasyon sa tanang Asosasyon sa mga Mag-uuma ug Lumad sa Agusan ug Davao (PAMULAD) was shot dead by an unidentified assailant

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Another Lumad was killed in Arakan town, Cotabato, reported human rights group Karapatan on Sunday. Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region said in a statement that 30-year old Ricky Olado was shot dead by suspected military agents Sunday morning. Olado was driving his motorcycle boarding another passenger heading to Barangay Datu Ladayon, Arakan when "they were chased by two armed men in two single motorcycles." He sustained multiple gunshots while the unidentified passenger was wounded. Olado was a member of a local IP group Tinanaon Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa (TIKULPA) under PASAKA Confederation of Lumad groups in Southern Mindanao. On Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his call to go after organizations believed to be supporting the communists saying if the military has to kill they have to do so. "And if you have to kill, do it because the human rights, kung babagsak itong bayan na "to, walang maitulong sa atin "yan," Duterte said. Karapatan National in a statement slammed Duterte's pronouncement to target legal and progressive organizations saying "[these] are the very reasons why majority of the Filipino people strongly distrust government institutions." "Making no distinction between armed combatants and civilians gives state forces carte blanche to kill, arrest, threaten, and harass any one, including free speech advocates, unarmed activists, peasants, workers, indigenous peoples, church workers, among others. These tactics, used by the Marcos dictatorship and subsequent regimes such as that of Benigno Aquino III and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, are acts of desperation and paranoia," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay. Olado is the 66th victim of politically motivated killings in Southern Mindanao Region according to Karapatan.

On 28 January 2018, Ricky Olado, a member of a local IP group Tinanaon Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa (TIKULPA) under PASAKA Confederation of Lumad groups in Southern Mindanao, was killed in Arakan town, Cotabato

Early this morning, December 17, 2017, Karapatan-Southern Mindanao received information that the remains of Jeanni Rose Porras, 39, a member of Compostela Farmers Association (CFA), was found at a funeral parlor in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. Jeanni's son reported her missing on December 15. Jeanni's son narrated that on December 14, his mother went out to talk to someone. He started worrying when after a day, Jeanni has still not returned home. He tried calling through her mobile phone but it was out of reach. On December 15, Jeanni's son decided to report the incident at a nearby police station in Compostela town. He also informed fellow CFA members, asking their help to look for his mother. It was only this morning that they discovered her body at a funeral parlor. As of this writing, Karapatan, along with CFA members, are still trying to ascertain the details with regard to Jeanni's disappearance and death. Jeanni Porras was a staunch anti-mining activist and a peasant organizer in the area. Her organization, the Compostela Farmers Association, has long been the target of killings, illegal arrests, and harassment due to their anti-militarization, anti-mining, and agrarian reform campaigns. HR Alert #12-17-17 Released: 17 December 2017 Source: Karapatan -Southern Mindanao

On 17 December 2017, Jeanni Rose Porras, a member of Compostela Farmers Association (CFA), was found at a funeral parlor in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

The 27th IB-AFP massacred civilian residents and not NPA members in a skirmish that took place in Sitio Datal Bonglangon, Brgy. Ned, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato in December 3, 2017. The victims are members of the T'boli-Manobo S'daf Claimants Organization (TAMASCO), a group fighting for the tribe's ancestral lands seized by the DMCI through the government's IFMA program. The group found out that the government had rejected their claim by granting the renewal of Consunji's IFMA contract. But the group continued to fight for their rights. The NDF-FSMR strongly condemns this heinous crime and terroristic act perpetrated by the AFP against the civilians. This is clearly an antrocious violation of the human rights and the international humanitarian law. Sityo Datal Bonglangon is a T'boli-Manobo community located within the vast coffee plantation of the Silvicultural Industries Inc.-DMCI. For a long time, sitio residents have persistently resisted the company's efforts to evict them. According to reports received by the NDF-FSMR, prior to the incident, Lumad residents have complained about the incessant intimidations done by DMCI company guards and government forces. Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, the commanding officer of the 33rd IB-AFP, have also threatened to attack the sitio. Reports said that at around 12:25 in the afternoon in December 3, forces of the 27th IB-AFP conducting military operations arrive in the community. The soldiers approached the house of the chieftain Datu Victor Danyan and opened fire. This prompted the residents, armed with 12-gauge shotguns and indigenous weapons, to fight back. The firefight resulted to the death of eight individuals namely Datu Victor Danyan Sr., Victor Danyan Jr., Artemio Danyan, Pato Celardo, To Diamante, Bobot Lagase, and Mateng Bantal. A number were also wounded that includes Luben Laod and Teteng Laod, and a minor that was taken to a hospital. According to witnesses, three 27th IB soldiers were also killed and three others were wounded. A unit of the Mt. Daguma Operations Command-NPA operating in area immediately responded to rescue the fleeing civilians. They engaged the maneuvering forces of the 33rd IB-AFP a kilometer away from the community. A Red fighter was martyred in the gunfight. The 33rd IB indiscriminately bombed the place after the successive encounters. At least fifteen 105 mortar shells were fired by the AFP from 2:00 o'clock until 4:30 in the afternoon that day. Hundreds of families in Datal Bonglangon and adjacent sitios evacuated as a result of the incidents and the continuing presence of government armed troops in the area.

On 3 Dec 2017 Datu Victor, Datu Victor Danyan Sr., Victor Danyan Jr., Artemio Danyan, Pato Celardo, To Diamante, Bobot Lagase, and Mateng Bantal-- who were 8 among many in the area reclaiming their land from incidents of land grabbing-- were killed

MANILA, Philippines - Suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) brutally murdered a Lumad leader from Kapalong town in Davao del Norte. Datu Benandao Maugan, 59, a tribal leader of Sitio Luno-luno, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, was killed by the alleged communist guerillas at around 1 pm on Sunday, December 17, in front of his people. According to a police report, which cites the testimony of Maugan's brother-in-law who witnessed the scene, several NPA members led by a certain Renard Catarata (alias SM or Tata) and Rene Catarata (alias Gilbert) arrived in their village on Sunday morning while Maugan was out hunting. The alleged NPA members, he said, forced them to assemble at the village center, where their jungle knives or bolos were confiscated. Also present were Maugan's wife, child, and several relatives. Upon his arrival, Maugan was reportedly dragged to a nearby hut. He was heard saying, "Pahibal-a ko ninyo kung unsay sala nako." (Tell me what I have done wrong.) Maugan was then reportedly blindfolded, hogtied, and dragged to the riverside by at least 5 armed men, including a certain Bucay Matog and alias Dasoc. A few minutes after, the villagers heard several gunshots. SM Catarata supposedly instructed the people to pick up the body of Maugan, whom he described as a "corrupt" and "hard-headed" leader. Maugan's brother-in-law and the other villagers then recovered the leader's body, which sustained 9 gunshot wounds. After the incident, the alleged NPA members fled the village and threatened those who would oppose them. In 2013, Maugan refused to give in to the NPA's demand and prevented his entire village from evacuating to Haran, Davao City, for their communist propaganda. On several occasions, he also prevented his villagers from being used by the NPA as errand runners. In one account, Maugan was said to have been accused by the NPA of personally blocking food supplies supposedly delivered to them in nearby Sitio Muling. Recently, Maugan also facilitated the establishment of a public school in Luno-luno in collaboration with the local government of Kapalong. Police said they are now preparing a case against the NPA members. Meanwhile, Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol has given initial assistance to Maugan's family. News of Maugan's killing comes as President Rodrigo Duterte declared a ceasefire with communist rebels during the Christmas season, from December 24, 2017, to January 2, 2018. - Rappler.com

On 17 December 2017, a tribal leader of Sitio Luno-luno, was shot to death

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro were arrested along with 72 others for conducting a solidarity mission in Davao del Norte on Wednesday night. According to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, the lawmakers and the other individuals who were mostly part of human rights groups held the protest to support students and teachers of a lumad (indigenous people) school that had been forcibly shut down by the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. [T]he solidarity mission convoy was attacked by men believed to be members of the paramilitary group known as Alamara. Tires of some of their vehicles were spiked, the windshield of the van ridden by Rep. Castro and Ka (Kasama or Comrade) Satur was broken and gunshots were fired in their vicinity," Tinio told reporters. The police, instead of going after the attackers, he said, brought the mission participants to the Talaingod police station in Davao del Norte, where they were detained. The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives confirmed that the National Solidarity Mission was a delegation of 74 people, including 29 students and 12 teachers of lumad schools in the region. The protesters have been detained since 9:30 p.m. The bloc said all the protesters involved are facing charges of "human trafficking in relation to child abuse law," which it said was a "blatant and outrageous lie." The Army on Thursday said tribal leaders in Davao sought assistance from the police and military in connection with the alleged child trafficking incident.

On 28 November 2018, Satur Ocampo, Former Bayan Muna Representative and France Castro, ACT Teachers party-list Representative, were arrested along with 72 others for conducting a solidarity mission in Davao del Norte

A LUMAD leader in Agusan del Sur is in critical condition after he and his companion were shot by still unidentified gunmen while they were on their way home in Sitio Cantagan, Barangay Lucac, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, last November 23. Datu Walter Espa_a, 34, a Lumad-Manobo and barangay chairperson of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Sur (Namasur)-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Caraga, was shot several times by eight armed men. His companion, identified as Rommel Romon, 22, died in the attack.ARTICLE_MOBILE_AD_CODE Espa_a sustained three bullet wounds on his right chest, on the right side of his stomach, at the back part of his waist, and on his legs. He was brought to the hospital. As of Tuesday, November 27, he was still fighting for his life. Romon, an active member of Namasur, was shot on his legs, chest and head. He sustained three bullet wounds on his head, resulting in his immediate death. Another companion, identified only as Carillo, was able to escape. Police in Agusan del Sur identified one of the gunmen as Roger Detros, who also died during a brief shootout. Police said the remaining gunmen escaped. Authorities have yet to determine the motive in the attack. Human rights group Karapatan said that Espa_a, along with members of Namasur, have opposed the expansion of oil palm plantation of Davao San Francisco Agricultural Ventures Inc. (Dasfavi). "He firmly refused to sell the hundreds of hectares to the company despite the grave threats and attempts of Dasfavi to buy his principles by offering him large amounts of money," the group said. Dasfavi, a Davao-based plantation company, operates an oil palm plantation in Rosario and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, covering more than 50 hectares of land. It was established in 2012 by the SC Group of Companies of Davao. The shooting last Friday, November 23, is the recent in a string of attacks recorded by Karapatan in Mindanao in just a span of two weeks. The other attacks include the alleged abduction of teachers of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Sitio Babalayan, Barangay Durongan, Tagoloan 2, Lanao del Sur. Reports said that before the teachers went missing, soldiers were allegedly roving the area looking for Sultan Jamla and Datu Langi, both known community leaders in the area. The whereabouts of teachers Tema Namatidong, 28, Julius Torregosa, 30, Ariel Barluado, 22, and Giovanni Solomon, 20, are still unknown. In Kitaotao, Bukidnon, a member of a Lumad school's Parents-Teachers Community Association was shot dead on November 17. Esteban Empong Sr., 49, was shot dead while asleep in a relative's house. Empong Sr., a member of Tinananon Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa, was allegedly harassed by the 19th Infantry Battalion. On November 18, five students who were on their way home were allegedly tortured by soldiers of the 19th IBPA in Magpet, North Cotabato. The victims, all minors, were students of Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. in North Cotabato. Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said "this is the real face of martial law, the reality that the Duterte regime is desperately trying to whitewash." "The government, however, is still eyeing the extension of military rule in Mindanao, insistent on cracking down against marginalized sectors raising legitimate demands. The perpetrators are guaranteed protection, while the Filipino people are left to suffer unbridled repression and plunder," she said. "The government targets indigenous and peasant communities. Increasingly, the Duterte regime has also trained its guns on teachers. Lumad schools are bad for a government who prefers an uneducated populace. Likewise, progressive organizations are bad for a government who prefers disunity. In any case, after this series of violations, martial law has peddled state terrorism to an unprecedented degree," she added. (SunStar Cagayan de Oro)

On 23 November 2018,Datu Walter Espa��a, 34, a Lumad-Manobo and barangay chairperson of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Sur (Namasur)-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Caraga, was shot several times by eight armed men. His companion, identified as Rommel Romon, 22, died in the attack.

The Sagay City Police have filed kidnapping charges against human rights group Karapatan for taking custody of the 14-year-old witness in the massacre of nine farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday that the group violated the law by taking custody of the minor who is not their relative. "According to the report of the DO (Directorate for Operations), meron nang fi-nile na kaso na kidnapping doon sa members ng Karapatan doon," he said in a press briefing. (According to the report of the DO, kidnapping cases have been filed against members of Karapatan in that area.) "Hindi tama iyon na kukunin mo iyong bata na hindi mo kaano-ano and then suppress him and then curtail his liberty for that matter," he said. (It's not right that you take custody of a child who is not your relative and then you will suppress him and curtail his liberty for that matter.) Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, director of the PNP in Western Visayas, said the police filed the charges last week at the request of the minor's father. The minor is being considered as the key witness in the killing of nine sugarcane workers in Sagay City on October 20. The PNP has earlier filed multiple murder cases against suspects who recruited the nine farmers to join the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW). The police earlier said that the group is a legal front of the New People's Army. The NFSW has denied this claim. Regional women's rights group Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development has condemned the filing of kidnapping and illegal detention charges against lawyer Katherine Panguban and is calling for them to be dropped. "APWLD demands that the politically motivated charges against Ms. Panguban to be dropped immediately and for the murders of Benjamin Ramos and the nine farmers to be independently investigated," they said in the statement. Police officials said earlier this month that they support the filing of charges. "It's not right to get the kid if you're not related and curtail his liberty," Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde was quoted in a GMA News Online report on November 5. "We need the whereabouts of the kid," he added. But APWLD and other human rights groups denied that Panguban was the one who took custody of the child and was only representing Flordeliza Cabahug, the child's mother. APWLD pointed out that a criminal complaint was filed despite the fact that it was the "mother and recognized parent who sought assistance from NUPL and human rights organization Karapatan." They added that regaining custody over the minor was done considering Lester's "manifested choice to be with his mother over his estranged father, officially done in the presence of the head of CSWD Sagay (City Social Welfare and Development Office); properly documented; one that was acknoweldged and signed by Lester's parents." The groups insisted that Panguban represented the the mother with consent and "had signed agreements with NUPL and Karapatan." The child's mother ackonwledged and had the documents notarized in Manila, it also said. Panguban was also the counsel of Catholic nun Patricia Fox, who had her missionary visa revoked last month and left the Philippines on November 3, after the administration of Rodrigo Duterte had her investigated for allegedly taking part in political activities.

