January - March 2021 Released by Karapatan Alliance

RAGING CRISIS, INTENSIFIED ATTACKS, STRENGTHENED RESISTANCE

Photo from Philippine Collegian

ore than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world into a global crisis, shameless Mcriminal negligence of people’s welfare has become the norm under the so-called “new normal.” As the country struggles to survive one lockdown after another, President has only used the pandemic to unleash the outbreak of State terror and violence upon the Filipino people in more terrifying and brutal forms. Amid record-high unemployment rates, a growing death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sheer absence of the necessary public health measures to combat it, the Duterte government continues to leave a bloody trail of carnage in its dirty war against dissent.

Massacres in communities as well as illegal arrests and Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF- killings in police raids against activists and human rights ELCAC) have only intensified with the passage of the widely- defenders have marked the first months of President opposed Anti-Terrorism Act. Duterte’s last year in power — and a disturbingly heightened pattern of weaponization of warrants and judicial processes Even the implementation of quarantine protocols was not is now being alarmingly used to facilitate human rights immune to the contagion of militarization. More than violations across the country. The Duterte government’s a year into the pandemic, the same failed militarist and attacks and red-tagging campaign, and militarization of the punitive measures still trump science, violate civil liberties, civilian bureaucracy led by the bloodhounds of the National and sideline the people’s right to health in the name of mass 2 Karapatan Monitor

incarcerations as well as other degrading and violent — even thousands to deeper rungs of poverty and hunger. More and fatal — punishments for so-called “pasaway” quarantine more are daring to act, speak up and take a stand against violators, which have become the scapegoat for the Duterte the Duterte government’s atrocities against the people and government’s utter disregard of people’s rights and welfare. efforts to exact justice and accountability for President Duterte’s crimes are already underway. The International As the 2022 national elections draw near, President Criminal Court (ICC) has come out with its findings from Duterte and his minions are wasting no time to orchestrate its preliminary examination on the Duterte government’s machinations to ensure the continuity of his fascist, sham and bloody drug war, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor corrupt, and murderous rule and to cement his dynasty and has now formally requested an investigation into the de facto martial law— yet despite the relentless assault, the human rights situation in the Philippines.. people’s resistance to his tyranny are forging unities across democratic forces in the country. President Duterte’s last year will prove to become even more brutal as he desperately clings to power and leaves Mutual aid initiatives like community pantries have spread behind a bloody legacy of crimes against the people — like wildfire throughout the country — a defiant display of but the coming months will also prove to be crucial in solidarity, but also a damning indictment of the Duterte consolidating all forces to ensure that his reign of terror government’s criminal neglect of the people that has driven is frustrated and ended.

Art by ARPAK January – March 2021 3

From the end of one bloody led to the massacre of nine indigenous leaders and year to another the arrest of 17 others as the Philippine National Police Crime Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) Western Visayas, the PNP Regional Office 6, and the 12th Amid the growing death toll brought by the onslaught of Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army served 28 search the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was marked with human warrants against supposed members and supporters of the rights violations from the implementation of militaristic Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and NPA in Tapaz, and punitive lockdown measures, the continuing drug Capiz and Calinog, Iloilo for illegal possession of firearms war killings, and the Duterte government’s bloody anti- and explosives. communist counterinsurgency campaign spearheaded by the NTF-ELCAC. The year 2020 ended with one brutal In a collective statement on January 15 this year, more bloodshed after another — all without let-up. than a hundred human rights and indigenous peoples’ organizations from the international community On December 17, combined elements of the Police Regional condemned the massacre as they called on the Philippine Office 4A and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s government to immediately conduct impartial and credible 2nd Infantry Division massacred five individuals in Sitio investigations into the raids “especially on the persistent Malalim, Brgy. San Juan, Baras, Rizal as they were supposedly issuance of search warrants, conduct of police and serving arrest warrants against New People’s Army (NPA) military operations marred by summary executions and rebels in the area. Karapatan – Southern Tagalog’s fact- evidence-planting, and ‘systematic’ conduct of these deadly finding mission identified the victims as Vilma Salabao, operations” as experienced in previous raids in Negros, Wesley Obmerga, Carlito Zonio, and brothers Jhonatan Metro , and Eastern Visayas, mirroring tactics in the and Niño Alberga through morgue records. They were Duterte government’s drug war under Oplan Tokhang. caretakers and workers at a private mango farm in the barangay. The fact-finding mission team were also able to interview residents in the area, who heard cries for help when the five were supposedly engaging in a shootout with the police and military — belying claims of an armed An emerging pattern of State encounter. The victims’ remains also bore signs of torture violence and repression and mutilation; the Alberga brothers’ scrota were burnt, four teeth were removed, and their hand were pounded and beaten up. Mere months into 2021, such persistent use of search warrants to conduct police and military raids on the homes Meanwhile, in Balilihan, Bohol, peasant organizer Lorenzo and offices of progressive leaders and activists marked by Paña, former chairperson of Hugpong sa Mag-uuma Dapit summary executions and the planting of evidence was no sa Kasapdan (HUMANDA KA), a district formation of longer just “systematic:” it has emerged as a clear pattern Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon – Kilusang Magbubukid — an insidious modus operandi — to give legal cover to ng Pilipinas (KMP), was gunned down by still-unidentified the Duterte government’s crackdown on dissent under the assailants on December 30, as he was on his motorcycle guise of counterinsurgency. to bring lunch to his son. Paña and his family have been repeatedly red-tagged and harassed by the police and the Through the NTF-ELCAC’s whole-of-nation approach, military even if he was no longer a full-time organizer of virtually all government resources, machinery, platforms HUMANDA-KA. are now being used for its red-tagging campaign to demonize activists and progressive organizations as 2020 culminated with the tragic and gruesome raids on “legal fronts” of “communist terrorist groups” — violating Tumandok communities in Panay on the same day, which the constitutional right to due process and presumption of 4 Karapatan Monitor

Tarpaulin by UP community displayed at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, entrance. Photo by PDI innocence. Such malicious accusations have become even The accord, which was signed on June 30, 1989, succeeded more dangerous with the passage of the Anti-Terrorism the 1981 accord between former League of Filipino Students Act, and the new law has emboldened the NTF-ELCAC chairperson Sonia Soto and then-Minister of National and State security institutions to mobilize all forms of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile, which was intended to protect media, including social media, and their proxies, assets students from the police and military presence in schools or supporters to propagate disinformation and deliberate intended to suppress dissent and protest actions at the falsehoods by red-tagging activists, human rights defenders, height of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The arrest government critics, and their organizations even in official of Philippine Collegian staffer Donato Continente on June government proceedings, such as the oral arguments on the 19, 1989, at the Vinzons Hall in the UP Diliman campus led petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act before the Supreme to the signing of the UP-DND Accord two weeks later. Court. The termination of the 1989 UP-DND Accord comes not only With the ban on mass actions and gatherings due to amid the government’s intensified red-tagging campaign lockdown restrictions, the campuses of the University but also amid attacks directed against the university itself, of the Philippines (UP) system served as safe spaces to as the UP community slammed the termination of the conduct protests by virtue of a three-decade-old accord accord as an assault on academic freedom. between UP and the Department of National Defense which prohibited the police and the military from entering UP In the days following the agreement’s abrogation, attacks campuses without prior notice. However, on January 15, and the red-tagging of UP’s students, professors, and DND Secretary unilaterally terminated alumni only became more rabid — with the Armed Forces the 1989 UP-DND Accord due to the CPP-NPA alleged of the Philippines Information Exchange Facebook page “clandestine recruitment” of students through “communist publishing on January 22 a fake list of killed or captured fronts” in the university. Lorenzana, in his letter to UP UP students who have allegedly become NPA rebels. President Danilo Concepcion, even claimed that UP has At least eight names on the list are journalists, former become “a safe haven for enemies of the state” because of government officials, lawyers, teachers, or entertainment the 1989 UP-DND Accord. personalities who are still alive and have not been captured January – March 2021 5