On November 5 2018, Katherine Panguban, head of the National Union of People's Lawyers Women and Children's Committee, recieved charges for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines - A human rights lawyer here was killed by riding-in-tandem assailants Tuesday night, November 6, in Barangay 5, Kabankalan City. Benjamin Ramos, secretary-general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Negros Island, was in front of a store near the public plaza when he was shot at close range by two unidentified men. Karapatan-Negros secretary-general Clarizza Singson, quoting the victim's wife, said the lawyer was having a smoke when he was attacked around 10:20 pm. Singson said the victim was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to 4 gunshot wounds, 3 in the front and one in the back. Ramos, who represented a number of political prisoners, was the lawyer of youth leader and University of the Philippines Cebu alumna Myles Albasin and her 5 companions - known as the Mabinay 6 - who were arrested in March this year in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, following an alleged clash with government troopers, although they later tested negative for gunpowder residues. The lawyer, being a peasant advocate, had also founded the farmers' organization Paghiliusa Development Group. - Rappler.com

On 6 November 2018, Benjamin Ramos, secretary-general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Negros Island and human rights lawyer, was shot at close range by two unidentified men.

AN INDIGENOUS Peoples' (IP) leader condemned the arrests of activists Gerry Basahon and Carmelita Dorado, both members of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) who were accused as New People's Army (NPA). Basahon and Dorado were arrested in Gingoog City on Thursday, October 4, after an arrest warrant was issued by a court in Cagayan de Oro City for two counts of attempted murder and frustrated murder charges. Both were tied in the attack of Binuangan town police station last December 3. The attack left four policemen wounded including the station's commander. According to police, two were alleged members of the Guerilla Front 4B. But Datu Jomorito Goaynon of Kalumbay lumad organization insisted that the charges against them are trumped-up charges and denied they were part of the attack. For Goaynon, the arrest was not only efforts by the state to harass or silent them, but also a symbol of Duterte's dictatorship, he added. Goaynon said October is a critical month for activists who are targets of an intensified crackdown by the government. "Maybe it's the end for us even before this month ends. They intend to destroy us lumads because they have interest in our ancestral lands," he said.

On 4 October 2018, 2 members of Gerry Basahon and Carmelita Dorado, both members of the Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) who were accused as New People's Army (NPA), were arrested under trumped up charges.

Two members of Onyon sa Yanong Obrerong Nagkahiusa (Union of United Agricultural Workers - OGYON) were illegally arrested and detained by members of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army in a checkpoint in Lumbo, Valencia City in Bukidnon earlier today, October 22. Julie Balvastamen and Susanu Aguaron are with other members of OGYON on their way to Cagayan de Oro City to join the region-wide Peasant Mobilization in time with the International Peasant Month.

On 22 October 2018,wo members of Onyon sa Yanong Obrerong Nagkahiusa (Union of United Agricultural Workers - OGYON) were illegally arrested and detained by members of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army.

We in the Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) urgently request your support for Filipino land and environment defenders and other activists across the region of Cagayan Valley who have recently faced a systematic campaign of vilification and harassment from suspected military intelligence operations from October 12 to 16, 2018. Last October 12, 2018, the Cagayan Valley chapter of the Karapatan - Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights received reports that leaflets and streamers were scattered around several towns in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, and Cagayan implicating the names of leaders and members of peoples' organizations as "leaders and recruiters" of the communist rebel group New People's Army (NPA). These are organizations that have led protest movements against land grabbing and environmental destruction pushed by large-scale mining projects such as illegal gold mining in Isabela, black sand mining in Cagayan, and large-scale gold mines in Nueva Vizcaya. On October 15 to 16, 2018, the Alyansa ng Novo Vizcayano para sa Kalikasan (ANVIK), the provincial member organization of Kalikasan, monitored a second wave of leaflet distribution and streamer hanging in the towns of Solano, Diadi to Bagabag. This time, leaflets included a new list of names of 27 environmental defenders, including public interest lawyers Atty. Fidel Nemenzo and Atty. Ed Balgos, and scientists Finesa Cosico, Alfonso Shog-oy, and Tess Acosta who are supporting the campaign against the large-scale mining operations of Australian-Canadian multinational corporation OceanaGold. This "red-tagging' is part of a vicious textbook pattern employed by the military where activists are repeatedly vilified to justify a series of attacks that include harassments, intimidation, arrest, strategic lawsuits against public participation, and ultimately extrajudicial killings. Elements of the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army engaged in a similar vilification campaign last September 2017 in the town of Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya, where Oceanagold's mining project is located. The recent massacre of nine (9) sugar plantation workers in the town of Sagay, Negros Occidental province last October 20 was preceded by a similar red-tagging campaign by the military since April 2018 accusing the land occupation and cultivation areas of the workers as NPA communal farms

Since 12 October 2018, an increasing amount of human rights defenders have been included in leaflets labelling them as "leaders and recruiters" of the communist rebel group New People's Army (NPA).

A group of human rights activists condemned on Tuesday the recent arrest of four women advocates tagged by police and the military as alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA). Edzel Emocling, 23, a member of the League of Filipino Students-Polytechnic University of the Philipines (LFS-PUP); Yolanda Diamsay Ortiz, 46, and Eulalia Ladesma, 44, of Anakpawis and Gabriela Women's Party respectively; and Rachel Galario, 20, a peasant advocate, were nabbed by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Sitio Bangkusay, Barangay Talabutab Norte, Natividad, Nueva Ecija last Saturday. Both the police and military said in their reports that the suspects were members of the NPA and engaged in recruitment, propaganda, and extortion activities in the community. Authorities said they were armed with guns when arrested while a cache of firearms were allegedly confiscated from the four. However, Karapatan Alliance for the People's Rights said the four are members of various progressive groups, not the NPA. "Karapatan strongly condemns the illegal arrest, detention and torture undergone by the four women human rights defenders in Nueva Ecija. This is indefensible. This is precisely what happens when you have security forces that have no respect for human rights," said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay. "We call for the immediate release of Ortiz, Ladesma, Amocling and Galario. We condemn this continuing spate of attacks against activists and rights defenders," she added. Earlier, Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, said the arrest of Emocling and others only proved that some individuals, particularly students, have already been "brainwashed" by the communist rebels to join them in destabilizing the government. "Wala akong kopya ng report. Nabasa ko lang sa report, sa Viber group. I really don't know the details but this goes to show that accordingly, parang nabe-brainwash nga ng mga leftist groups yung mga estudyante (I have no copy of the report. I have just read[a copy of the] report in[our] Viber group. I really don't know the details but this goes to show that accordingly, it seems the students are already being brainwashed by leftist groups)," said the PNP Chief. Even though the military revealed that the Red October, an alleged ouster plot against President Duterte, has already been dissolved, top police and military officials said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-NPA) still continue to recruit members.

On 16 October 2018, a group of human rights activists were unjustly arrested after being tagged as members of the NPA.

A Catholic nun who has been active in social justice issues in the southern Philippines is fearing for her life after she was tagged as a communist by the military. Sister Susan Bolanio of the Oblates of Notre Dame condemned what she described as "red tagging" by the military, describing it as a "farcical lie." In a statement on Oct. 2, the nun called on authorities to investigate those behind efforts to label her as a communist rebel, saying it exposes her life to danger. "The mere suggestion of affiliation to a terrorist communist group poses a serious threat to the lives, dignity and security of the persons singled out," said Sister Bolanio. A social media post on Sept. 28 accused Sister Bolanio and tribal leaders Dande Dinyan and Victor Danyan of being part of the Far South Mindanao Region rebel front. The post was no longer available on Oct. 2. Danyan used to be chairman of the tribal group Taboli-Manobo S'daf Claimants Organization. He was killed along with seven other tribal people in December 2017. Dinyan replaced the slain leader as head of the organization. Sister Bolanio, who is executive director of the church-run Hesed Foundation in General Santos City, has been helping the tribal organization with its livelihood and development projects. The nun said the attempt to link her to the underground rebel movement was a "malicious and vile design to put her life in danger, especially as Mindanao is under martial law." "To be linked to a terrorist communist group is to condemn a person as all-out anti-government," she said. The nun has been actively involved in local and regional special government bodies in the region in the past 30 years. "How can I be a terrorist, an enemy of the state, when I have been engaging with officialdom?" she asked. Lt. Col. Jones Otida, commander of the Philippine Army's 27th Infantry Battalion in South Cotabato province, said his unit was not behind efforts to implicate the nun. "We don't know where that information came from," he said in a radio interview. Sister Bolanio said her lawyers were already looking into possible cases to file against the military.

On September 28 2018, Sister Bolanio, a executive director of the church-run Hesed Foundation in General Santos City who has been helping the tribal organization with its livelihood and development projects, was accused of being part of the Far South Mindanao Region rebel front.

43-year-old Mariam Uy Acob was a paralegal at the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Alliance. She was killed by suspected government troops on 23 September, 2018. Also a leader of Moro evacuee rights group Tindeg Bangsamoro, Mariam consistently denounced aerial bombardment and encampment in Moro communities, notably those perpetrated by the Army's 40th Infantry Battalion under the 6th Infantry Division, according to Kawagib. The group added that Mariam had been receiving death threats. Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples' Rights disclosed that two gunmen shot Mariam while she was on board a motorbike on her way home. The HRD sustained seven gunshot wounds on her chest, stomach, shoulder and back. In separate statements, Karapatan and Gabriela Women's Party held the military and Duterte responsible for Acob's death. "Only tyrants and human rights violators stand to gain with the deaths of human rights defenders like Mariam Acob," Gabriela Women's Party said. "We will cry for justice as we fight for the lifting of martial rule in Mindanao." Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, condemned what she called as "the military's handiwork under martial law, mercilessly zeroing in on human rights defenders." Karapatan noted that the killing of Acob came weeks after the massacre of seven young men in Patikul, Sulu on September 14, 2018. The victims went to sitio Bato, barangay Kabuntakas to harvest fruits but their bodies were found the next day, riddled with bullets. The Army's 55th Infantry Battalion claimed in a statement that the seven were members of ISIL's branch in the Phillippines. "The government has been directing people to believe, especially under martial law, that Moro communities are the purveyors of terrorism and thus they deserve to be subjected to harassment, air strikes, forced evacuations, and other abuses," Palabay said. "What are conveniently left in the shadows are the years of oppression, repression and discrimination, and the justified and necessary resistance of Moro communities against continuing State terrorism."

On 23 September 2018, Mariam Uy Acob a paralegal at the Kawagib Moro Human Rights Alliance, was killed.

An Australian professor left the Philippines on Tuesday, nearly a week after being barred entry and placed in limbo at an airport in what rights groups say was part of a crackdown on critics of President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippine government said Gill Boehringer, 84, was put on a blacklist for allegedly violating laws barring foreigners from engaging in political activities after he attended a protest in 2015. The former law school dean denies the charges. "I am not a terrorist. I am a human rights defender," Boehringer said in a video message recorded on Monday in an airport exclusion room where he had been staying since his arrival last week. He was the latest foreigner ordered out of the Philippines following Australian Catholic nun Patricia Fox, who has been fighting deportation since April after drawing Duterte's ire. After winning the presidential election in 2016, the Philippine leader launched an unprecedented campaign against illegal drugs that has left thousands dead and sparked allegations of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. The defiant Duterte has lashed out at foreign critics of his drug war -including the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor and United Nations rights experts - and personally ordered the arrest of Fox in April. Like Fox, Boehringer had joined a fact-finding mission looking into alleged rights violations in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao where Duterte had declared martial law, said Maria Sol Taule, the professor's lawyer. "This is the concerted handiwork of a defensive and paranoid government," Philippine rights group Karapatan said in a statement, and opposition congressman Carlos Zarate described Boehringer's expulsion as "alarming". Manila denied Boehringer's expulsion was part of a crackdown on critics, saying the policy against foreigners' participation in politics was "nothing new". "If they (foreigners) have issues or concerns about how the government is being handled, there are other ways of expressing their opinions, other more peaceful ways," Dana Sandoval, a Bureau of Immigration spokeswoman, said. - AFP

On 14 August 2018, Gill Boehringer, was denied entry into the philippines as he was put on a blacklist for allegedly violating laws barring foreigners from engaging in political activities after he attended a protest in 2015.

BULACAN, Philippines - Security personnel again violently disperse striking workers of condiments giant NutriAsia in Marilao, Bulacan. Both camps are pointing fingers on who started the violence, which ended with several people injured and 19 detained at the Meycauayan Police Station. DETAINED. University of the Philippines Diliman student Jon Bonifacio talks to their lawyer on July 31, 2018 at the Meycauayan Police Station. Photo by Naokira Mengua/Rappler AIKA REY, REPORTING: Isang araw mula nang puwersahang pinaalis ang mga nagwewelgang manggagawa ng NutriAsia, may 19 na katao ang nakakulong sa Meycauayan Police Station. A day after the violent dispersal of NutriAsia workers who are on strike, 19 people are still detained at the Meycauayan Police Station. Ayon kay Superintendent Santos Mera, nanguna raw ang mga manggagawa na manggulo, matapos ang ecumenical na misa nitong Lunes. Nagsimula raw ito nang biglang may magpaputok ng baril. Superintendent Santos Mera says the workers triggered the violence after an ecumenical mass Monday. It all started when somebody fired a gun. Ngunit pinabulaanan ito ng mga manggagawa at mga taga-simbahan na nasama sa gulo. Sabi pa nila, hindi raw nila kakilala ang sinasabing may baril. But the workers and people from the church refute the claims. They also say they don't know the man who had a gun. REVEREND MARVIN DE LEON, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Ang nakita natin na sila 'yung talaga papalapit at talagang mukhang berdugo na uhaw na uhaw sa dugo. At pinagpapapalo at saksi natin na maraming nasaktan sa pagkakataon na 'yun. Namamagitan tayo at umulan na ng bato. Hindi natin alam saan nanggagaling, pero may unang nanggaling dito sa part ng mga guwardiya. Ayon sa mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia, 'yun ay hindi mga original na guwardiya kundi talagang goons. We saw the guards approaching and they really looked like executioners thirsty for blood. They hit us and we witnessed how a lot of people were injured. We tried to mediate but stones were thrown at us. We couldn't tell where it was coming from but the first ones came from the guards' area. According to the workers of NutriAsia, they are not the original guards but hired goons. AIKA REY, REPORTING: Sa mga hinuli, 6 ang manggagawa ng NutriAsia, 8 ang tagasuporta, at may 5 taga-midya. Sa bilang na ito, 4 ang mga estudyante. Of the detained, 6 are workers of NutriAsia, 8 are supporters, and 5 are from the media. Of the media and supporters, 4 are students. Kamakailan, inutusan ng DOLE na gawing regular ng NutriAsia ang 80 manggagawa mula sa contractor na AsiaPro. Maliit na bilang daw ito, kumpara sa mga 800 manggagawang nagsasabing dapat maregular din sila. Recently, DOLE ordered NutriAsia to regularize 80 employees from its contractor AsiaPro. But this is a small figure, the workers said, compared to the 800 employees demanding regularization. Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy pa rin ang pag-uusap ng DOLE at ng NutriAsia. Talks between DOLE and NutriAsia are still ongoing. UPDATE: On Aug 1 2018, 19 of the detained protesters were released.

On 30 July 2018, protesters holding a peaceful demonstrations were violently disperesed by police and detained by police

AT LEAST 13 church workers and activists were arrested Wednesday evening, July 4, while attending a seminar on farmers and Lumad issues at the Mother Francisca and Spirituality Center, Radasa St., Ladao, General Santos City. Among those arrested are top leaders of militant organizations namely Datu Jomorito Guaynon, chairperson of the Kalumbay Lumad organization; Ireneo Udarbe, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas; Vennel Chenfoo, chairperson of the Kabataan Partylist; Kristine Cabardo, chairperson of the League of Filipino Students; Teresita Naul of human rights group Karapatan; Aldeem Yanez, church worker of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente; and farmer leader Roger Plana, all of Northern Mindanao. Also arrested were the security guard and staff of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente Visayas-Mindanao Regional Office for Development (IFI-VIMROD). According to the alert of the rights group Karapatan, charges against them remain unknown. In a statement, the IFI-VIMROD expressed its concern over the arrests and pointed out that this is yet another case of human rights abuse under the martial law regime in Mindanao. The IFI-VIMROD said while the meeting was ongoing, elements of police barged into the group to serve a warrant of arrest for 3 persons whose names were not even known to the participants. The police claimed that the participants were the ones named in the warrant arrest, and then proceeded to detain all of them at the Camp Fermin, General Santos City. "Development workers who are striving to create a genuine development to geographically isolated and underserved communities, sadly become victims of trump-up charges," it says. "Instead of acknowledging their valuable contribution and supporting their efforts, the government maligns their development work to justify repression. We call on the immediate release of 13 development workers and ensure their safety so that they could continue their development work to justify repression," it says. The IFI-VIMROD said they continue to call for the resumption of peace talks as a sustainable solution in achieving genuine development work without any harassment and violence. UPDATE: Only July 6 2019, detained church workers and rights activists were released on bail after their arrest on the evening of July 4 in General Santos City while holding an organizational consultation on peasant and tribal issues. They were granted temporary liberty by the Municipal Trial Court in General Santos City after posting bail last Friday.

On July 4 2018, 13 activists were arrested while attending a seminar on farmers and Lumad issues at the Mother Francisca and Spirituality Center, Radasa St., Ladao, General Santos City.

One of the activists who heckled President Rodrigo Duterte while delivering his Independence Day speech in Cavite will be facing a criminal case for disturbing public order, police said Tuesday. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) member Francis Couichie was arrested while staging a protest action during Duterte's speech at Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. According to a spot report from the Kawit Police, members of the Cavite Police Mobile Force Company arrested Couichie as he chanted "huwad na kalayaan!" and held a placard bearing the words "Kapayapaan para sa lahat at lahat para sa kapayapaan." Couichie is facing a case for public disturbance or violation of the Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code. He is currently detained at the Kawit Municipal Police Station.

On 12 June 2018, Francis Couichie, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) member, was arrested while staging a protest action during Duterte's speech at Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

A labor leader was arrested by after authorities allegedly found an illegal firearm and bomb components in his possession, police said Sunday. Juan Alexander Reyes, leader of the Sandigang Manggagawa sa Quezon City, is now in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Metro Manila. Authorities said they used a search warrant for a murder case against Reyes in Agusan del Sur. Operatives then found a firearm and bomb components in his possession. But activist Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of the group Karapatan, said the firearms supposedly found in Reyes's possession was just planted. "Basta na lang (out of nowhere), magically, a warrant of arrest comes out and magically again, some persons, especially activists are being charged especially with illegal possession of firearms and explosive," added Palabay, who said she knew Reyes since their student movement days. She said they have information that Reyes was arrested yesterday while he was on his way to a meeting with his group members. "May isa siyang kasama. Dalawa silang kinuha tapos nilagay sa isang van. Tapos a few minutes, pinalabas 'yung isa niyang kasama," she claimed. (There was one person with him. Two of the were taken and put in a van. Then, after a few minutes, they forced the person he was with to come out)

On 3 June 2018, Juan Alexander Reyes, labour activitst and leader of the Sandigang Manggagawa, was arrested by after authorities under trupmed up charges that state he was found with an illegal firearm and bomb components in his possession.

Journalists from Mindanao and an international media watchdog were the latest groups to condemn the killing of yet another Filipino member of the media. The Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) and the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned Friday, June 8, the murder of Dennis Denora, publisher of the weekly community newspaper Trends and Times in Panabo City in Davao del Norte. According to the Panabo City police Denora, was gunned down around 1 pm on Thursday, June 7, while he was in his car with his driver, Mayonito Revira, along the national highway. The police said Denora was sitting at the right side of the driver when unknown assailants started firing bullets at him "multiple times". In its statement, the MIPC, a broad-based organization of practicing journalists in the island, condemned "in the strongest terms the murder of Dennis Denora". "Colleagues describe Denora, who maintained a column in his own newspaper, as an ardent advocate of community press, covering important local issues that do not usually get attention in the national media." Reporters Without Borders' condemnation Th RSF said "Denora's murder is extremely disturbing and we call on both the Davao del Norte authorities and the presidential task force on media security to conduct a thorough investigation." Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF's Asia Pacific desk said: "The current (Philippine) government keeps on pointing to this task force, created in October 2016, as evidence of its desire to protect journalists but this is the 6th journalist to be murdered since Rodrigo Duterte became president. The authorities must take more concrete measures to guarantee journalists' safety." He was referring to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security which also issued a statement Friday condemning the killing. "The Presidential Task Force on Media Security is deeply saddened and condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing of newspaper publisher Dennis D. Denora, a member of the Davao Region Multi-Media Group at about 2 pm (on Thursday) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte," the task force statement said. The Philippines is regarded by RSF as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. In its World Press Freedom Index released in April 2017, RSF ranked the Philippines 127th out of 180 countries. Based on this index, the Philippines was in the top 5 dangerous countries for journalists - together with Mexico, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The MIPC said it "deeply values the work of local journalists who are at the forefront of shedding light on the issues facing their own communities. Often, they are the only voice standing against abuses, corruption, and impunity."

On 7 June 2018, Dennis Denora, publisher of the weekly community newspaper Trends and Times who has been described as an ardent advocate of community press, covering important local issues that do not usually get attention in the national media, was shot dead.

Ariel Maquiran, 33, an industrial worker in a banana plantation in Continental farm in Panabo City, Davao del Norte was shot dead by suspected agents of 16th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army on May 17, 2018. Maquiran was driving his motorcyle on his way home to Brgy. Maduaw, Panabo City at around 9:30am of May 17, after his morning shift in the plantation when a men onboard a motorcycle followed and shot him multiple times. Maquiran accelerated his driving speed but when he reached crossing Brgy. Little Panay, he fell down from his motorcycle. Two (2) other assailants stationed in Brgy. Little Panay again shot Maquiran multiple times, resulting to his death. He sustained 9 gunshot wounds. The victim's kin recalled that on May 16, Maquiran was heading to his workplace onboard his motorcycle when men on a motorcycle followed him. Maquiran sought refuge in one of his relative's house in a nearby village to evade them. Also on March this year, the victim was summoned by the military allegedly for the investigation regarding the Lapanday incident in 2017. Maquiran was an active member of the Bayan Muna (People First) partylist in the region. He was also known for staunch defense of the rights of peasants.

On 17 May 2018, Ariel Maquiran, an active member of the Bayan Muna (People First) partylist in the region, was shot and killed.

A local radio broadcaster and volunteer reporter was killed in a shooting incident in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on 13 March 2017. Zamboanga del Sur is 1167 kilometers south of Manila. Carlos Matas, the victim, hosted Zambo News Patrol in dxCA Bell FM and dxBZ Radyo Bagting. The police also described him as a "provincial coordinator for Cassava Farmers Association in Zamboanga del Sur." Police Officer 2 Welito Nuena told CMFR that Matas was meeting a colleague in relation to his work as coordinator when he was killed. The meeting was in the house of a certain Jonathan Magdadaro. According to Nuena, the killing involved more than the usual two men on a motorcycle. Around seven gunmen on board several motorcycles parked in front of Magdadaro's house at around 3:30 p.m. When Matas went out of the house to greet them, the men simultaneously shot him dead. The suspects fled toward the direction of Barangay Dipaya in the same town where they engaged the police in a six-hour standoff. Three suspects were killed in action, one was wounded. Four days prior he was killed, Matas reported to authorities that his group was allegedly ambushed by motorcycle-riding men along Barangay Langapod in Lambangan. In a separate blotter report, the group of men in motorcycles had also reported to the police that they were ambushed by Mata's group. Both parties filed appropriate charges against each other in court. Nuena told CMFR, that while confined for treatment in the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center one of the suspects, Arnaiz Alam Kabaro, told police that his group was seeking revenge for the May 8 ambush involving his group and Matas'. The police believe that Matas case is not related to his work as a reporter. CMFR tried but could not reach dxCA FM for comment. As of press time, 158 journalists were killed in the line of duty since 1986. Of these cases, only 17 had been partly resolved with the conviction of the gunmen while the masterminds have gone free. In the case of Bombo Radyo-Kalibo broadcaster Herson Hinolan who was killed on Nov. 13, 2004, the murder case filed against convicted mastermind former Mayor Alfredo Arsenio of Lezo town in Aklan province, was downgraded to homicide in 2016.

On 13 May 2018, Carlos Matas, local radio broadcaster, volunteer reporter and provincial coordinator for Cassava Farmers Association in Zamboanga del Sur, was killed in a shooting incident in Labangan, Zamboanga.

MANILA, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Tuguegarao on Monday denounced in the strongest terms the killing of Fr. Mark Ventura, who was gunned down by unknown assailants Sunday morning. In a statement, Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg called the death of Ventura a "brutal and cowardly act." "We just lost a young priest, zealous and dedicated, one who smelled like his sheep, to an assassin's bullet right after he said Mass and was baptizing children," Utleg said. The Tuguegarao archbishop called on the Philippine National Police to go after the assailants swiftly and bring them to justice. "There have been too many murders already done with impunity in our country by assassins[in] riding in tandem. May this be the last," he said. Utleg also offered prayers for Ventura's family and the lay faithful of Tuguegarao. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines on Sunday called the killing of the 37-year-old priest an "evil act." Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay noted that there is a possibility that Ventura might have been targeted because of his stance as an anti-mining advocate and his work in indigenous communities. "There is no doubt that there is a disturbing trend of church people being persecuted for their stance and involvement in human rights," she said. Ventura was the second priest who was killed in a gun attack in a span of four months. Last December 2017, activist priest was also shot dead in Jaen, Nueva Ecija. The Cagayan Valley Police director has ordered an investigation into the killing of the missionary priest and a hot-pursuit operation against the suspects.

On 29 April 2018, Fr. Mark Ventura,anti-mining advocate and defender of indigenous rights, was gunned down.

ALERT: Jose Benemerito Jr, secretary general of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Bukidnon (KASAMA Bukidnon)-Kliusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas is currently being held by three military men at the Musuan bridge in Maramag, Bukidnon. Benemerito is among the 600 names earlier included in the DOJ petition for terrorist proscription. He is on his way to a community activity at the BTL Training Center when he was intercepted. More updates to follow. UPDATE as of 8:49PM: Benemerito resisted and was able to evade arbitrary arrest. Asserting people's rights vs. Martial law, Buffalo-Tamaraw-Limus community members mobbed the arresting military men for its failure to show a warrant to arrest Benemerito. The community also asserted that Benemerito is not a criminal, but a peasant leader instrumental in the struggle for land rights of the BTL farmers.

On 12 April 2018, Jose Benemerito Jr, secretary general of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Bukidnon (KASAMA Bukidnon)-Kliusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was held by three military men at the Musuan bridge in Maramag, Bukidnon.