nor killed as members of the NPA. Despite being caught TABLE 1 lying, Lorenzana just issued an apology for the “blunders” Violations of Civil & Political Rights under the Rodrigo Duterte Government of the “unpardonable gaffe” as he subsequently sought the (July 2016 to March 2021) reinstatement of the military personnel who were earlier relieved due to the list. Violation Number of victims Extrajudicial Killing 394 The military, however, is not alone in posting fake and Frustrated Extrajudicial Killing 493 malicious red-tagging posts on social media — with the Enforced Disappearance 18 posts of top-ranking government officials suggesting what Torture 223 is rather a clear State policy of red-tagging, with directives to Illegal Arrest without Detention 2,700 publish virtual hitlists seemingly if not clearly coming from the highest echelons of government bureaucracy. As the Illegal Arrest and Detention 1,090 NTF-ELCAC’s spokesperson, Parlade has been and continues Illegal Search and Seizure 1,205 to be relentless and rabid in red-tagging Karapatan and other Physical Assault and Injury 518 organizations in his Manila Times column, along with other Demolition 6,492 NTF-ELCAC spokespersons such as Lorraine Marie Badoy.On Violation of Domicile 1,673 April 6, the Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa Destruction of Property 7,115 sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO), the union of employees in the Senate and an affiliate of Divestment of Property 932 COURAGE, was red-tagged in a series of Facebook posts Forced Evacuation 465,911 shared by National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Threat/Harassment/Intimidation 114,499 Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo. The posts Indiscriminate Firing 8,596 claimed that SENADO was “the eyes and ears” of the CPP- Bombing 372,749 NPA and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Forced/Fake Surrender 3,389 (NDFP) in the Senate. On the following day, on April 7, the State-run Philippine News Agency started publishing Badoy’s Forced Labor/Involuntary Servitude 35 Use of Civilians in Police and/or Military statements blatantly stating that the Confederation for 147 the Recognition and Advancement of Government Operations as Guides and/or Shield Employees (COURAGE) is a front of CPP-NPA-NDFP and Use of Schools, Medical, Religious and 45,780 blatantly attacking SENADO President Rosel Eugenio Other Public Places for Military Purpose and Judiciary Employees Association President Erwin Restriction or Violent Dispersal of Mass 4,158 Ocson as “CPP-NPA-NDFP operatives.” Monteagudo also Actions, Public Assemblies and Gatherings shared a series of Facebook posts red-tagging Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay after she testified names of government employees and public school before the Canadian House of Commons Subcommittee on teachers affiliated with COURAGE and the Alliance International Human Rights’ hearing on the human rights of Concerned Teachers (ACT) respectively, which situation in the Philippines last May 4. the memorandum tagged as “front organizations” of “communist terrorist groups.” Despite backlash from Senators over Badoy and Monte- agudo’s red-tagging of SENADO, the Senate employees With this directive, in government offices and public union, in particular, became the subject of Monteagudo’s schools, employees and teachers associated with red-tagging after the union slammed a memorandum progressive unions are being maligned and coerced to circular from the Department of the Interior and disaffiliate and renounce their membership with ACT and Local Government (DILG) dated March 10 directing the COURAGE. Urban and rural poor communities are being department’s regional secretaries to profile and list asked to denounce membership in Kalipunan ng Damayang 6 Karapatan Monitor

Mahihirap (KADAMAY) and other organizations under wrote to the Calbayog City Regional Trial Court requesting a the threat of being branded as active NPA members. The list of lawyers who represent “communist terrorist group” profiling of different sectors based on mere association personalities, which was prompted by the need to comply with groups and organizations branded as “legal fronts” with directives from the PNP’s “higher offices.” The letter has also become widespread, systematic, and brazen. Such included a table specifying a “mode of neutralization” for profiling encroaches upon the right to privacy and curtails those to be listed in it. The PNP disowned the letter as a the freedom of association and the freedom of expression, “serious breach of policy.” among other civil liberties. Search warrants have also been increasingly used as a The DILG memorandum circular echoes a resolution adopted weapon to harass, arrest and kill activists in search raids by the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee on their residences and offices. Over the past two years, – Cordillera Administrative Region (RLECC-CAR) in February the disturbing trend of serial applications and approvals “enjoining” law enforcement agencies and representatives of search warrants against activists — often in courts not of local government units to “conduct tokhang to known having territorial jurisdiction over the place to be searched left-leaning personalities in the government, media and — have become apparent, particularly those issued by the so- other entities” in order to dissuade them from supposedly called search warrant factory mill of Quezon City Regional “supporting” the CPP-NPA and its so-called “known front Trial Court Branch (RTC) 89 Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos- organizations.” The resolution was widely slammed by Villavert. various human rights groups as a de facto incitement of violence and extrajudicial killings against activists, human The service of these search warrants has not only given legal rights defenders, and government critics in the region blanket to the planting of false evidence while the search mirroring the government’s bloody drug war. Commission is being conducted but it has also resulted in the summary on Human Rights (CHR) CAR Director Romel Daguimol, killings and arbitrary arrests and detention of their subjects one of the 45 signatories of the RLECC-CAR resolution, during police and military raids to serve the warrants. The eventually withdrew his signature as the Cordillera Regional applications, mostly based on the same set of evidence and Peace and Order Council junked the resolution on March 18. suspiciously similar narratives from shady confidential informants, were approved but numerous questions arise On March 12, Lieutenant Fernando Calabria Jr., chief of the on whether the rigorous requirements for their issuance intelligence unit of the Calbayog City Police Station in Samar, were faithfully observed and if judicial processes are now being weaponized against citizens.

The full wrath of these search warrants and raids were unleashed upon the Southern Tagalog region during what is now known as the “Bloody Sunday” raids on March 7 as simultaneous early morning police and military operations led to the killings of nine activists and the arrest of four — among them trade unionists, human rights workers, housing rights activists, indigenous farmers, and fisherfolk leaders.

Activists and human rights defenders are also being targeted with judicial harassment through trumped-up criminal charges filed against them in far off places without their knowledge. The respondents in certain complaints Photo by Mariana Gardoce/UCAN for common crimes being attributed by the military to the January – March 2021 7

Groups condemn the arrests and killings of human rights defenders of Southern Tagalog. Photos courtesy of Bayan Muna

NPA were not duly notified of the proceedings because the “Bloody Sunday” raids subpoenas were sent to wrong, false, or even completely and the crackdown in fictitious addresses — hence, they were not able to participate in the preliminary investigations and were Southern Tagalog denied their constitutional right to due process. Arrest warrants then were issued against them by courts in remote These emerging patterns of State violence and repression cities or provinces where the cases were eventually filed, can be clearly seen in what can only be described as a and many have been arrested not knowing that they were wholesale crackdown against activists and human rights facing charges in these courts, much less were they aware or defenders in the Southern Tagalog region. From the red- duly notified of complaints at the prosecutors’ level. tagging, profiling, and harassment of communities and unions, the region has been rocked by raids, illegal arrests, A number of those arrested are also staged as arrested and extrajudicial killings largely targeting union leaders former NPA rebels, while those killed are branded as NPA and labor rights activists. rebels slain in so-called armed encounters — a rehash of the “nanlaban” narrative peddled by the PNP in the conduct of its On March 4, labor leaders Arnedo Lagunias, former sham and bloody drug war. In many instances, activists who officer of Lakas Manggagawang Nagkakaisa sa Honda and were abducted or arrested by virtue of arrest warrants were Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Engklabo, and Ramir Corcolon, paraded and misrepresented before the media as members secretary general of Water System Employees Response and of the NPA who are laying down their arms or returning to a national council member of the Confederation for the the fold of the law —and such public spectacle, based on Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees outright lies, brazenly violates the rights of arrested and (COURAGE), were arrested in police and military raids detained persons. on their residences in Sta. Rosa City and San Pablo City, Laguna, respectively, through search warrants issued by Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 91 Judge Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko. A .45 caliber handgun 8 KARAPATAN Monitor