MANILA - State security forces repeatedly blocked members of a fact-finding mission investigating human rights violations in Mindanao. Since their arrival at the airports in Davao City, Lagindinangan and Butuan City yesterday, April 6, all the way to highly-militarized peasant and Lumad communities in Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region, members of the three-team mission were subjected to different forms of harassment and intimidation. Suspected soldiers took pictures of the Caraga team members and "welcomed' them with a banner that read, "Just do it right" upon their arrival at the airport in Butuan City. The Southern Mindanao team members saw streamers in Tagum City that read, "OUT NOW IFFSM; WE WANT PEACE." Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the military was behind the streamers. "The AFP has no credibility in talking peace. We thus revise the slogan; instead it should read: AFP OUT NOW; WE WANT PEACE," he said. The Northern Mindanao mission team, meanwhile, was blocked three times by police and military forces from the airport in Lagindingan to Cagayan de Oro. From the city to the mission site in Patpat village in Malaybalay, the team was blocked eight more times. Rafael Mariano, former Agrarian Reform secretary and head of the Northern Mindanao team, said, "We came here for a very urgent reason, we came here to verify mounting reports of rights abuse against peasant and Lumad communities perpetrated allegedly by military elements. No wonder the military people do not want us here." President Rodrigo Duterte placed the whole island under martial law on May 24, 2017 after an attack in Marawi. Citing "continued threat of terrorism and rebellion," Duterte asked the Congress to extend martial law until December this year. Duterte's supporters in Congress railroaded the extension. Seventy-one full battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are operating in Mindanao, of which 41 are focused on counterinsurgency operations. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said at least 65 percent of the AFP's combat troops are concentrated in Mindanao, where large-scale foreign plantations and mining concessions are to be found. Human rights alliance Karapatan documented 126 victims of political killings as of December 2017, of whom 110 were farmers mostly coming from Mindanao. Mariano. In Southern Mindanao alone, 63 cases of extrajudicial killings have been recorded. "The unabated militarization and Martial Law itself in Mindanao must be understood as a means for government, big landlords, oligarchs and multinational corporations to further bulldoze their way into the vast lands and resources of the island," Mariano said. "This is not the way to address the roots of the armed conflict. This is not the way to a just and lasting peace." The teams also reported to have been closely tailed by several vehicles from the airport to the orientation sites and to the villages where interviews with victims victims were to be held. Undeterred, the teams were able to finally proceed to their respective mission areas. "We managed to get past all the checkpoints so far after seemingly endless negotiations with the state forces but this is only the first day and the day is still long and so we must remain vigilant throughout the rest of the day and the entire duration of the three-day mission," Mariano said. Former congressmen Satur Ocampo and Fernando Hicap, and incumbent representatives of the Makabayan bloc, are among the delegates of the International Fact-Finding Mission to Defend Filipino Peasants' Land and Human Rights Against Militarism and Plunder in Mindanao organized by KMP and the Mindanao for Civil Liberties. Also joining the mission are the Asian Peasant Coalition, Pesticide Action Network - Asia Pacific, People's Coalition for Food Sovereignty, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) Commission 6, Youth for Food Sovereignty (YFS), Karapatan, and Tanggol Magsasaka

Since April 6 2018, members of the three-team mission investigating reports of rights abuse against peasant and Lumad communities perpetrated allegedly by military elements, was repeatedly harrassed and deterred from carrying out their human rights work.

BAGUIO CITY - As many as 300 indigenous Filipinos were blocked by 40 policemen from marching towards the gates of the summer courthouse of the Supreme Court on Monday morning (April 24). The group participated in this year's Cordillera Day activities, and assembled to join calls for the Court to dismiss a quo warranto petition filed to oust Chief Justice-on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno. Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino took part in the rally. The group performed a prayer ritual in front of the barricade. Windel Bolinget, chair of the Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA), said the elders prayed for a successful protest and the junking of the quo warranto plea and cursed all the forces obstructing justice. This was the fourth rally staged at the SC Baguio compound since the High Court held this year's summer sessions here. The indigenous people (IP) came from various provinces in the Cordillera, central Luzon, southern Luzon and Mindanao to participate in the Cordillera Day program. Cordillera Day commemorates the April 24 murder of Macliing Dulag, a Kalinga village leader who led the opposition against a hydroelectric dam project for Chico River during Martial Law. He became a symbol for the fight to assert Cordillera rights.

On 24 April 2018, as many as 300 indigenous Filipinos were blocked by 40 policemen from marching towards the gates of the summer courthouse of the Supreme Court as they called on the Court to dismiss a quo warranto petition filed to oust Chief Justice-on-leave Maria Lourdes Sereno.

BAGUIO CITY-Flyers labelling activist groups in Ifugao province as creations of the "terrorist communist rebels" were found scattered in the streets of the capital town, Lagawe, on Saturday morning (April 21). Lagawe residents out for their morning walk found the flyers at 5:45 a.m., according to Brandon Lee of the Ifugao Peasant Movement (IPM). Some flyers were signed by a group called Kaagapay ng Maralitang Ifugao and list Ifugao women's groups and farmer's associations as "organized by the terrorist New People's Army." Another flyer bearing the acronym Makamasa says, "The Ifugao Resource and Development Center (IRDC) in Poblacion South, Lagawe is housing the terrorist NPA! Obliterate it!" A third type of flyer names Lee and five other Ifugao residents as "accomplices of the terrorist NPA in Ifugao," signed simply as "Para sa Masang Ifugao." In 2015, Lee was among the Ifugao activists who received flyers bearing a photograph of the "gamong," the Ifugao fabric used for the dead, with the words "Gray-May, June-Gloom, No Sky-July." On March 2, Ricardo Mayumi, an IPM member and vocal objector to the Quad River hydro project in Tinoc town, also in Ifugao, was murdered in Kiangan town. He also received the death cloth flyer. On March 25, 2014, IPM member and IRDC leader William Bugatti was gunned down along the provincial road in Kiangan.

On April 21 2018, various activists were vilified and made targets by flyers that labelled activist groups in Ifugao province as creations of the "terrorist communist rebels", which were scattered around the streets of the capital town, Lagawe.

An Australian nun arrested in the Philippines for engaging in "illegal political activities" has been released pending further investigation after authorities became aware she held a valid missionary visa. Key points: Sister Fox says she was arrested by six immigration officials The Australian nun has been working in the Philippines for 27 years MPs are calling for her release Her detention came a day after Giacomo Filibeck, a Socialist Party official from the European Union who had criticised Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal anti-drugs crackdown, was deported. Sister Patricia Fox, 71, was reportedly taken from her house and brought to the immigration bureau in Manila, said Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the leftist Bayan (Nation) movement. She had taken part in a human rights fact-finding mission in the country's south, according to Mr Reyes, who also said the immigration department informed her about deportation proceedings against her. "We condemn her unjust detention and the deportation proceedings initiated against her," Mr Reyes said "She is no criminal or undesirable alien. Sister Fox is the superior of the Notre Dame de Sion in the Philippines, a congregation of Catholic nuns. In a statement, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration said the department's legal division had recommended releasing Sister Fox, and that her missionary visa was valid until September 9 this year. The bureau said she was detained "due to reports that she violated the conditions of her stay by engaging in political activities and anti-government demonstrations." "While Fox was alleged to have taken part in protest actions by farmers in the past, she was not doing so at the time when[Bureau of Immigration] operatives served her the mission order yesterday," the statement said. "Fox should undergo preliminary investigation to determine if deportation charges should be filed against her before the bureau's board of commissioners." Sister Fox had been involved with human rights missions on the southern island of Mindanao, where Mr Duterte has declared martial law. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said she had been working in the Philippines for 27 years. In a series of tweets, CBCP quoted Sister Fox as saying she was arrested by six immigration officials at a mission house in Quezon City at about 2:15pm on Monday (local time). The CBCP said she was detained at the Intelligence Division of the Bureau of Immigration in Intramuros. Sister Fox's attorney Jobert Pahilga said the fiscal in charge of the inquest recommended Sister Fox be released once she was able to produce her passport, which she had given to a travel agency arranging her trip back to Australia next month, according to CBCP. The immigration bureau confirmed Sister Fox's arrest but declined to issue any statement until after the investigation is complete. Sister Fox was unavailable for comment. Leftist MPs have vowed to hold a congressional inquiry into the deportation of foreign human rights advocates. UPDATE: On 18 April 2018, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he ordered the investigation into a 71-year-old Australian nun for "disorderly conduct," justifying it as a legal move against "undesirable" foreigners. "I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct," Duterte said during the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there was "probably" a need to apologize for the detention of Fox because she was not engaged in any political activity when she was taken from her home by immigration authorities. UPDATE: On April 25 2018, In a one-page order, immigration bureau head Jaime Morente asked Fox to leave the Philippines after "she was found to have engaged in activities that are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her visa." Fox, who has been in the country for more than 27 years, has 30 days to exit the Philippines after receipt of the order. Her renewable missionary visa, which was due to expire in September 2018, was cancelled on Monday, but an immigration spokeswoman said she can still return to the mainly Catholic Southeast Asian country as a tourist, not as a missionary. She has decided to challenge this order by filing for a motion for reconsideration.

On 16 April 2018, Sister Fo, the superior of the Notre Dame de Sion in the Philippines, a congregation of Catholic nuns, who has been advocating for the rights of the poor in the philippines, has been threatened for deportation for engaging in 'illegal political activities'.

Karapatan claimed that on March 30, 2018, suspected military agents attempted to enter the home of Audrey Beltran, member of the Karapatan National Council and Vice Chairperson of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), a regional chapter of Karapatan. In a Facebook post, Beltran said her family "heard loud thuds that alarmed us." "I was still awake at that time so I went to check whether some things fell in our kitchen where the sound came from. I was shocked to see that the kitchen door was open and that two locks have already been destroyed. Someone was pushing the door from the outside. I hurriedly took my phone and called up Station 5 of the Baguio City Police Office and also took effort to close the door without allowing whoever it was outside to get hold of me. After I was able to close the door, I heard faint footsteps of a person hurrying away from the door," Beltran said. "The attempt to break in to our house seemed planned and precise by the pieces of information we were able to gather. We could not discount it as just a mere case of burglary as it coincided with the harassment against our office, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance at #55 Ferguson Road, a day before the attempted break-in to our house," she added. On top of handling other cases of human rights violations in the Cordillera, CHRA is also assisting human rights defenders named in the Justice Department petition proscribing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army as terrorist organizations. Karapatan noted that the names of at least 60 human rights defenders were listed in the petition, including that of Karapatan National Executive Committee member Elisa Tita Lubi, two other officers of the Batangas Human Rights Alliance-Karapatan, and UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. On April 2, flyers containing false and dangerous propaganda that incite and justify violence against ten human rights defenders in Cagayan Valley, including Karapatan staff and officers, were purportedly distributed by the military and its agents in Isabela. Cristina Palabay Karapatan secretary-general, said the rights activists were tagged as "minions of godless communists" and "terrorists." "The more insidious motives of all this red-tagging and demonizing is to prevent the intelligent discussion of issues, and worse, to justify witch-hunting and physical attacks against activists and the communities they work with," Palabay said. "This incident also comes with the repeated public pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte inciting state-sponsored violence against Karapatan and other people's organizations," she added. She claimed that since October 2017, Duterte has threatened to "go after" Karapatan and other progressive organizations at least six times, prompting the human rights alliance to file a complaint to UN independent experts on March 1, 2018. The organization conducts monitoring and documentation work on human rights violations in the Philippines and provides services for victims of rights violations and their kin as part of their advocacy for human and people's rights. Palabay said Karapatan's human rights workers in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Southern Tagalog, Negros, Panay, Central Visayas, Caraga, Socsksargends, and the Southern Mindanao region have been reporting several cases of surveillance, harassment and threats by state security forces since last year. She said they also face fabricated charges filed by the military and police. Palabay added the organization's Negros Oriental coordinator, Elisa Badayos, was killed on November 28, 2017 during a fact finding mission. s Since 2001, there have been at least 40 human rights workers of Karapatan killed by state forces. "Instead of addressing complaints of human rights violations, the Armed Forces of the Philippines shoots and harasses the messengers in its sorry attempts to silence and deter the work of the organization. These cowardly acts have reached new lows under the Duterte administration." Palabay said. "As Elisa Tita Lubi said in a statement, human rights attackers should back off and they should keep their hands off human rights defenders, their families and communities," Palabay concluded.

On 30 March 2018, suspected military agents attempted to enter the home of Audrey Beltran, member of the Karapatan National Council and Vice Chairperson of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), a regional chapter of Karapatan.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - A peasant leader was shot dead in Compostela Valley Tuesday evening, human rights group Karapatan reported. Jay Apiag, spokesperson of Karapatan Southern Mindanao, has identified the victim as Agudo Quillio, 52, a resident of Purok Gemilina, Sitio Lawaan Barangay Kingking Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province. Quillo was preparing dinner when three unidentified armed men forcibly entered his house and shot him. According to the report, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his chest that resulted to his immediate death. Apiag accused the Army of being responsible for Quillo's death. Apiag said Quillo was killed because of his active participation in the peasant movement calling for land reform and due to his strong opposition to the large-scale mining operation of St. Augustine Mining Limited and Kingking Pantukan Mining. Quillo was the chairperson of Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Pantukan (HUMAPAN), a municipal-wide peasant organization. Apiag added, "peasant organizations like HUMAPAN, became a target of attack by the intensified militarization against various peasant and indigenous people's organizations." According to Karapatan, Quillio is the 70th victim of extrajudicial killing in Southern Mindanao. The group also holds the Duterte administration accountable for the crimes against those who are notably active in asserting their legitimate demands to the government.

On 20 March 2018, Agudo Quillo, the chairperson of Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Pantukan (HUMAPAN), a municipal-wide peasant organization, and outspoken activist against opposition to the large-scale mining operation of St. Augustine Mining Limited and Kingking Pantukan Mining that threatened farmer and indgenous land, was killed.