#BloodySunday Killings (L-R) Emmanuel "Manny" Asuncion, Ann-Mariz and Ariel Evangelista and a grenade were supposedly recovered during the raid In Nasugbu, Batangas, combined elements of the PNP CIDG on Laguinas’ residence while a gun and a fragmentation Regional Force Unit 4A, Regional Mobile Force Battalion grenade were allegedly confi scated from Corcolon. Both (RMFB) 4A, and the Nasugbu Municipal Police Station Laguinas and Corcolon were brought to the Police Regional forcibly entered the seaside hut of Anna-Mariz “Chai” Offi ce 4A headquarters in Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Lemita-Evangelista and Ariel Evangelista, staff members Laguna where they remain detained. and fi sherfolk leaders of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan (People’s Solidarity Their arrests, however, were only the prelude of the worst Against Environmental and Land Destruction), after they to come. Early morning on March 7, Sunday, simultaneous raided the neighboring house of Lemita-Evangelista's father, raids of the PNP and the Philippine Army under Case Mandy. The Evangelista couple and their 10-year-old son Operation Plan ASVAL against “communist terrorist groups” “Nonong” were asleep when their house was raided. Their throughout the Southern Tagalog region led to the killings neighbors heard gunshots and screams for mercy from the of nine individuals and the arrest of four in what is now hut. Afterwards some of the neighbors saw the police taking called as the “Bloody Sunday” raids. the couple away; Chai and Ariel were still alive then. As the police left, the neighbors and relatives went to the hut and Those killed include long-time labor leader Emmanuel found “Nonong,” who witnessed the raid, hiding under the “Manny” Asuncion, coordinator of the Cavite chapter of bed. The search warrant used to raid the residence of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), who was killed Evangelista couple was issued by Manila RTC Branch 174 by elements of the Laguna Provincial Police Offi ce and Presiding Judge Jason Zapanta. Rizal Provincial Police Offi ce during the raid at the offi ce of the Workers’ Assistance Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Housing rights activist Melvin Dasigao of the urban poor Asuncion tried to negotiate with the police and assured group San Isidro Kasiglahan, Kapatiran, at Damayan para them that he would cooperate if there was a legitimate sa Kabuhayan, Katarungan at Kapayapaan (SIKKAD-K3) search warrant being served; however, none was served, and Montalban and youth organizer Mark Lee Coros Bacasno Asuncion was dragged away from his wife Liezl and another were also killed in raids in Montalban, Rizal. The raids companion before gunshots were heard. Six bullets — three started at around 5 a.m. with two dump trucks full of in the front and three in the back — were recovered from soldiers and police later identifi ed as elements of the his body. Asuncion’s house in Brgy. Tejeros, Rosario, Cavite, PNP CIDG, the Special Action Force (SAF), and the 202nd where the search warrant issued by First Vice Executive Brigade of the Philippine Army. Dasigao was pinned to the Judge Jose Lorenzo Dela Rosa of the Manila RTC Branch 4 fl oor inside while his wife and two children were brought was addressed, was raided simultaneously where the police outside. Minutes later, three shots were heard. Meanwhile, supposedly recovered and confi scated various fi rearms. Bacasno’s home was raided almost at the same time. He January – March 2021 9

was shot at least seven times. Local government officials a helicopter, without the family and neighbors being told reportedly arrived at the scene after the operations. the destination. The dead Esto brothers were later located at the Antipolo Memorial Homes. The search warrant against In Sitio Mina, Brgy. Sta. Inez, Tanay, Rizal, 46-year-old Abner was issued by First Vice Executive Judge Dela Rosa, Dumagat farmer Puroy dela Cruz was killed as four armed getting to be known in some quarters as “search warrant men, later identified as elements of the PNP CIDG RFU 4A fabricator.” The search warrant against Edward was issued together with personnel from SAF, the Rizal Provincial by Manila RTC Branch 37 Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig. Mobile Force Company, and the Rodriguez Municipal Police Station, forcibly entered his house at around 3 a.m. Labor leader Esteban Mendoza, vice president and a As his wife and two children were forced outside, they paralegal of the Organized Labor Association in Line heard gunshots that must have killed Dela Cruz. His cousin Industries and Agriculture – Kilusang Mayo Uno (OLALIA- Randy was in the neighboring Sitio Kinabuan during a KMU), was arrested by elements of the PNP CIDG RFU 4A, simultaneous raid as armed policemen with headlamps PRO 4A, CIDG National Capital Region, SAF, and the 202nd and high-powered rifles burst through his door and later Brigade and 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army murdered him. during a raid on his residence in Brgy. Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna. He was slapped with a search warrant against issued Farmers Edward and Abner Esto, siblings who make again by First Vice Executive Judge Dela Rosa. Mendoza charcoal and sell food among tourists, bikers and hikers is currently detained in Camp Vicente Lim. He is facing a to make a living, were roused from sleep when police nonbailable charge of illegal possession of firearms and and military officers broke through their door in Sitio explosives. Macaingalan, Brgy. Pura, Rodriguez, Rizal. Guns were trained on them while they were made to drop on the ground. The A 61-year-old human rights worker Nimfa Lanzanas, six other members of their family were forcibly brought a paralegal of Karapatan’s regional chapter in Southern outside. Then three shots were heard fired from inside the Tagalog and mother of political prisoner Edward Lanzanas, house. The surviving members of the family were not able to who helps PPs became a political prisoner herself. She enter the house until barangay officials and the scene of the was arrested during the raid on her residence in Brgy. crime operatives arrived to take the bodies of Edward and Sampiruhan, Calamba City, Laguna. The raid was based on Abner. They later learned that the police claimed there were false allegations that three guns and a grenade were among guns and grenades inside their residence, an accusation her belongings at home, where Lanzanas’s grandchildren, they strongly denied. The bodies were reportedly loaded in ages 6, 9, and 11, were sleeping beside her. The elements who

Photo from GMA Network 10 Karapatan Monitor

#BloodySunday Arrests (L-R) Nimfa Lanzanas, Elizabeth Camoral, Esteban Mendoza, Eugene Eugenio raided her residence and arrested her were also identified to Division of the Philippine Army. The search warrant was be from the PRO 4A, CIDG RFU 4A, CIDG NCRFU, SAF, and the issued by Executive Judge Miguel Asuncion of the Antipolo 202nd Brigade and 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine City RTC. The police and military allegedly recovered a .45 Army. The search warrant was also issued by Presiding caliber pistol and a .9 mm pistol from Eugenio’s residence. Judge Zapanta. Lanzanas remains detained at the Bureau He was detained at the Antipolo City Police Station, facing of Jail Management and Penology facility in Calamba City, charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition; similarly facing a nonbailable charge of illegal possession then released on bail. of firearms and explosives. The “Bloody Sunday” raids came merely two days after Elizabeth Camoral, former union leader and the President Duterte spoke before the Regional TF ELCAC in spokesperson of the BAYAN chapter in Laguna, was arrested Northern in March. He ordered the military during a raid by elements of the PRO 4A, CIDG RFU 4A, and the police that “if they find themselves in an armed CIDG NCRFU, SAF, and the 202nd Brigade and 2nd Infantry encounter with the communist rebels, kill them, make sure Division of the Philippine Army on the office of Defend Yulo you really kill them, and finish them off if they are alive,” Farmers in Brgy. San Isidro, Cabuyao, Laguna. She was with and to “forget human rights” in the process. others who slept in the office. They were made to lie on the floor. Their hands were tied with plastic cable wires, as the According to Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, the police and military supposedly recovered a .45 caliber pistol. PNP applied for 72 search warrants on March 1. Of the 63 The search warrant served during the raid was again issued applications in the Manila RTC, 42 were granted, while out by First Vice Executive Judge Dela Rosa. She was charged of the nine filed before Antipolo RTC, four were granted. with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and These warrants were used during the “Bloody Sunday” raids detained at the Cabuyao City Police Station. She was released on March 7. on bail on March 15. Weeks after the raids, another labor leader who is also one Another labor leader, Eugene Eugenio, president of of the paralegals assisting the victims of the Bloody Sunday Advancement of Right and Responsibilities of Organized raids and their families, was killed by unidentified assailants. Workers (ARROWS), a union of government employees in Dandy Miguel, the president of Lakas ng Nagkakaisang the Antipolo City Hall, and a member of the Rizal chapter of Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric (Strength of United Workers COURAGE, was arrested in his residence in Brgy. Dela Paz, in Fuji Electric) and a national council member of KMU, Antipolo City, Rizal by elements of the PRO 4A, CIDG RFU 4A, was gunned down in the evening of March 28 as he was on CIDG NCRFU, SAF, and the 202nd Brigade and 2nd Infantry his motorcycle on his way home from work at Fuji Electric January – March 2021 11

Philippines in Canlubang, Laguna. The assailants shot him Judicial harassment against eight times. His red t-shirt bearing the calls “Sahod, Trabaho human rights defenders at Karapatan, Ipaglaban!” (“Fight for Wages, Jobs, and Rights!”) was drenched in blood. In an interview prior to his killing with online news outfit Rappler, Miguel expressed Human rights defenders, including human rights workers fear for his personal safety as well as those of his fellow from Karapatan, have been and continue to be the target unionists and activists in Southern Tagalog following the of judicial harassment through this pattern of trumped-up “Bloody Sunday” raids. if not completely hogwash criminal charges filed in far- off places — usually ludicrously linking them to military On March 30, elements from the CIDG NCRFU and Region encounters with NPA rebels. 4A, PRO 4A, RMFB 4A, and the Sta. Rosa City Police Station raided the abandoned office of the Alyansa ng Manggagawa In January 2021, indigenous rights defender and Cordillera sa Engklabo (AMEN) in Brgy. Market Area, Sta. Rosa City, People’s Alliance (CPA) chairperson Windel Bolinget Laguna. Using an alleged search warrant for Maritess David, was belatedly made aware, through a reliable source, of member of AMEN and of OLALIA-KMU, the police allegedly trumped-up murder charges and an arrest warrant issued confiscated three M16 rifles, two carbine rifles, three .45 against him and several others. The Tagum, Davao del Norte caliber guns, nine grenades, 15 improvised explosive devices, RTC Branch 30 issued the warrant as early as on September “subversive” documents, as well as campaign placards and 25, 2020. Together with Bolinget, to be arrested were streamers which they paraded to the media as supposed Bayan’s Lutgardo Jurcales Jr., Karapatan National Council proof that progressive organizations in the regions are mere member Daisy “Jackie” Valencia, peasant leader Reynaldo “fronts” of “communist terrorist groups.” AMEN refuted the Gameng of Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon (DAGAMI) – KMP, PNP’s claims, saying that said office had been abandoned Makabayan’s Agnes Mesina, and six other individuals. for more than a year starting from the March lockdowns in They were charged with the alleged murder on March 22, 2020. A few workers visited the office on March 27, a day 2018 of Garito Tiklonay Malibato, a member of Karadyawan, before the raid, at 7:12 p.m., and took videos that showed an organization of indigenous peoples in Kapalong, Davao that the supposed confiscated items were not there. del Norte. Police Major Ruth Dizon, chief of the Kapalong Police Station, filed the complaint based on questionable testimonies of alleged former NPA members, more than two years after the killing of Malibato. The individuals they implicated were activists based in Luzon.

The PRO Cordillera placed a PHP 100,000 bounty on Bolinget’s head on January 15. Four days later, PRO Cordillera Director R’win Pagkalinawan issued a shoot-to-kill order against Bolinget “if nanlaban” or should he resist arrest. Bolinget sought custody of the Regional National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on January 21 following Pagkalinawan’s threats. On January 26 and February 2 and 5, Bolinget, Jurcales, Valencia, Mesina, and Gameng respectively filed their motions for reinvestigation and to suspend or recall the arrest warrants issued against them. The Tagum, Davao del Norte RTC Branch 30 granted the motions on February 19 as it had earlier granted a similar motion from Albert Mandin, another accused. 12 Karapatan Monitor

Karapatan chairperson Elisa “Tita” Lubi, Karapatan documented to be in a different place during the supposed – Southern Mindanao Region Secretary General Jayvee encounter between rebels and the military. The same goes “Jay” Apiag and Jong Monzon, secretary-general of for Lubi, who was also a 75 year old senior citizen at the time the Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern and physically incapable of engaging in any form of armed Mindanao (PASAKA-SMR), are currently facing an attempted combat with soldiers in the hinterlands of Mindanao. She murder charge. It was filed by Corporal Elvin Jay Claud was already “suffering from the usual conditions ailing for an alleged May 20, 2018 armed encounter between people of such advanced age” such as being overweight, elements of the NPA and the Philippine Army’s 89th Infantry hypertensive, and arthritic. Battalion, 10th Infantry Division in Sitio Balite, Brgy. Salapawan, Paquibato District, Davao City. The incident On March 21, around 5:00 a.m. Karapatan – paralegal supposedly occurred at 6:20 p.m. as his unit was conducting and Lumad-Manobo indigenous activist Renalyn Tejero a combat operation but were allegedly ambushed by an was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City. She was then loaded “undetermined number of communist terrorist armed in a red car without plates and brought to the Lapasan groups.” While taking cover and exchanging fire with the Police Station. After a while, she was transferred to another alleged ambushers, Claud supposedly was able to identify vehicle, then brought to the PRO 13 Headquarters at Camp with certainty Lubi, Apiag and Monzon along with two other Colonel Rafael Rodriguez in City, where she arrived individuals. The case was filed on June 3, 2020 — two years at 10:05 a.m. She reiterated her right to contact a lawyer or after the alleged encounter. her family but was once again denied. At 12 noon on the same day, a cop who introduced herself as someone from the On March 12 and 29, respectively, Apiag and Monzon and “women’s desk” talked to Tejero and asked her about some then Lubi filed before the Davao City RTC Branch 52 their individuals. At 1 p.m., a man, allegedly from the Office of the omnibus motions for reinvestigation of their cases and to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), subjected defer the implementation of the arrest warrants. As they her to interrogation for two hours. She was told that she was asserted in their motions, Apiag and Monzon were well- lucky that those from PRO 13 were the ones who arrested her,

Windel Bolinget (far left) and Renalyn Tejero. January – March 2021 13

Art by Huylen Counterterrorism in the arsenal of Duterte’s State terror

Amid the escalating attacks on activists, human rights defenders and peace advocates, the fight to junk the Anti- Terrorism Act before the Supreme Court has raged on with the oral arguments on the 37 petitions seeking to declare the new law unconstitutional. Despite the oral arguments and the petitions, however, the Duterte government wasted no time in wielding the Anti-Terrorism Act and other counterterrorism legislation and policies as tools of State terror.

On February 2, on the first day of the oral arguments, the draconian law’s first victims — detained Aeta farmers Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos — filed a petition for intervention in the oral arguments, with the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) as their counsels. In Facebook posts, NTF- ELCAC spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. because she might have ended up killed. Tejero answered a red-tagged Inquirer.net reporter Tetch Torres-Tupas for her few questions in relation to her work as a paralegal and that report on Gurung and Ramos’ petition. she would not “surrender” because she did not commit any offense. At around 3 p.m., the cop from the women’s desk A week later, on the second day of the oral arguments, came back to interrogate her. At 9 p.m., she was brought to Solicitor General Jose Calida announced that Gurung and the Butuan Medical Center and at 11 p.m., she was brought Ramos have withdrawn their petition and have dropped to the Butuan City Police Station 1. the NUPL as their counsels. This was after the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) talked to them According to the PNP, Tejero is facing murder and attempted without their counsels’ knowledge. Gurung and Ramos were murder charges. In the court documents against Tejero, accused of being NPA rebels who fired at members of the four soldiers of the 12th Scout Ranger Company of the 4th 73rd Division Reconnaissance company of the Philippine Scout Ranger Battalion of the Philippine Army said that they Army’s 7th Infantry Division on August 21, 2020. They were were able to identify all suspects, presumably including arrested in Sitio Lumibao, Brgy. Buhawen, San Marcelino, Tejero, in the alleged murder of Cpl. Marion Suson, in an Zambales as they were evacuating from their homes to avoid encounter with supposed NPA rebels on November 19, 2019. being caught in the crossfire between the military and the It was alleged that they were in “the same pictures of faces NPA. They were held for six days, during which time they at the O(r)der of Battle listed of the 4th Infantry Division, were interrogated and repeatedly beaten up while being Intelligence Section, Philippine Army.” The affidavits of forced to admit membership with the NPA. the four soldiers were the bases of the trumped-up murder charges against Tejero in the Cabadbaran City, Agusan del In the DILG’s Memorandum Circular No. 2021-012 dated Norte RTC aside from the attempted murder charges filed in January 28, 2021 civil society organizations, to determine the Lianga, Surigao de Sur RTC Branch 28. their “legitimacy,” are “required to secure clearances” from the AFP and PNP. They should be “cleared from any illegal and subversive activities” in order for them to be 14 Karapatan Monitor