A human rights group condemned on Friday the petition of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that seeks to declare over 600 individuals as "terrorists" for supposedly being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, New People's Army (NPA). Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said the list targets government critics and human rights defenders, and aims to sow fear among them. "There is no doubt that the filing of the petition is an effort to sow fear and panic among Duterte's detractors, subjectively prepare the public for more intense political repression, and be the front act of a crackdown against the dictator wannabe's critics," Palabay said in a statement. In a 55-page petition for proscription filed on February 21, the DOJ urged Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 19 to declare the CPP-NPA as terrorist organizations. The petition has also enumerated a list of individuals, who are alleged leaders of the CPP-NPA's various committees. The list included CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, alleged ranking CPP leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, and National Democratic Front (NDF) peace negotiators Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma, Randall Echanis, and Rafael Baylosis, who is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. It likewise tagged UN special rapporteur for the rights of indigenous people Victoria Tauli-Corpuz as a member of the CPP's Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC). The list further named former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, and Ilocos environmental activist Sherwin de Vera, who was likewise tagged as a member of the ICRC. According to Palabay, the list submitted by the DOJ in court suspiciously included several others who were already dead and missing. Palabay also said the list included seven other members of paramilitary units accused of killing Lumads in Mindanao, including four from the New Indigenous Peoples' Army (NIPAR), led by Alde "Butchoy" Salusad, who have standing warrants for the killing of Lumad leader Datu Jimmy Liguyon. "They also have been presented and paid as surrenderees, consistent to their being all-purpose pawns in the military's repressive schemes," Palabay said. Rights activists The DOJ petition also named Elisa Tita Lubi, who is apparently Karapatan National Executive Committee member and former interim regional coordinator of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development. Moreover, named in the list were Joan Carling, past Secretary General of the Asian Indigenous Peoples' Pact and former member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Atty. Jose Molintas, former member of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Beverly Longid, Global Coordinator of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation; Sandugo Co-Chairperson Joanna Cari_o; Cordillera People's Alliance Chairperson Windel Bolinget; and at least 10 Lumad datu/leaders in Northern and Southern Mindanao. "Even more unbelievable is the inclusion in the list of the names of the nine-member Karapatan quick reaction team arrested in November 2017 and HR defenders in Negros," Palabay said. She said that the list is "severely defective as it contains scores of aliases, John and Jane Does so any person can be added later." Names of activists affected (that can be identified): Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Sherwin de Vera Elisa Tita Lubi Joan Carling Atty. Jose Molintas Beverly Longid Joanna Cari_o Jose Maria Sison Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, Luis Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma, Randall Echanis, and Rafael Baylosis Rep. Satur Ocampo�_

On 21 Februrary 2018, around 600 activists including UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, were identified as terrorists in a motion filed in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

BAGUIO CITY - The group leader of Ifugao Peasant Movement, activist (IPM) Ricardo Mayumi, was fatally shot in his home in Kiangan, Ifugao last Friday night. According to Chief Inspector Carolina Lacuata, Cordillera police information officer, witnesses saw two men running away from Mayumi's residence after the incident. "Dalawang kalalakihan yung nakita na bumaril sa kaniya. Yung isa naka-suot ng black na jacket, yung isa naman ay naka-suot ng brown na jacket na naka-suot din ng helmet. Sila ay sinundan ng mga kapulisan pero wala silang nakita," Lacuata said. The motive behind the killing is still unknown. But human rights advocate group, KARAPATAN, claimed that Mayumi's killing is part of the military's efforts to attack activists involved in campaigns for people's rights and welfare. KARAPATAN said Mayumi and other members of the IPM have been receiving death threats since 2012. The group also said Mayumi was included in the 86th Infantry Battalion's (86th IB) target list last December 2014. The military claimed he was part of the New People's Army (NPA) leadership in the province. A leader of the 86th IB, however, said they have nothing to do with the killing. Mayumi was one of the environmental activists who opposed the proposed Quadriver mini-hydro dam in Tinoc, Ifugao. Mayumi's group, IPM, said he had been actively communicating with different government agencies to oppose the project of Santa Clara Power Corporation.

On 2 March 2018, Ricardo Mayumi, group leader of Ifugao Peasant Movement (IPM), was fatally shot in his home in Kiangan by, according to KARAPATAN's claims, military forces.

ROGER GONZALES, farmer and council member of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Sur-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (NAMASUR-KMP) was arrested by about 30 combined SWAT and Provincial Public Safety Battalion (PPSB) personnel at around 4 o'clock in the morning of February 23, 2018 in his home in Purok 9, Del Monte, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. The arresting officers claimed that he was in possession of a caliber .357 gun. Prior to his arrest, at around 3 o'clock in the morning of the same day, Gonzales and his family were awakened when 10 combined SWAT and PPSB officers arrived and entered their home. Without showing a search warrant, the team began searching the house. A 10 year old child, witnessed one of the officers put a gun in the kitchen before the 10 officers left. When the 30 SWAT and PPSB officers came back at around 4 o'clock in the morning they showed a search warrant and immediately went to where the gun was planted. They then arrested Gonzales and brought him to the Talacogon Police Station.

On 23 Feburary 2018, Roger Gonzales, farmer and council member of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Agusan del Sur-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (NAMASUR-KMP) was arrested by about 30 combined SWAT and Provincial Public Safety Battalion (PPSB) personnel in his home for allegedly owning a gun, which the SWAT team had planted in his home earlier that day.

KORONADAL CITY-Authorities stopped at a checkpoint a group of foreign activists who were on a mission to look into the recently reported massacre of nine civilians in Lake Sebu town in South Cotabato province. South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes told reporters Thursday that the foreign activists, Julie Jamora, Dina Anderson, Jamy Drapeza, Adam Shaw and Tawanda Chandiwana, all members of the Gabriela Network USA Chapter, were on board a truck when they were stopped by police around 8 a.m. at a checkpoint in BArangay (village) Palian in Tupi town, South Cotabato due to alleged lack of identification and travel documents. Fuentes said they came from Lake Sebu and were held briefly for questioning. "Some of them were not able to present identification cards and passports so they were brought to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration," Fuentes said. The said offices were in General Santos City. Citing a report from South Cotabato police commander Senior Supt. Nestor Salcedo, Fuentes said the foreigners even claimed to be journalists but their affiliations were not immediately known. She said the foreigners were released after their papers had been verified by Immigration officials. Arlyn Perez, coordinator of the Kalumahin Federation of Indigenous Peoples, protested the brief detention of the members of the fact-finding mission, saying there was an alleged connivance between military and provincial officials, an allegation denied by the governor. Perez said the team were investigating the deaths of nine indigenous people in December last year in Lake Sebu. "They (police) were just doing their job. If they have proper identification and travel documents, they will not be held," Fuentes said. On December 3 last year, soldiers reportedly encountered about 25 members of the New People's Army in the village of Ned in Lake Sebu, leaving two soldiers and nine alleged NPA members dead. This was what the fact-finding mission was investigating. The governor said they expected the fact-finding mission report to be "biased" as they only focus on their own version. Jerome Aba, spokesperson of Suara Bangsamoro, said the foreign delegation was told they were being held on suspicion of being Islamic State members. "The three Filipino-Americans, one American and one Zimbabwe national are among the delegates invited by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines investigating the impact of Duterte's Martial Law in Mindanao. The contingent went to Lake Sebu to probe the December 3 massacre of Dulangan Manobos, including tribal leader Victor Danyan, who defended their ancestral land from Consunji and Nestle plantation collaboration project," Aba said

On 22 Februrary, 5 members of the Gabriela Network USA Chapter were stopped by police around 8 a.m. at a checkpoint in BArangay (village) Palian in Tupi town, South Cotabato due to alleged lack of identification and travel documents. Read more:[Inquirer](http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/970640/5-foreigners-on-fact-finding-mission-held-in-south-cotabato#ixzz58BR9QUQm Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

A community newspaper columnist and human rights advocate was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday while on board a bus in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Sherwin de Vera, a columnist for Northern Dispatch, an Ilocos Sur weekly newspaper, was arrested in Barangay Bulag on his way home from Candon City, the Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights (Karapatan) said in a statement. De Vera, also a coordinator of Defend Ilocos, a network of environmental advocates in Ilocos Region, is facing charges of rebellion filed in Abra in September 2014. He said the charges were all fabricated. Police said de Vera was detained on Tuesday night at Camp Elpidio Quirino in the town of Bantay and was transferred on Wednesday to the Provincial Jail in Bangued, Abra. De Vera's Defend Ilocos played a key role in leading the Save the Abra River Movement opposing the continued operations of Lepanto Mining Company, which was reportedly affecting downstream communities in Ilocos Sur. Karapatan said the police asked de Vera for his identification card and invited him to the police station. "They claim that my case was "rebellion.' They dragged me down the bus and handcuffed me. I let them search inside my bag in front of other people and they didn't see anything," de Vera reportedly said. At the police station, the lawmen showed him a supposed copy of the rebellion case. They allegedly took all his personal belongings. Meanwhile, the Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), also in a statement, demanded the immediate release of de Vera as it expressed indignation over his "illegal arrest." Leon Dulce, campaign coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE, said this is not de Vera's "first brush with the fascistic authorities" and prior to his arrest, he was already receiving threats and intimidation from the military in connection with his work. Defend Ilocos also opposes the presence of a coal-fired power plant in Luna, La Union. Similarly, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), an independent federation of grassroots organizations among indigenous communities in the Cordillera also denounced the arrest of de Vera. "The unwarranted arrest of Sherwin de Vera and the intensified attack on peoples' democratic rights nationwide strongly manifest the tyranny prevailing over our lands and the people must unite to fight," it said in another statement. with LEANDER DOMINGO

On 13 December 2017, A community newspaper columnist and human rights advocate was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday while on board a bus in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - A missing woman was found dead in a funeral parlor in Nabunturan town, Compostela Valley Province two days after she was reported missing by her son. Human rights group Karapatan in Southern Mindanao said Jeanni Rose Porras, a member of the Compostela Farmers Association (CFA), was found dead by her son in a funeral parlor on December 15. "Jeanni's son narrated that on December 14, his mother went out to talk to someone. He started worrying when after a day, Jeanni has still not returned home," Karapatan said in a Facebook post Sunday, December 17, adding that the son has decided to report the incident to the police. "He tried calling through her mobile phone but it was out of reach," the group added. "It was only this morning that they discovered her body at the funeral parlor," it added. Davao Today tried to get a copy of the police report from the Police Regional Office 11, but there was no report available as of press time. Meanwhile, Karapatan said Porras was a staunch anti-mining activist and a peasant organizer in the area. "Her organization has long been the target of killings, illegal arrests, and harassment due to their anti-militarization, anti-mining, and agrarian reform campaigns," the group said. (davaotoday.com)

On 15 December 2017, Jeanni Rose Porras, a member of the Compostela Farmers Association (CFA), was found dead by her son in a funeral parlor.

PISTON National President George San Mateo posted bail on Tuesday afternoon for his case before a Quezon City court. Before this, San Mateo had been picked up by several policemen as he was on his way to post bail at the Quezon City Hall of Justice. Police then brought him to Station 10 of the Quezon City Police District for booking. Afterwards, the police escorted San Mateo back to the Hall of Justice, where he eventually posted bail. In the December 1 arrest warrant released to the media, Judge Don Ace Alagar of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 43 found probable cause to order San Mateo's arrest for violating Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Law. Alagar set bail at P4,000. On October 30, Quezon City Assistant City Prosecutor Marvelous Madamba charged San Mateo in court for violating Section 20(k) of the said law, recommending bail at P4,000. The charge sheet read San Mateo knowingly and willfully instructed members of PISTON to conduct a nationwide strike. The case stemmed from the nationwide strike that PISTON and other transport groups conducted in February 2017 to protest the PUV Modernization Program. Read: Transport groups hold nationwide transport strike to protest government's PUV modernization program No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition Spokesperson Misael Melinas told CNN Philippines on Tuesday that the group condemned the arrest order. "Ang layunin lang po niyan ay pananakot upang pigilan kaming mga driver at operator na ipaglaban ang aming kabuhayan," he said. [Translation: The only objective of that warrant is to stop us drivers and operators from fighting for our livelihood.] Melinas added that the group will continue to fight for a "more inclusive" PUV Modernization Program. Meanwhile, PISTON members and supporters marched to the Quezon City Hall of Justice on December 5 to protest the "trumped-up charges" against San Mateo. On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied that the charges were a form of harassment. "I think he was warned that as a holder of a franchise, a certificate of public convenience...it is criminal and it is illegal for them to participate in any tigil-pasada[halting of service]," Roque said. "He defied. He now has to face the consequences." He said the purpose of the certificate is to render a service necessary to the public. "But if you will be a tool to inconvenience the public, then that's a violation of the trust repose in you by the state because that certificate of a public convenience is not a right. It's a privilege reserved only for those who can meet the obligations of franchise holders," he added. Poe: 'Let's hear them out' Sen. Grace Poe said on Tuesday that the timing of the warrant's release is "suspect and casts doubt on the intent of the complainant in filing such charges." "Everyone has the right to peaceably assemble," she said in statement. "It is unclear based on the cited section of the Public Service Act what exactly San Mateo violated. If holding a strike is tantamount to a violation under any memorandum of the LTFRB, then the proper penalty should have been a fine or suspension or cancellation of their franchise, not threatening their leader with incarceration." Poe added that the Public Service Act should be revisited to better balance public service and the right to assemble. The senator on Monday that the groups are set to meet transport officials at the Senate on December 11 to discuss their concerns. Read: Transport group cancels nationwide strike on Dec. 4-5 "With their entire livelihood at stake, the least we can do is hear them out," Poe said. "Moving forward, let us give them and other stakeholders a chance to explain so that we can resolve their issues together." Melinas said despite the warrant issued against San Mateo, the coalition will still attend the hearing. The PUV Modernization Program, which was revealed in June 2017, aims to phase out PUVs over 15 years old and replace these with vehicles with "low-carbon and low-emission technology." Read: Jeepney modernization program kicks off next month Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Spokesperson Aileen Lizada told CNN Philippines in June 2017 that there are around 204,000 jeepneys operating nationwide, with an estimated 75 percent of these over 15 years old. PISTON and other transport groups are against the program, saying that hundreds of thousands of jeepney drivers and operators could lose their business.

On 5 December 2017, George San Mateo, Transport leader, posted bail for his case before a Quezon City court in Manila, Philippines.

A Catholic priest was gunned down by unidentified men in Jaen, Nueva Ecjia on Monday evening. Fr. Marcelito "Tito" Paez, a priest of the Diocese of San Jose, was shot while driving his vehicle at around 8pm. The 72-year-old priest was immediately rushed to the Gonzales General Hospital in the nearby town of San Leonardo but he succumbed to two bullet wounds on his body at around 10pm. Paez was a former parish priest of in Guimba town and currently the coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Central Luzon. In the 1980s, he was also a leader of the Central Luzon Alliance for a Sovereign Philippines, which campaigned for the removal of the US military bases in Central Luzon and other parts of the country. He was also known to lead church service for communities and victims of human rights violations in Nueva Ecija and Central Luzon. Earlier in the day, Paez assisted in facilitating the release of political prisoner Rommel Tucay who was detained at a hail in Cabanatuan City. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing

On 4 December 2017. A Catholic priest was gunned down by unidentified men in Jaen, Nueva Ecjia, Manila, Philippines.

Suspected state security forces along with goons of a local official in Negros Oriental shot and killed two members of a team investigating human rights violations in the province this afternoon, Nov. 28. A youth activist was also injured. Killed were Elisa Badayos of Karapatan-Central Visayas, and Elioterio Moises, a village guard and member of the local peasant organization, Mantapi Ebwan Farmers Association. They were pronounced dead-on-arrival at a hospital in Bayawan town. CJ Matarlo, a 23-year-old Kabataan Partylist member remains in critical condition as of press time. The fact-finding team, composed of 30 people, was investigating reported human rights abuses committed by soldiers who are encamped in communities in the cities of Bayawan and Sta. Catalina. Earlier, the team was blocked and harassed by armed men identified with Bayawan City Mayor Ismael Martinez. Armed men also questioned the team, but they were eventually allowed to pass. At 2:40 PM, Badayos, Moises and the KPL activist companion were in San Ramon village, Bayawan and were headed to the police station to file a blotter report on the blocking incident, when armed men opened fire. Badayos and her family has long suffered from injustice perpetrated by the state forces. Her husband, Jimmy, a labor leader in Cebu, was abducted by the military in 1990, and has since disappeared. In 2012, a police and military team abducted her daughter, Jimmylisa, and a companion. She was later found illegally detained in Cebu. In 2015, Badayos was among the leaders of progressive groups in Dumaguete City who were slapped with trumped-up criminal charges filed by soldiers of the 79th Infantry Battalion. Cases including murder, rebellion, and illegal possession of firearms were then filed against leaders. "We condemn in the strongest terms this recent attack on human rights workers. Even as human rights workers conducting fact-finding missions in Batangas, Negros, Mindanao and elsewhere are being subjected to attacks by state forces, we will never relent in struggling alongside with the Filipino people in contending against this murderous Duterte regime," said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights (Karapatan). In 2008, the Negros Oriental local government unit issued Ordinance No. 5, s. 2008 entitled "An Ordinance Regulating Outreach Activities Through Medical and Fact-Finding Missions in the Countryside of Negros Oriental and for Other Purposes." As a result, non-government organizations and other cause-based organizations are prohibited from conducting humanitarian missions without permission from the governor, municipal government, and the municipal police. Yesterday, Nov. 27, the fact-finding team went to the Sta. Catalina City hall, where they had asked for an appointment with the local government unit, but no official came to face them. Palabay said the Negros ordinance contravenes the purpose of fact-finding missions, which are conducted to confirm reports of abuses, especially those committed by the military and other officers and agents of the state. "The attacks on human rights defenders are becoming more rampant, more brutal, more fearless. The perpetrators know they will be dealt with impunity, as human rights have lost force and meaning especially under this regime. Fact-finding missions are a mechanism for human rights organizations to confirm reports of abuses, and this incident has only proven how fascism works to kill outright those who dare to question," Palabay said in a statement. (This article was updated to add the name of CJ Matarlo, who was not identified in the earlier report.)

On 28 November 2017. two members of a team investigating human rights violations were shot and killed and a youth activist was injured in Manila, Philippines.

Human rights group Karapatan has accused the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines of arresting and detaining 11 human rights workers "illegally". In a press release, Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay linked the arrest of Peping Sacdalan, 67; Carlos Sanoza, 62; Josefino Castillano, 50; Senando Jacutin, 47; Rosario Tabanao, 47; Jocelyn Cabadin, 44; Leonardo Delos Reyes, 43; Jennelyn Bayani, 30; Orlan Cabadin, 19; Robert Hernandez; and Anthony Ba_aga to President Rodrigo Duterte's "threat" on Saturday to crack down on progressive organizations. Those arrested had been tagged as members of the New People's Army. But Palabay said it was "a lie relegated as among the oldest tricks in the PNP and AFP's "how to get away with illegal arrest and human rights violations' rulebook." "Mass arrest of members of an organization is fast becoming a trend in the PNP and AFP's conduct of illegal arrests. It has become as brazen and as arbitrary," she added. She accused the Duterte administration of allegedly conducting a "systematic attack against human rights workers." Ba_aga, Bayani, Orlan Cabadin, Jocelyn Cabadin, Castillano, Delos Reyes, Hernandez, Sacdalan, and Sanoza were arrested on Monday by members of the PNP and the Philippine Air Force 730th Combat Group in Nasugbu, Batangas. According to Karapatan, eight of these nine persons were actually members of farmers groups, while the ninth was a jeepney driver. They were on their way to Brgy. Utod in Nasugbu to "monitor human rights violations against civilians amid the ongoing military operations of the PAF against members of the NPA in Nasugbu." Karapatan said the group would be brought to a regional trial court in Batangas to undergo inquest proceedings. On Saturday, meanwhile, Jacutin and Tabanao were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 9 and the 1st Infantry Tabak Division of the AFP in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. According to Karapatan, Jacutin is a peasant organizer of Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas, while Tabanao is a staff member of Karapatan Western Mindanao. Karapatan alleged that firearms and explosives were planted on the two, who are detained at the Pagadian City police station and are set to undergo inquest proceedings Tuesday. "Karapatan condemns this blatant attack on the people's right to monitor human rights violations and the brazen arbitrariness and illegality of the recent series of arrests," Palabay said. She continued, "How then can human rights and humanitarian organizations function and aid civilians amidst armed conflict when rights of human rights workers are being curtailed? Human rights workers, in the conduct of their work, have already one foot in the grave." Palabay also criticized the creation of the Inter-agency Committee on Legal Action (IAOCOLA), which supposedly intensified "political persecution and illegal arrests" against human rights groups and other progressive organizations. "More increasingly in the Duterte regime, legal processes are subverted and instead directed against the people," she said. According to the PNP website, the IACOLA establishes "stronger coordination of ongoing and future efforts of the government in addressing these cases" against threat groups. The joint resolution creating IACOLA was signed in October by PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa and then AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo A_o in the hopes of strengthening "the intelligence gathering and cooperation, investigation, prosecution, and monitoring of cases against threat groups." On Saturday, Duterte told reporters in Davao City that the government "may take steps" against activists, and added that he believed groups like Bayan were in league with the communist rebels. "We will study and maybe we will have a crackdown here somewhere," Duterte said. In the same press conference, he called the armed wing of the National Democratic Front, the New People's Army, terrorists. "Before, we recognized them as legitimate rebels. But with their continued depredations, killing innocent people even an infant four months old, I'll be issuing a proclamation. I will remove them from the category of a legal entity... placing them - same as America -[in the category of] terrorists." Recently, an infant was among eight civilians in a Toyota Fortuner caught in the crossfire when NPA rebels ambushed a police vehicle in Bukidnon. The NPA admitted killing the infant, and even apologized in a statement. "So beginning from now, wala nang[there'll be no more charges called] rebellion-rebellion. We will fight terrorism, murder, arson na[now]... because we will consider them criminal already," the President added.

On 20 November 2017. 11 human rights workers were illegally arrested and detained by the National Police and the Armed Forces in Philippines.

The Tarlac police detained an activist on Wednesday after militant farmers stormed a contested property inside the former sugar estate on the eve of the so-called Hacienda Luisita massacre in 2004. Florita Sibayan, chair of the militant Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), was taken to the Tarlac provincial police headquarters in Camp Macabulos here. Supt. Bayani Razalan, Tarlac City police chief, said Sibayan and other Ambala members were facing charges of malicious mischief and physical injuries for destroying the concrete fence of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. compound in the Tarlac City side of Luisita. On April 24, the same group forcibly occupied the RCBC compound, after they petitioned then Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano to use the 500-hectare property for agrarian land distribution. The RCBC lot is what remains of the Luisita estate most of which have been distributed to farmers by the Department of Agrarian Reform. The lot was acquired from the family of former President Corazon Aquino and her son, former President Benigno Aquino III, in 1996. On Wednesday, around 500 Ambala members staged the rally at 9 a.m. in front of the RCBC lot before they broke through the fence an hour later. Following Sibayan's detention, 200 Ambala members held a protest rally at Camp Macabulos. Some of them spray-painted the police compound. Reached by telephone, Sibayan said a police officer in plainclothes dragged her into a police vehicle parked inside the RCBC lot. "They said they would kill me," Sibayan said in Filipino. The group was scheduled to hold on Thursday a memorial of the massacre where seven farmers were killed during a clash between policemen and strikers. Cases filed against government officials, including Aquino when he was Tarlac representative, in connection with the killings had been dismissed.

On 20 November 2017. Florita Sibayan, activist was detained after protesters storm RCBC compound in Tarlac City, Philippines.

Human rights groups decried the illegal arrests and abduction by police of a total of seven activists and supporters in the past five days, before and during the visit by US President Donald Trump and the start of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit. These happened from Nov. 9 to 12 in separate incidents in the provinces of Cebu, Samar, Oriental Mindoro and Metro Manila. Among those arrested is a nursing mother who was tending to her two-month-old baby when arrested in a hospital in Oriental Mindoro. Human rights alliance Karapatan riled at the Duterte administration, for "unleashing its fascist and militarist policies" in fitting tribute to the visiting US president, who also faced growing protests in his own country. Groups like Karapatan had criticized the Asean for evading the issue of human rights violations, which hound all its member-states. President Duterte, who is this year's Asean chairman and host of the summit, has been lambasted for his bloody war on drugs and continued political killings. The seven arrested are: former peace negotiator Rustico Tan, Lopito Paquigbao and Eddie Cullamat, who were arrested Nov. 9 in Cebu; health worker and former political detainee Emilia Marquez, who was arrested with Jess Carlo Poblador on Nov. 10 in Oriental Mindoro; peasant leader Carlito Badillo, arrested also on Nov. 10; and Neil Legaspi, who was arrested during the anti-Trump protest in Manila on Nov. 12. Legaspi, a Karapatan staff who was detained by the Manila Police District, was released this afternoon, Nov. 14. Poblador was also immediately released shortly after arrested. The five others remain in detention. Former "Morong 43' detainee abducted in hospital The group Buhay na Alay para sa Nagkakaisang Isla ng Mindoro (BAYANI Mo) is calling for the release of Emilia Marquez, 29, who was abducted while tending to her critically-ill two-month-old baby at the Medical Mission Group Hospital in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. On Nov. 10, at 11 PM, four soldiers in plainclothes led by Corporal Marcos Padilla Magnaye of the Philippine Army's 203rd infantry brigade nabbed Marquez and Jess Carlo Poblador, 27, who was assisting Marquez in the hospital. The soldiers refused to identify themselves when Marquez asked for their identification and arrest warrant. Marquez refused to come with the soldiers, who then forcibly took her and Poblador, in full view of the shocked hospital staff. Marquez, a native of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, is a former political detainee and was one of the "Morong 43," the 43 health workers arrested in February 2010. They were released in December 2010 after prosecutors withdrew the charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. A team of human rights workers searched for Marquez and Poblador in various detention facilities of police, military and the National Bureau of Investigation, which all denied they have the two. The group also learned that the Army corporal Magnaye asked to have the recording of the closed-circuit television erased, but the hospital staff refused. After 24 hours, Marquez was able to call and inform her parents that she was detained in at the 203rd IB headquarters in Bansud, but was being brought to Calapan City. She is currently detained in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. The group said Poblador was already released, but gave no detail. BayaniMo said Marquez was charged with two trumped-up charges: a murder case at branch 44 of Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, and frustrated murder at branch 41 of RTC Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. "Emilia Marquez, hails from a poor family, and is passionate in serving the underprivileged and managed to continue her work as a community-based health worker for the indigenous Mangyans and farmers of Mindoro. Since then she was followed by suspected state agents and consistently harassed thru vilification and pressuring her aging parents to submit him to authorities though no cases were filed against her," BayaniMo said in its statement. Former NDFP peace negotiator, peasant leader arrested in the Visayas In its statement, Karapatan said that Paquigbao and Cullamat were first to be nabbed by a joint team of police and military men who came looking for Rustico Tan at his farm in Palaminya village, Oslob, Cebu on Nov. 9, at 5 PM. Failing to find Tan, the government troops took the two men who are both farm workers of Tan. Karapatan said they later learned from the Philippine National Police in Oslob that Tan has also been arrested and he and the two other men are detained at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City. The group later learned that Tan was transferred detention to another island, in Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City, Bohol province. The group, however, is yet to confirm if Paquigbao and Cullamat are detained at the AFP CenCom in Cebu city. Tan, 76, is a former Catholic priest belonging to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC). He was a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and was one of the negotiators in the peace talks with government during the Corazon Aquino administration. Tan is engaged in sustainable agriculture in his hometown in Oslob. On Nov. 10, at 7 AM, peasant leader Carlito Badillo had just brought his children to school in Tag-alag village, Marabut town in Samar province when he was abducted by a group of men. Later, the 87th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army admitted that they have Badillo in their custody. Badillo, a leader of Tag-alag Farmers and Fisherfolk Association, is being detained at the Marabut Municipal Police Station. Karapatan said trumped-up charges of rebellion and illegal possession of explosives were filed against Badillo. Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor said the arrests come after the formation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Legal Action (IACLA), which "will further legitimize and systematize the political persecution, illegal arrest, and detention of vocal critics of the Duterte regime's anti-people policies." As of Sept. 30, Karapatan had documented 28 political prisoners in the Eastern Visayas region, 13 of whom are ailing. The group has documented 435 political prisoners, with 94 arrested and detained under President Duterte. "Instead of heeding the demands of peasant organizations, the Duterte administration is blatantly disregarding the plight of farmers and have continued to violate their political, economic, and social rights," Clamor said. Along with the Selda, the group of former political detainees, Karapatan has called on the Duterte administration to release all political prisoners and "stop the arrests, harassment and criminalization of the work of political activists." "The Duterte administration must also junk Oplan Kapayapaan, a counterinsurgency program patterned under the US counterinsurgency guide, which seeks to curtail dissent and forego people's rights to protect the interest of the few," Clamor said. Aside from arresting Karapatan staff, police took van, staff belongings "Who do we expect to guard a human rights violator, fascist, and bigot like US President Donald Trump? None other than his fellow fascists, personified by our own police force. In true militarist and fascist fashion that their masters -Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte - would no doubt be proud of, the police arrested Karapatan's staff who was then driving the van and injured at least 20 protesters, including Anakbayan Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo," said Karapatan secretary general Tinay Palabay. Karapatan lambasted the Manila Police District for the arrest of their staff Neil Legaspi, as well as for taking the group's van and the belongings of the paralegal team. On Nov. 12, at 2:30 PM, Legaspi was driving the van along Mabini street, following the main body of protesters as part of the paralegal team, when he was accosted by members of the Task Force ASEAN and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). "He was forced out of the vehicle, his hands tightly handcuffed, and his head forced down by two policemen identified as PO1 Agcamanan and PO2 Bigcas of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, under the leadership of Task Force ASEAN," said Palabay in a statement. The men also punched him in the back. "The paralegal van was also taken by the police, allegedly by police operatives identified as O. Silla, E. Ocampo, R. Siochi, J. Florendo, Padua of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police," Palabay said. Legaspi was brought to the CIDG bus along UN avenue, where he saw the Karapatan van being driven by a police man. Later, he saw CIDG operatives also went in and out of the van where the paralegal team's personal belongings were kept. Legaspi was released at 1:30 PM today, but will still undergo further preliminary investigation before the Manila prosecutor, on charges of violation of the public assembly act, assault upon agent of person in authority, and resistance and disobedience. The Karapatan van remains in custody of the police. "We personally witnessed how the CIDG scampered around to consolidate a script for the entire unit. The tag "scriptwriters' is a perfect fit, as these operatives busied to stage a convincing narrative. They first planned to file a case of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injury against Legaspi, but later changed the charges," Palabay said. She added that some personal belongings of were missing, the staff's bags were searched, with wallets left open. She said they are looking into charging the police with illegal search and carnapping.