accredited to join a local “People’s Council” of civil society organizations in locality. After advocacy and lobby efforts by non-government organizations and civil society, the DILG removed in May said provisions from the memorandum.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Note Verbale No. 2021-0592 dated February 5, 2021 notified all diplomatic missions to the Philippines that all foreign funding intended for Philippine non- government organizations (NGOs) shall be “coursed” through the agency “for appropriate clearance.” A set of guidelines for the implementation of the note verbale, which included vague provisions, was released in May. In a February 24, 2021 tweet, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. stated that the note verbale “doesn’t affect legit NGOs” for “it is how a responsible government monitors where Various groups gathered in front of the Supreme Court during money comes from and goes to in the face of insurgent the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments against the Anti- and terrorist-secessionist threats” and therefore “it should Terrorism Act of 2020, Feb 2, 2021. Photo from Inquirer.net encourage funding from the well-meaning to know their generosity is not misdirected to evil.” consultants and three peace panel members, including In a resolution dated March 12, 2021 the Anti-Money detained consultants Rey Claro Casambre, Vicente Ladlad Laundering Council (AMLC) ordered to freeze three and Adelberto Silva. ATC Vice Chairman and National bank accounts of the United Church of Christ in the Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced the Philippines (UCCP) Haran Center in Davao City through designation during the Supreme Court oral arguments on the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. the petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act on May 12. The The UCCP Haran Center has been a target of harassment designation list was published the following day, May 13. for providing sanctuary to bakwit Lumad communities who have fled their ancestral lands due to militarization. On May 31, Ladlad’s wife and Kapatid spokesperson, Fides In 2015, the police forcibly entered its compound, causing Lim, wrote to Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor and bodily harm to a number of community elders. Throughout AMLC chairperson Benjamin Diokno to lift the freeze order the years, there have been several raids and attempts on her husband’s two bank accounts, which contain funds to break into the sanctuary, including in January of last from the indemnification he received in line with the year. In September 2020, 48 church workers were faced Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. with ridiculous allegations of trafficking, child abuse While the immediate effect of designation under the Anti- and violation of international humanitarian law. They Terrorism Act should only be the freezing of assets of the were the same lies thrown by the government at the Rural named individuals by the AMLC and that individuals can Missionaries of the Philippines, whose bank accounts have petition for delisting, Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa also been frozen by the AMLC. The hearings at the Manila pointed out during the oral arguments that the process of RTC on the civil forfeiture of RMP’s assets continue, while designation by the ATC “already achieves the purpose of their bank accounts remain frozen. proscription,” even if it is a distinct judicial process.

In an April 21 resolution, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) Such terrorist-labelling has proven to be deadly. At least arbitrarily designated as “terrorists” 19 individuals allegedly seven individuals named in the proscription petition of linked to the CPP-NPA — among them 12 NDFP peace the Department of Justice in 2018 have been murdered, January – March 2021 15

including Karapatan human rights worker Zara Alvarez and With a bamboo cart and cardboard signs with texts “magbigay peace consultants Randy Malayao and Randall Echanis. The ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” ATC’s designation of peace consultants is a virtual hit list (“give what you can, take what you need”), young furniture — it is red-tagging in its most blatant and most dangerous. designer Ana Patricia Non started a makeshift pantry With the Duterte government’s counterinsurgency drive to outside a food park along Maginhawa St. in Quezon City wipe out the CPP-NPA before the end of his term, we can on April 14. Non first stocked the pantry with vegetables only expect more names and dead bodies to come. which she bought from nearby vendors. There were also other basic necessities such as rubbing alcohol, face masks, canned goods, and rice. Two days later, on April 16, a group of farmers from Paniqui, Tarlac, sent over sacks of sweet potatoes for the community pantries in Maginhawa and Demonizing community Matiyaga streets. In the days that followed, donations big pantries, mutual aid, and and small began pouring into the community pantry. solidarity Non said she started the pantry because she was already tired of the government’s inaction. The initiative attracted Amid the government’s refusal to heed the calls for more poor residents in nearby barangays to line up and get government aid and subsidy to augment the effects of what they needed. But even the emergence of community unemployment brought by the COVID-19 lockdowns, pantries was not spared from red-tagging and profiling, as mutual aid initiatives and community solidarity efforts organizers such as Non reported being harassed. Others began sprouting to provide aid to communities — a display were repeatedly approached by policemen to fill up forms of the Filipino true bayanihan spirit and collective power. or to ask for their personal information and organizational It was also a damning indictment of the government’s affiliations. Some community pantries were forced to criminal neglect of the people’s welfare. temporarily cease operations due to intimidation from

Ana Patricia Non started the Maginhawa Community Pantry, such bayanihan concept inspired other organizers; there is a total of 358 community pantries organized in the country as of May 2021. Photo from Anjo Lapresca 16 Karapatan Monitor

the police. Non temporary halted the operations of the Leonardo “Cong” Corrales, an associate editor of Gold Star community pantry in Maginhawa on April 20 following Daily, was red-tagged after writing about the Kauswagan Facebook posts from the Quezon City Police District community pantry. Corrales has been subjected to and the NTF-ELCAC red-tagging her and the community numerous red-tagging incidents on social media and in pantry. She feared for the safety of the initiative’s volunteers. anti-communist propaganda materials. Recently, he again However, Non and other community pantry organizers have found his photograph in fliers linking him to the organizers continued to operate. of the community pantry in Brgy. Kauswagan. On April 25, fliers were seen in different parts of Cagayan de Oro City, In Cagayan de Oro City, Rene Principe Jr. set up the once again red-tagging Corrales. Kauswagan community pantry on April 18 which was red-tagged just a day after it started operations. Fliers On April 21, policemen from the Pandacan Police Station were given to his neighbors linking such community went to the community pantry put up by Marikit pantry to the CPP. Principe said that he was inspired by the Arellano in Pandacan, Manila and questioned Arellano community pantry in Maginhawa and only got the money and her brother. The policemen handed them a form from from his own pocket. After the incident, Principe announced the Joint Industrial Peace Concern Office, the PNP’s arm in a Facebook post that the community pantry that he put against “radical labor infiltration” in support of the NTF- up will be stopped, and all the donations gathered were to ELCAC, to be filled up with their personal profile and details. be given to nearby community pantries. On the same day, Fearing for their safety, Arellano’s brother accomplished the in another pantry organized by Norkhalila Mae and forms on the spot. The next day, they closed the pantry due Abdelnur Campong outside their restaurant in Cagayan to police harassment. De Oro City, men who identified themselves as “police intel” started asking them questions regarding the In a Facebook post on the same day, ARMY Cavite Fanbase, donors of the pantry. The men were in plainclothes and a group of fans of K-pop boy group BTS based in Cavite, did not state their names nor presented any identification was forced to clarify that their name has nothing to do documents. with the NPA after they were red-tagged in messages and comments for setting up a community pantry.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, in a radio interview on April 27, further threatened to close down community pantries should they fail to adhere to quarantine protocols as his undersecretaries called for the imposition of permits for community pantries. The threats of closure and requiring permits were widely slammed as an avenue for more police harassment of community pantries and their organizers.

On the same day, volunteers of Kabataan Partylist – Quinto were harassed by officers of the Estancia Municipal Police Office while they were distributing food at the Tulong Kabataan Community Kitchen in town. The police reportedly gatecrashed the premises and asked for the names of the volunteers. They forcibly took pictures of Community pantry organizers in Pandacan were questioned some of the volunteers without their consent. The police and profiled by the Pandacan Police Station on April 21. officers asked for the names of the organizers along with Photo from Marikit Arellano their contact details and other private information. January – March 2021 17

The directive to profi le community pantry organizers and other organizers of mutual aid initiatives was confi rmed by none other than Parlade on April 20. He also compared Non and the spread of community pantry initiatives to Satan. The NTF-ELCAC vice chairman further cemented this directive in a press conference the following day, April 21, when he stated that the NTF-ELCAC is “also [looking] into organizers especially if they advertise their organization that would be traced to the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA.”

Drug war killings and quarantine violence

Duterte shows a compilation of pictures of individuals As the crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic rages allegedly involved in drugs in a 2017 meeting in Davao. Photo on along with Duterte’s dirty and murderous war on drug by Lean David Jr/IPI/R and dissent, drug-related killings continue unabated. In this 2021’s fi rst months, Dahas — a collaborative project was drug-related. What is certain is that the crime was by the UP Third World Studies Center, the University of committed amid the violence spawned by the war against Antwerp, and Ghent University on drug-related killings and illegal drugs that the Duterte administration unleashed violence in the Philippines — documented 186 reported almost fi ve years ago.” drug-related killings alone from January to March of 2021. Despite the public outcries on police violence and brutality both in the context of the Duterte government’s drug war and Of the 186 killed, Dahas found that at least 137 were killed its spill-over into the militarist, punitive, and police-heavy by State agents such as the police, 41 were slain by still approach in enforcing quarantine protocols, incidents unidentifi ed gunmen, while the assailants for eight victims of violence and human rights abuses against so-called are still unknown. The report of Dahas noted that the data “violators” continue to hound the government’s pandemic for said months is a “striking” 44% increase from the response — eff ectively punishing ordinary individuals for number of drug-related killings reported during the last the government’s callous and brazen criminal neglect of the quarter of 2020. people’s welfare.

One of the victims noted by Dahas is an unidentifi ed male Thousands continue to be arrested and thrown into found in Victorias City, Negros Occidental last March overcrowded and cramped detention cells, with the PNP 8: “His face was wrapped in plastic and packaging tape, reporting the arrest of 6,498 quarantine violators in his limbs tied together, and his ears apparently ripped by the National Capital Region from March 15 to 17 alone, a bullet that exited through the neck. Later examination following the implementation of curfew hours. revealed broken ribs. Placed beside the body was a placard that said, ‘I love drugs,’ and the name of a woman believed For allegedly violating community quarantine regulations, to be the next target.” The Dahas report said that the corpse 21-year-old Darren Manaog Peñaredondo, who had a heart “bore all the familiar marks of a drug war body dump, but problem, died on April 2 after being forced to do 300 rounds police offi cials would not categorically say that the killing of pumping exercise in General Trias, Cavite. 18 Karapatan Monitor

On April 9, 26-year-old Ernanie Jimenez died after being beaten up by barangay tanod for allegedly violating curfew rules in Calamba City, Laguna.

Despite concerns raised on the cases of deaths involving penalties for violations of quarantine protocols as well as overcrowding in detention facilities, President Duterte ordered the police to arrest people who are improperly wearing their face masks during a televised meeting with the officials of the government’s pandemic task force on May 5.

Deaths behind bars: the worsening conditions of Jose Canlas political prisoners and was intubated. He had diabetes and hypertension. Canlas was arrested on March 30 by elements of the CIDG Amid the arrests of thousands of quarantine violators RFU during a raid on the office of the Alyansa ng mga and the overcrowding crisis in detention facilities, urgent Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL) in Mabalacat, calls for the humanitarian release of political prisoners, Pampanga. The police were able to allegedly recover a .45 especially sick and elderly detainees, remain unheeded. caliber revolver, ammunition, and hand grenade inside a Instead, arrests of activists, human rights defenders, and blue bag that belonged to Canlas in the AMGL office. Canlas political dissenters continue unabated. The threat of the was charged with cases of illegal possession of firearms COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the conditions in and explosives. The police added that an arrest warrant for jails and the predicament of political prisoners. Some of malicious mischief was also issued against him. Canlas was them are already dying behind bars due to various illnesses brought to the PRO 3 headquarters in Camp Olivas. — including COVID-19. Redota and Canlas are the eighth and ninth political pris- On May 9, 68-year-old political prisoner Maximo Redota, oners to die in detention under the Duterte administration. who was detained in the Gumaca District Jail in Quezon, On May 19, Canlas’s children Jenelle and Joseph filed a succumbed to stroke. He also had chronic kidney disease complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the aside from the heart ailment. He died without having Pampanga jail officials for “neglect[ing] to provide [their received sufficient medical attention. father] with immediate medical care despite the fact that he was already seriously ill when he was transferred to the A few days later, detained peasant leader Jose “Joseph” regular detention facility.” Canlas, vice chairperson of KMP, passed away on May 11 at the Intensive Care Unit of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Women political prisoners have also continued to suffer the Regional Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga. He inhumanity of being separated from — and the tragic deaths has been confined since the evening of May 7, when he of — their newborn children. Just four months after the experienced difficulty in breathing. Sources reported that death of Baby River, the newborn daughter, Baby Carlen, of Canlas tested positive for COVID-19 in an antigen test. He political detainee Nona Espinosa died on February 14 due was in critical condition with low oxygen saturation level to a lung and blood infection after having been hospitalized January – March 2021 19

for a few days because of low hemoglobin count. Espinosa gave birth to Baby Carlen at the Provincial Hospital in the first week of January. They were separated three days later. Baby Carlen was born with a cleft palate and had breathing problems.

The growing death toll of elderly and sickly political prisoners as well as the deaths of the newborn babies of women political detainees are even worse punishments than their unjust detention. Their deaths already execute a de facto death sentence — one brought by the deliberate indifference and neglect of the State, especially under the Duterte government.

Aldren Enriquez

NPA rebel, but he supposedly resisted arrest and allegedly Worsening fascist attacks fought back. According to Karapatan – Bicol, on November on the people 19, 2020, counter-affidavits were submitted to the fiscal for a case filed against Enriquez in September 2020. He did not receive any resolution from the fiscal, so he did not know With Duterte’s terror law in effect, the NTF-ELCAC brutal that there was an arrest warrant against him contrary to the counterinsurgency drive has continued to perpetrate PNP’s statements. grave human rights abuses, war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, and other bloody and In Antique. On January 21, at around 8 a.m., Vernel fascist attacks on the people. A growing death toll of activists Mondreal was blocked by men riding four motorcycles and human rights defenders is on the regime’s hands. in an area between Brgy. Salvacion and Brgy. Igdalaquit in Sibalom. He was on his way to Sibalom’s Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office where he works as Extrajudicial killings and frustrated a rescuer. One of the men shot him with a .45 caliber pistol, extrajudicial killings hitting him several times on the head and chest, killing him instantly. Mondreal was the human rights coordinator in In Camarines Sur. On January 6, human rights worker Brgy. Igpanolong. He was also the coordinator of the farmers’ Aldren Enriquez was gunned down just behind his house association Katilingban sang Mangunguma sa Antique in Brgy. Sagrada, Iriga City by about 30 armed men. They (KAMAAN). His family and people from his barrio attested make up a combined force of the 83rd Infantry Battalion that Mondreal had no personal enemies, and they suspect of the Philippine Army, Camarines Sur Provincial Police that State agents were behind his killing given the planned Office, and Iriga City Police Station. Enriquez sustained and organized manner by which he was gunned down. more than 30 gunshot wounds. Aside from guarding his community against the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, In Sorsogon. On January 24, Michael Bagasala was shot Enriquez was an active member of Camarines Sur People’s dead by State agents in Brgy. San Antonio, Barcelona. Organization, an organization affiliated with Karapatan Witnesses recalled that Bagasala was killed by men who – Bicol, which deals with human rights issues in the presented themselves as members of the CIDG and the community. The operatives claimed that they were serving Gubat Municipal Police Station. Soldiers from the 31st an arrest warrant against Enriquez and tagged him as an Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army served as guards 20 Karapatan Monitor