From 9 November to 12 November 2017. 7 activists were arrested, before and during Trump visit in the provinces of Cebu, Samar, Oriental Mindoro and Metro Manila in Philippines.

We condemn the arrest of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) staff and lay worker Julito Otacan, and five other Banwaon human rights defenders (HRDs), on Oct. 27 in Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur. Otacan is a field worker under the Protect and Promote Indigenous Human Rights in the Philippines, a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the RMP-NMR and Relief International. Otacan, in his work under the project, had been going around the Banwaon communities in Agusan del Sur, to organize and facilitate the training of community members in their capacity as HRDs. Under martial law, attacks against HRDs had been heightened, with community organizers and legitimate community meetings put under surveillance of state forces. We are demanding their immediate release and for the government to ensure their protection while they are doing their legitimate work for indigenous peoples' rights.

On 27 October 2017. Julito Otacan, Indigenous Human Rights activists, and five other Banwaon human rights defenders (HRDs) were arrested in Northern Mindanao Region, Philippines.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) - A 29-year-old broadcaster died in Bislig City in Surigao del Sur on Tuesday night, October 24, after unidentified men opened fire at his vehicle. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) alerted the media of the death of Christopher Iban Lozada on Wednesday morning, October 25. The NUJP said that Lozada was driving home with his girlfriend, Faith Tuyco Indog, when the incident happened. Indog was injured. Lozada was killed immediately while Indog was rushed to the Andres Soriano Hospital for treatment," the NUJP said. The ambush came after Lozada received multiple death threats, some of which could be found on his own Facebook acount, said NUJP. "I'm not an activist; I don't look for controversy. I'm not a political person, but I'm a person with compassion," Lozada said in a live Facebook video on October 15. Lozada was the operations manager and anchor of DXBF Prime Broadcasting Network, where he was known as "Chris Rapido." He was also called "Dok Chris" as he had health-related radio programs. According to the NUJP, Lozado was reportedly involved in filing charges against Bislig Mayor Librado Navarro and other Bislig officials before the Office of the Ombudsman over their involvement in a questionable hydraulic excavator deal. Navarro and the officials were found guilty of grave misconduct. In another Facebook post, Lozada posted a text message theatening him. "Another grave threat. I received this while I was hosting a program on air. I'm slightly worried by this incident because I was told that my days are numbered and that I would die soon. I'm just doing all these for the people. Now they're telling me this; I think they're getting used to this kind of act," he said. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) condemned the death of Lozada. Lozada earlier filed a complaint against Navarro with the PTFoMS, citing the death threats he had been receiving. PTFoMS issued a "red-flag" letter to Navarro on October 24 but it was too late, as he was killed that morning. "Lozada was killed even before the letter-warning could reach the mayor," PTFoMs said in a statement, adding that it suspected the mayor to be behind the threats to Lozada's life because of the graft case before the Ombudsman. In his complaint, Lozada cited threatening text messages that he reportedly received form Navarro. "Leave Bislig if you do not want to die," the alleged text message read. Police Superintendent Eder Collantes of Task Force Usig has been instructed to "immediately" investigate the killing.

On 24 October 2017. Christopher Iban Lozada, broadcaster, was killed in an ambush in Bislig City in Philippines.

Sherwin De Vera is a the coordinator of Defend Ilocos, a regional environmental network in north western Philippines affiliated with Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment. The organisation is currently leading a campaign against large-scale mining projects in the region that would be detrimental to local communities' right to a safe and healthy environment. The human rights defender is also a former human rights worker of Karapatan. On 18 July 2017, Sherwin De Vera was tailed by men in military uniforms when he visited Vigan City. On 19 July, the defender was informed by friends from the University of Northern Philippines that suspected military intelligence personnel had visited the university the previous day to ask the campus security department about Sherwin De Vera's recent visit to the university.

On 18 July 2017, Defend Ilocos coordinator, Sherwin de Vera, was followed by men in military uniforms in Vigan City. The following day, he learned that army personnel had enquired about his activities at the city's university after he visited their campus.

According to the information received, on 20 July 2017, at around 10:20 p.m., Ms. Cristina "Tinay" Palabay received a phone call from a man who repeatedly asked her if she was "Tinay Palabay" and refused to tell her his name. He told Ms. Palabay that she should stop what she was doing, referring to her human rights work, because she was on a "list" of people whom they considered as "courageous," and that he called because she was within his "AOR" (interpreted as "area of responsibility"). He accused Ms. Palabay of being involved in the alleged ambush of June 19, 2017, of the Presidential Security Group by members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Mindanao. Ms. Palabay denied knowledge of and involvement in the reported incident, as she was at that time in Manila leading the preparations for peaceful protests ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address and his request for an extension of martial law in Mindanao. The caller also repeatedly asked about Ms. Palabay's whereabouts, and warned her to be careful because he would soon meet her. Ms. Palabay immediately recounted on Facebook the incident and made public the threats she received. After searching the caller's cellphone number (+639260779448 ), it appeared that the number belongs to a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Safety Battalion. On August 16, 2017, a complaint to the Philippine Commission on Human Rights was submitted by Karapatan. Ms. Palabay is an independent observer in the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). She is also a member of the organizing committee of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), an advisor to the Urgent Action Fund for Women's Rights (UAF). In April 2017, Ms. Palabay and three other Filipino activists conducted a speaking tour in the US on the human rights situation in the Philippines and the GRP-NDFP peace talks. She also participated in the May 2017 Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum, organized by former US President Jimmy Carter in Atlanta, US.

On 20 July 2017, Ms. Cristina "Tinay" Palabay received a threatening phone call from a man who warned her to stop what she was doing, referring to her human rights work, because she was on a "list" of people whom they considered as "courageous" and that he called because she was within his area of responsibility.

SULTAN KUDARAT - Two men on a motorcycle shot dead early Monday in President Quirino town a volunteer radio reporter and columnist of a local weekly newspaper. Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, director of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police, said Leodoro Diaz died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the attack. Diaz was a volunteer reporter of a broadcast outfit in Cotabato City, the station dxMY of the Radio Mindanao Network. He was also a columnist of the Sapol tabloid published weekly in General Santos City, about three hours away via overland travel from President Quirino, his hometown. Diaz was on his way to Tacurong City from his home in Barangay Katiku, President Quirino when two bikers trailing behind overtook, block his path and shot him with pistols, killing him on the spot. Benjie Caballero, a broadcast journalist based in Tacurong City, said Diaz was a hard-hitting tabloid columnist. "We are urging the police to investigate on his murder in broad daylight at a time when Mindanao is under martial law that prohibits non-military and police personnel from carrying guns outside of houses," Caballero, a long time friend of Diaz, told The STAR. Diaz was the third journalist killed in Sultan Kudarat province in about 15 years. Marlene Esperat, also a columnist of a local newspaper, and radio reporter Amy Corpuz were also killed by hired killers. Supiter said personnel of the President Quirino municipal police are still trying to determine the identities of the two men behind the murder of Diaz and their real motive for the attack. "Let's give them enough time to identify the perpetrators of this crime for them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law," Supiter said.

On 7 August 2017, dxMY volunteer reporter Leodoro Diaz died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the attack in a Sultan Kudarat town. The killing happened in broad daylight amid martial law, which prohibits non-military and police personnel from carrying guns outside the house.

Based on the report from Front Line Defender, in the early months of the year 2017, 11 of land rights activists, farmers, members of indigenous communities have been the target of extra-judicial killings. The termination of the ceasefire between the government of the Philippines and the NDPF and the cancellation of the peace talks have intensified the repression and attacks against the civilian population, human rights defenders and their organisations. None of the vicitims have been properly investigated by the authorities to this day. Most of the HRDs targeted in the recent spate of killings were working on environmental, land or indigenous peoples' rights. On 5 January 2017, around 4pm, Venie Diamante, 43, a T'boli and municipal tribal chieftain, was brutally killed by an unnamed assailant on board a motorcycle while on his way home from Koronadal City, in South Cotabato. He was a strong advocate for the defense of ancestral T'boli lands. --- On 20 January 2017, Veronico Lapsay Delamente, 27, a Lumad-Mamanwa and member of Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong Organisasyon (KASALO) in the CARAGA region, was shot by two unnamed assailants in Punta Naga, Barangay, Cagdianao, Claver, Surigao del Norte. On the evening of the same day, around 8pm, Alexander Ceballos, 54, regional council member and district area coordinator of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) was gunned down by two unnamed assailants near his house in Purok Tangke, Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental. Ceballos' involvement in organising and mobilising farmers to uphold and defend their rights have earned him the resentment of local landowners. --- On 25 January 2017, Wencislao Pacquiao, 48, a member of the San Benito Farmers Association- Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was shot several times at close range in a targeted killing while he was working in the fields in Negros Occidental. Pacquiao had been instrumental in filing a case which seeks to secure legal title to the land for the people who work it. --- On 3 February 2017, Renato Anglao was shot dead by three unidentified men in Quezon, Bukidnon province. Renato Anglao was the Secretary-General of TINDOGA (Tribal Indigenous Oppressed Group Association), an indigenous peoples' organisation representing the Manobo-Pulangion tribe in Barangay Botong, Quezon, Bukidnon. TINDOGA works on issues related to human rights violations linked to agri-business plantations which are encroaching on their ancestral lands. --- On 6 Feb 2017, Emelito Rotimas was shot dead by suspected military agents. Emelito Rotimas was a local leader of Lapu-Lapu village, Maco, Compostela Valley. He was also an active member of a progressive partylist group Anakpawis (Toiling Masses). --- On 11 February 2017, Orlando Eslana was shot dead by an unidentified armed man in Roxas City, Capiz, Visayas. Orlando Eslana was an active member of the Kahublagan sang Mangunguma sa Capiz (KAMACA), an organisation of farmers in Capiz. They were holding a peasants' protest to assert their ownership of the land occupied by the Tan Estate. During the protest, unidentified armed men open fired leading to five protesters being injured. --- On 16 February 2017, Edweno "Edwin' Catog, 44, a Lumad-Mansaka farmer and a land rights activist, was shot in public by two men on a motorcycle, suspected of being linked to the 46th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA), in Pantukan, Compostela Valley. He was a member of the Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Walog Compostela (HUMAWAC), a local peasant organisation. --- On 25 February 2017, Gilbert Bancat, 32, a coconut farmer and peasant leader in Quezon, was gunned down by an unidentified assailant, suspected of being a member of the private army of a landlord in the area and a serving member of the Philippine Army, in Sitio Long Beach, Barangay, San Lorenzo, San Andres, Quezon province. Gilbert was a peasant organiser of the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Partylist and a land rights activist. Prior to his killing he had been warned to give up his support for the farmers because he was on a military hit list. --- On 2 March 2017, among the latest victims were Ramon Dagaas Pesadilla and his wife Leonila Tapdasan Pesadilla, who were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in their home, in Barangay Osme_a, in Compostela Valley. They were both active members of Compostela Farmers' Association, which has been vocal in its opposition to major mining projects in the area. As a result, their members are regularly targeted by security forces and thugs hired by the mining companies. Ramon and Leonila Pesadilla had recently donated land to host a Lumad (indigenous community) school.