and lookouts. Contrary to the claim that Bagasala resisted firefight that resulted in his death. The police alleged that he arrest, witnesses said that he was first tortured when he was a high-ranking member of the NPA operating in Cagayan refused to yield to the operatives’ pressure to identify the Valley, and is listed as a wanted person with a PhP 150,000 whereabouts of his brother and other relatives. Michael reward for his capture. was a former member of the NPA and surrendered to the authorities in 2018. He was the son of Karapatan human In Surigao del Norte. On January 29, at 6:30 p.m., Noel rights worker Nelly Bagasala, who was killed together with Degamon Jr. was shot dead in Brgy. Luna, Surigao City by Ryan Hubilla in June 2019. suspected State agents. Degamon was a member of the NPA operating in Surigao del Sur until 2014 when he left the NPA In Isabela. In the morning of January 26, combined forces of and then settled in Brgy. San Roque, Surigao City. Due to the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, the 205th the pressure of frequent Community Service Program (CSP) Maneuver Forces, and the San Agustin Municipal Police under the NTF-ELCAC in their area, Degamon surrendered Station trooped to Brgy. Palacian, San Agustin purportedly on October 27, 2020 to also “clear” his name. Several former to serve an arrest warrant against Renato Busania, a farmer NPAs in Surigao del Sur have already been forced and and a resident of Brgy. Salay, Maddela, Quirino, for murder pressured to surrender like Christian Parajes Romero who charges issued by the Echague, Isabela RTC. The Isabela afterwards was arrested and charged with a fabricated case. Police Provincial Office claimed in a statement that Busania tried to escape, resisted arrest and fought back in an ensuing In Negros Occidental. On February 2, around 6 a.m., Antonio “Cano’ Arellano was shot dead by four unidentified TABLE 2 men in Brgy. Jonob-jonob, Escalante City. Arellano was the chairman of Paghiliusa sa Mangunguma sa Sitio Binabono Victims of Extrajudicial Killing and Enforced in said barangay, which is under the National Federation Disappearance under the Rodrigo Duterte Government (July 2016 to March 2021) of Sugar Workers (NFSW). Arellano was shot on his head, arm, and hand. His killing coincided with the first day Extrajudicial Enforced Region of the oral arguments on the petitions against the Anti- Killing Disappearance Terrorism Act (ATA) before the Supreme Court. The NFSW is Ilocos 5 - a member organization of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa Cordillera Administrative Region 4 - sa Agrikultura (UMA), which is one of the petitioners under Cagayan Valley 6 - the Council for People’s Development and Governance Central Luzon 11 1 (CPDG), against the ATA. In the affidavit submitted by UMA National Capital Region 2 1 before the Supreme Court as part of the petition of the Southern Tagalog 31 2 CPDG, the arrest of more than 50 activists in Bacolod City Bicol 54 - on October 31, 2019 was mentioned. Among them were 49 - Western Visayas several members of NFSW. Also cited was the arrest of 51 1 Rene Manlangit and Rogelio Arquillo, Jr., who were falsely Eastern Visayas 9 1 accused as masterminds of the massacre of nine sugarcane Northern Mindanao 24 - farmers in Sagay in October 2018. Caraga 30 1 SoCSKSargen 38 4 On April 15, Jesus Pason Jr. was driving his tricycle, as Western Mindanao 1 - his passenger alighted in Zone 4, Sitio Basurahan, Brgy. Southern Mindanao 56 1 Mambulac, Silay City, when he was suddenly shot in the ARMM 23 6 head by unidentified men riding-in-tandem using .45 TOTAL 394 18 caliber pistol. A witness saw an orange motorcycle fleeing Women 57 4 the crime scene. He was still conscious and was immediately Rights defenders 207 8 rushed to the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital January – March 2021 21

TABLE 3 Victims of Extrajudicial Killing and Enforced Disappearance under the Rodrigo Duterte Government By Sector (July 2016 to March 2021)

Extrajudicial Enforced Region Killing Disappearance Church 7 - Entrepreneur 8 - Environmentalist 16 - Fisherfolk 3 - Government Employee 40 1 Jesus Pason, Jr Indigenous People 71 6 Peasant 313 15 but was later declared dead by the attending physician past Teacher 2 - 2 p.m. Pason is a member of Pasil Homeowners Association, Urban Poor 3 - Inc. and KADAMAY – Negros. Lawyer 2 - Human Rights worker 19 1 In Bulacan. Romeo “Romy” Loyola Torres, a member Worker 18 - of Samahang Magsasaka sa San Mateo, was last seen late Youth and Student 16 - on February 3. He was in his farm to pick up crops when Cultural Worker 2 - he was apprehended by alleged paid goons and security Moro 47 3 guards of Royal Moluccan Realty Holdings, Inc. in Sitio 13 - Compra, Norzagaray, Bulacan. He went missing since. On Transport 4 - February 5, his body was found riddled with bullets inside Health a plastic drum thrown in a mill in San Miguel, Mabitac, Minor 14 1 Laguna, about 100 kilometers from Bulacan. His body was positively identified by his family who had been looking for him. Police investigators said his body bore gunshots Tasic was a campaigner of Anakpawis Partylist and she was in the mouth, chest and body. He was hog-tied with a black constantly red-tagged for her affiliation with AP. She was shirt, stuffed in a plastic drum and covered with concrete. also continuously harassed by State forces who wanted Torres and his fellow farmers have been receiving threats her to “clear” her name and quit Anakpawis. The attacks and experiencing harassment because of their constant against her became worse when her daughter married the assertion of their right to the 75.5 hectares of land under the son of Domingo Compoc, whom the military accused of Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) program. According being an NPA commander. Domingo’s brother, Pelagio to KMP, the land dispute in Sitio Compra has been going on Compoc, a farmer and barangay tanod, was also shot dead since 2007, with Torres as among those who opposed the by unidentified men on January 22, 2020 after being visited land grabbing by Royal Moluccan Realty Holdings, Inc. The by suspected State agents. farmers were being evicted from their land. In Iloilo. At around 9 a.m. on February 28, Brgy. Roosevelt, In Bohol. On February 16, around 10 a.m., Lucresia Tasic, Tapaz, Capiz chief Julie Catamin was killed by unidentified barangay councilor of Brgy. Hanopol Norte, Balilihan, assailants riding-in-tandem in Brgy. Malitbog Centro, was gunned down inside her house by two unidentified Calinog, Iloilo while on a motorcycle driving back to Capiz. men aboard a white van. The assailants introduced According to a witness, two shots hit Catamin on the back themselves as employees of the Provincial Capitol and and caused Catamin to crash on the side of the road. The were supposed to conduct “operation tuli (circumcision).” assailants then shot Catamin four more times before fleeing. 22 Karapatan Monitor

As the chief of Brgy. Roosevelt, Catamin was vocal in condemning the arrest of four barangay residents in the simultaneous raids on Tumandok communities on December 30, 2020. The barangay chief was among the first to blow the whistle on the mass arrests, claiming in a Facebook post that the ammunition and arms supposedly recovered by the police from four of those arrested in Brgy. Roosevelt, were planted. In the same Facebook post, Catamin sought help from government agencies regarding the arrests. Catamin further attested during media interviews that those arrested were constituents of the barangay and not members of the NPA.