In the Philippines, more than 11 HRDs working on land and indigenous rights were the victims of extra-judicial killing during the early 3 months of the year 2017.

A warrant of arrest was issued against the peace and human rights activist Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie by the Regional Trial Court in Sulu on 10 May, 2017. Tulawie is accused of being involved in the case of the kidnapped German journalist Andreas Lorenz from the Spiegel-magazine. In 2000, Lorenz had been covering the story of the kidnapping of the German Wallert family on the Malaysian island of Sipadan, when he himself was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf Group. Tulawie played a crucial role in providing the hostage with basic necessities and advocating for his release. Investigating Prosecutor Annie Marie Pierreangeli P. Ledesma filed the formal charges against Tulawie for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom at the Regional Trial Court in Jolo, Sulu on 8th May 2017. The initial complaint against Tulawie was filed on 10th February 2017 only one month after Tulawie had filed a petition at the Office of the President to remove Ledesma from office on grounds of dishonesty, betrayal of public trust and grave misconduct. Then foreign correspondent Olaf Ihlau, who reported about the kidnapping for the Spiegel, testified that "the accusation that Cocoy kidnapped Lorenz is absurd". The American photo-journalist David McIntyre in addition attested that "Cocoy was there to help us verify information, facilitate contact with the hostages and help us bring in goods and messages to and from the hostages". "It is too easy to misuse the Philippine judiciary to silence political opposition. People like Tulawie should be awarded for their work; instead they're being put behind bars", says Dominik Hammann, country coordinator for the German human rights organization International Peace Observers Network (IPON). IPON expresses its deep concerns over the continuing criminalization of HRD in the Philippines and calls on Philippine state authorities to immediately drop the charge against Tulawie!

On 10 June 2017, a warrant of arrest was issued against the peace and human rights activist Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie by the Regional Trial Court in Sulu.

TAGUM CITY - Unidentified assailants gunned down a 60-year old farmer inside his house in San Isidro, Davao del Norte on Thursday night. According to tights group Karapatan, the farmer, identified as Elias Pureza, became the latest victim in the spate of killings of activists and farmers in Southern Mindanao. Jay Apiag, Karapatan spokesperson, said Pureza had become the 23 victim of such attack in the region since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power. Apiag described Pureza as a member of the Farmers' Association of San Isidro (Fasi). The victim, he said, was inside his house in Purok Palmera in Barangay Mamangan when six men on motorcycles arrived at around 8:00 p.m. "When his wife opened the door, the assailants forced their way in and shot Elias in front of his family immediately killing him," he said. As in previous killings that targeted farmers and rights activists, Apiag said Pureza's murder might have been carried out by soldiers. Maj. Michael Candole, executive officer of the Army's 60th Infantry Battalion, which is based in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, said Karapatan's claims "were baseless and mere propaganda." He challenged the rights group to also look into the possible involvement of the New People's Army (NPA) in the killings. "We are mandated to protect innocent civilians," Candole said. "We do not kill hapless farmers and activists."

On 6 April 2017, Elias Pureza, member of the Farmers' Association of San Isidro (Fasi), was inside his house in Purok Palmera in Barangay Mamangan when six men on motorcycles arrived at around 8:00 p.m and killed him.

MANILA: An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for the highest-profile opponent of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs, but she dodged police and sought refuge in the Senate. The planned arrest of Senator Leila de Lima outraged her supporters and human rights activists, who said the government had manufactured drug trafficking charges to silence her criticism of Duterte and intimidate others. The 57-year-old lawyer, who has spent nearly a decade trying to link Duterte to death squads that have allegedly killed thousands of people, could be jailed for life if she is found guilty of drug trafficking. "I have no plans of fleeing and I have no plans to go in hiding. I will face all these charges," a tearful De Lima told reporters at the Senate in the early evening after a Manila court issued the arrest warrant. De Lima then went to her home in another part of the capital after believing she had secured an agreement with authorities to surrender on Friday morning. But, after police were seen on national television driving to her home to arrest her, De Lima quickly left and returned to the perceived safety of the Senate building. De Lima appealed late on Thursday night for police not to arrest her overnight, and committed to surrendering on Friday. "If they respect the Senate as an institution, they should not force an arrest tonight," she told reporters at the Senate. Police followed her to the Senate. But, signalling an apparent pause to a night of intense drama, the head of security at the Senate and De Lima's aides said police had committed to waiting until Friday morning to arrest her. Political persecution De Lima is accused of orchestrating a drug trafficking ring when she was justice secretary in the previous administration of Benigno Aquino. But De Lima and her supporters insist she is innocent, and that Duterte wants to crush one of his most vocal and enduring critics. De Lima this week branded Duterte a "sociopathic serial killer" as she called for ordinary Filipinos to stand up in opposition to his drug war, which has seen more than 6,500 people killed since he took office eight months ago. De Lima's Liberal Party, which ruled for six years under Aquino, voiced deep anger on Thursday at her imminent arrest. "This arrest is purely political vendetta and has no place in (a) justice system that upholds the rule of law. This is condemnable. We reiterate that an arrest based on trumped-up charges is illegal," it said in a statement. Safety fears The party also said it feared for De Lima's life once she was arrested, citing the police killing of another politician, Rolando Espinosa, inside a jail cell in November last year after he was arrested on drug charges. The National Bureau of Investigation said the police who raided the jail murdered him and that he was defenceless. But Duterte defended the police and vowed they would not be jailed. Duterte, 71, won the presidential election last year after promising during the campaign to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of people. He immediately launched the crackdown after taking office in June and police have reported killing 2,555 drug suspects since then, with about 4,000 other people murdered in unexplained circumstances. Amnesty International has warned that police actions in the drug war may amount to crimes against humanity. Amnesty said Thursday that, if De Lima was arrested, it would regard her as a prisoner of conscience. "The arrest of de Lima is a blatant attempt by the Philippine government to silence criticism of President Duterte and divert attention away from serious human rights violations in the "war on drugs'," it said. But Duterte's aides said De Lima's imminent arrest showed even the most powerful people would be brought to justice if they broke the law. "The war on illegal drugs targets all who are involved and the arrest of an incumbent senator demonstrates the President's strong resolve to fight pushers, peddlers and their protectors," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

On 23 February 2017, Senator Leila de Lima, the critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, threatened to be arrested by the police.

On February 19, 2017, WILERME AGORDE, was stabbed and gunned down in North Cotabato. Ka Wiling is a pastoral worker of the Diocese of Kidapawan, and a project officer of agrarian justice program of NASSA (National Secretariat for Social Action) on "Empowering Farming Communities Through Advocacy on Agrarian Reform, Social Enterprise and Practice of Sustainable Agriculture." Ka Wiling was actively involved in leading the campaign to implement agrarian reform in government school reservation. The 5,000-hectare property is owned by University of Southern Mindanao (USM) but the 1,000-hectare portion was allocated to CFCST (Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology). The disputed land had been occupied by the farmers for several decades. Recent development indicates that the farmers are winning in the agrarian campaign. And the killing of Ka Wiling is interpreted by the community as a way to silence the leaders in defending their land rights. We join Bishop Colin Bagaforo and the Diocese of Kidapawan in vehemently condemning the heinous murder of one of our dedicated human rights workers. We demand that justice be served and that impartial investigation be conducted to determine who are behind this atrocious crime

On 19 February 2017, a farmer group leader advocating for agrarian reform was stabbed and gunned down in North Cotabato

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - A Philippine lawyer who specialized in investigating crimes against the environment has been ambushed and shot dead, police said Friday, February 17. The murder on Wednesday of Mia Manuelita Mascarinas-Green deepened concerns that the Philippines is one of the world's most dangerous places for environmental campaigners, with more than 100 killed over the past 15 years. Four motorcycle-riding gunmen opened fire after surrounding a van being driven by Mascarinas-Green -- with her children and nanny in the vehicle -- near her home on the central island of Bohol, the authorities said. Mascarinas-Green was pronounced dead at a hospital but her children were unharmed, regional police spokesman Senior Inspector Reslin Abella told AFP. "The victim is a known environmental lawyer. Investigators are checking whether the attack had any link to the cases she had handled in relation to environmental issues," Abella told the Agence France-Presse by telephone. "They now have the identity of at least one of the perpetrators and a hot pursuit operation is ongoing," she said without naming the suspect. Abella said police were at the moment unaware if Mascarinas-Green had been threatened previously in relation to her work. Her children are twins, aged two, and a 10-year-old daughter, according to local media reports. Her death brings to 112 the number of environmental campaigners murdered in the Philippines over the past 15 years, according to Filipino environment monitor Kalikasan. This includes 12 since President Rodrigo Duterte took office 7 months ago, Kalikasan said. "Most of these cases remain unresolved as the government continues to ignore the threat against environmental defenders," Clemente Bautista, its national coordinator told AFP. "What this means is that the perpetrators are emboldened to do it again and again because no one ever gets caught." Condemning the killings In a statement, Alternative Law Groups (ALG) condemned the killing of Mascarinas-Green, saying society "simply has no place for lawless killings." ALG added Mascarinas-Green "has been working as a dedicated environmental lawyer, an alternative lawyer in pursuit of public interest, respect for human rights, and promotion of social justice for more than 10 years. Her untimely death is a clear example of why we all should strive as alternative lawyers and advocates of human rights and social development." Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Yeb Sano also said the killing highlighted the culture of impunity in the Philippines, where powerful figures abuse a corrupt political and justice system to literally get away with murder. "Those who cause environmental destruction are resorting to savage measures and deplorable acts to stop communities and people who are standing up to protect our imperilled environment," Sano said. Environmental monitor Global Witness separately lists 88 killings of environmental activists and workers in the Philippines between 2010 and 2015. The attacks spiked with 33 dead in 2015, ranking the Philippines as the second most dangerous country in the world for environmental campaigners behind Brazil.

On 17 February 2017, A Philippine lawyer who specialized in investigating crimes against the environment has been ambushed and shot dead

The Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) strongly condemns the assassination of Orlando "Ka Lando" Abangan. SENTRO calls for a swift and thorough investigation of this cowardly act, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and their masterminds. Ka Lando, 35 years old, was assassinated a few meters outside his home last 17th of September 2016 at around 7:00am. Witnesses said that a lone assassin waited for him, pumped seven bullets into his body, and drove away on a motorcycle. Initial investigations to the motivation of his killing points to Ka Lando's vocal criticism against the ongoing war on drugs and the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the community. Ka Lando has spent half his life organizing the downtrodden under the banner of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM). Recently, Ka Lando helped SENTRO organize a union in the power industry as well as the urban poor in Cebu. Ka Lando was also involved in helping organize an organization of persons with disabilities (PWDs) that advanced the rights of PWDs for social protection and social services. SENTRO also calls on the Duterte administration to stop the terrible wave of extra judicial killings that has plagued the country. The war of drugs has promoted a culture that is blind to human rights. Clearly, it is now taking its toll on human rights defenders. It has to stop immediately. SENTRO commiserates with the families and friends of Ka Lando. His long history of service and militancy in the face of impunity is admirable. His death, unfortunately, is another nail in the coffin against the struggle to uphold human rights.

On 17 September 2016, Ka Lando, human rights defender and long-time Partido ng Manggagawa (Workers Party) member and organizer, was assassinated by an unidentified gunman a few meters outside his home in Sitio Lawis, Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines.

RAPPLER: MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) - At least one farmer was killed and 13 others were wounded Friday, April 1, when police dispersed a farmers' protest action in Kidapawan City, reports said. Two policemen are also "under critical condition" due to head trauma while 40 cops were hurt in the incident, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Malaca_ang said in separate statements. The identity of the slain farmer was not immediately known. But the PNP said they arrested a number of protesters, including "an individual reported to be an NPA[New People's Army] Commander from Brgy Basak, Magpet, North Cotabato." Police said about 3,000 protesters blocked the Davao-Cotabato Highway starting Wednesday, March 30, to demand government assistance in the wake of the effects of drought in the area. (Organizers put the number of protesters at 5,000.) The Kidapawan City police dispersed the protest shortly before 11 am Friday and shot at the farmers, according to Kilab Multimedia on its Facebook page. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said soldiers joined the disperal. "Shots from M-16 rifles were allegedly fired," it added in a statement. Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista said the farmers were demanding that North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Tali_o-Mendoza release 15,000 sacks of rice to them, but Mendoza reportedly refused to talk to them. The protesters said the money can be sourced from the province's calamity fund, adding they have been severely affected by drought in the past several months. MindaNews reported that "North Cotabato's Crop Damage Report Summary as of Febuary 17 listed 36,915 farmers affected by the drought, mostly corn, rice, rubber and coconut farmers." The province has been under a state of calamity since January 19, MindaNews added. Mendoza is running for reelection unopposed. Mayor Evangelista held a crisis meeting with the police and local authorities after the dispersal. Governor's orders? PNP spokesman Chief Supt Wilben Mayor said they are investigating the incident and will hold "anyone responsible for this tragic incident accountable." In a chronology of events, the PNP said the permit to rally lapsed Friday morning. The highway protest that began 6 am on March 30 brought together farmers, members of indigenous groups, and other cause-oriented groups. "Their presence continued to disrupt public movement in one of the major transportation arteries of Mindanao," the PNP said in a statement. Upon "guidance" from the governor, the local police moved to disperse the crowd past 10 am Friday and coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development "to rescue minors who were part of the picketline," the PNP added. "Before the PNP could start their operation, however, protesters attacked them with poles and pieces of wood. Large rocks were also thrown at the policemen, and at the stationary fire truck deployed to the area," according to the PNP. Presidential candidates condemned the incident in separate statements. The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) also asked government to investigate what happened especially how the police acted during the dispersal. Government must "hold accountable anyone found responsible regardless of rank or affiliation," HRW said.

On 1 April 2016, 1 farmer was killed and 13 were wounded during a protest in Kidapawan, Philippines