As the legal proceedings against those arrested progressed, elements of the CIDG and Philippine Army reportedly visited Catamin. On February 25, Lt. Col. Ronald Estrada A nun rings a bell to call for an end to the spate of killings of summoned Catamin to the headquarters of the PA’s 61st activists and human rights workers. Photo by Jire Carreon Infantry Battalion in Calinog, Iloilo. Estrada warned that relatives of the arrested residents should not avail of the TABLE 5 services of Bayan Muna lawyers. He also threatened Catamin that failure to comply meant losing the case and a repeat of Victims of Extrajudicial Killing and Enforced Disappearance under the Rodrigo Duterte Government the December 30, 2020 killings. In the afternoon of February By Affiliation (July 2016 to March 2021) 27, two from CIDG again visited and talked with Catamin. On the same day, after attending the wake of a relative in Sector Extrajudicial Killing Enforced Disappearance Brgy. Maspasan, Calinog, Iloilo, Catamin was followed by Anakpawis 28 1 armed men on his way home. At 7 a.m. on February 28, two Balatik 2 - men again came looking for Catamin but were told that the Bayan 3 - barangay chief was at the wake of a relative. Bayan Muna 8 - CPA 1 - On March 3, at around 9:15 p.m., human rights lawyer Gabriela 1 - Angelo Karlo Guillen was attacked and stabbed on the head Kadamay 1 - with a screwdriver in Iloilo City by two men wearing masks Kaluhhamin 8 2 and bonnets. Guillen stopped struggling and pretended to Kalumbay 6 - Karapatan 15 - be dead. Barangay tanods who heard him calling for help Kasalo 5 - came near and shouted at the attacking men. The attackers Katribu 2 - fled in separate motorcycles, each driven by another man, KMP 101 1 apparently waiting nearby and ready to go. They took KMU 9 - Guillen’s backpack with personal belongings and a shoulder NDFP peace 14 1 bag containing his laptop, external disk for backup files consultants/staff and case documents. His wallet and smartphone, which NUPL 1 - were inside his pockets, were not taken. The documents of Pamalakaya 3 - all his cases were in the laptop and external disk. Guillen Pasaka 13 - PCPR 1 - is the secretary general of the NUPL chapter in Panay. He RMP 1 - has been red-tagged in posters in Iloilo City as “defenders Others 25 3 of terrorists” in 2018 due to his work in handling the cases January – March 2021 23

Serving the poor: People's lawyer Atty. AK Guillen (far left) and peace consultant Rustico Tan. Photo by NUPL, Panay Today

of political prisoners and other victims of human rights Raids, illegal arrests and detention violations. Guillen survived the attempt on his life and is currently recovering and in stable condition. In Cagayan. On January 2, Martin Reyes was requested, through village head Rolly Pilios, to appear at the Municipal On May 28, 75-year-old NDFP peace consultant Reynaldo Office of Sto. Niño to receive financial aid. Reyes, his wife Bocala and his 60-year-old aide Welly Arguelles Epago and their village head were fetched by a police mobile. Upon were killed in a police raid in Brgy. Balabag, Pavia. Operatives arrival, however, Reyes was dragged inside the Sto. Niño from the CIDG Western Visayas, the Regional Intelligence Municipal Police Station and was forced by policemen to Group, and the AFP reportedly served four warrants of arrest sign a document even though he cannot write. When Reyes against Bocala. Among those retrieved by the police is a requested to go to the comfort room, he was escorted to a document of identification with the number PP 978525 by the comfort room in one of the cells. Upon entering the cell, the NDFP citing Bocala as its consultant for Visayas who should police immediately locked him inside. His wife and their thereby be protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety village head raised concern on the incident, but a cop only and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Bocala is the husband of said that Martin has an arrest warrant for murder in 2017 peace consultant Ma. Concepcion “Concha” Araneta-Bocala, and showed them a copy of the said warrant that was issued who was among those arbitrarily designated as terrorist in by Judge Francisco Donato of the Ballesteros, Cagayan RTC the list released by the ATC last May 13. Branch 33in. After two days of detention at the Sto. Niño Municipal Police Station, Reyes was brought to Ballesteros In Cebu. On the same day as the killing of Bocala and Epago District Jail to await trial. on May 28, former Roman Catholic priest Rustico Tan, 80 years old, was sleeping in a hammock when he was fatally On February 8, elements from the Cagayan Police Provincial shot on his face and torso in Purok Caimito, Brgy. Upper Office arrested barangay chief Ruben Salvador in Brgy. Poblacion, Pilar, Camotes Islands. He was abducted and Agaman Norte, Baggao. The police reportedly presented a detained in 2017 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on trumped- search warrant issued by Judge Sheila Gacutan-Labuguen of up charges of murder, which were dismissed in 2019. He the Baggao Municipal Trial Court. The police allegedly found was charged with a slew of similar cases in Bacolod City firearms and ammunition, and a mortar during the search in 2019 but was released from prison in March 2020 on on his house, which became the basis for the charge of recognizance. Tan had previously served as a consultant of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Colonel Ariel the NDFP in the 1980s but has retired and was engaged in Quilang, director of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office, community organic farming initiatives. confirmed the arrest and said that the PNP has information 24 Karapatan Monitor

that Salvador harbors members of the NPA whenever they a medical certificate issued by the Health Action for Human visit the barangay. Salvador is currently detained at the Rights, Rimando is in an advanced stage of liver cirrhosis, Baggao Municipal Police Station. chronic hepatitis B, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, statis dermatitis. It still has to be ruled out if he also has On March 24, armed with a search warrant, elements of the peripheral vascular disease. Cagayan Provincial Police Office raided the house of Calixto Cabildo in Brgy. Manalo, Amulung. They allegedly found In Negros Occidental. On January 13, at around 2 a.m., a .38 caliber pistol, ammunition and a hand grenade. The elements of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine search warrant was issued by Judge Salvador Campos of Army raided the residence of spouses Marlyn and Edwin the 5th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Amulung, Madin in Hacienda Ambulong, Brgy. San Fernando, Talisay Cagayan. His arrest came after Cabildo repeatedly refused City. The soldiers also took custody of a two-month baby boy, the offers of intelligence officers who frequented his house a relative of the Madin couple. The two were then brought to spy on progressives in exchange for monetary rewards. In to the Talisay City Police Station for questioning and were October 2020, he was red-tagged and the police announced released thereafter. The military however continued to that he should “clear” his name and “surrender.” In March cordon off the area while combat operations continued. The 2021, cops and army intelligence officers visited him twice baby boy was later turned over to the custody of Talisay City’s and told Cabildo to report to the Cagayan Provincial Police local social welfare office. The raiding team did not present Office since his name was listed as a member of the NPA any warrant to support their action but made a statement militia in the village. A dialogue transpired between Cabildo that the operation was a response to unsubstantiated reports and the local police chief inside the mayor’s office. During of NPA presence. In statements released to the media, said meeting, Cabildo, as the chairman of Anakpawis Philippine Army officials such as Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Partylist in the province, asserted the legitimate nature of Alvaran, commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion, and his organizations’ aims and activities. Cabildo is facing false Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives Division, publicly condemned the purported mother of the and is currently detained at the Amulong Municipal Police baby boy whom they identified only with an alias. Station.

In Quezon City. On January 6, at about 1:10 pm., four officers from CIDG NCR rushed to a house in Brgy. Payatas B and arrested Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr. While they were in Rimando’s place, the officers kept on hitting and harassing him when not satisfied with his responses to their questions and accusations. During this time, Rimando demanded to see the warrant to challenge its validity. The arresting officers failed to present a warrant and did not read him his Miranda rights. Because of Rimando’s repeated complaints, the policemen were forced to call a representative from the barangay. He was later brought to the CIDG NCR office. He later learned that the warrant for his arrest was issued for a certain Allan Morales. The PNP presented Rimando as a high-ranking member of the CPP. He is presently detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

Rimando is a peasant organizer of the NFSW and, since

2020, had been in for medical treatment. In Ernesto Jude Rimando Jr. January – March 2021 25

L to R: Isaias Geñorga, Gina Tutor and Rogelio de Asis

In Bulacan. On January 18, six farmers in Norzagaray were during the operation were brought out of their residences. arrested by the police and charged with theft by the Royal Minutes later, the state security forces went on a “planting Moluccan Realty Holdings, Inc. The PNP apprehended the rampage” -- a gun in the house of Dela Cruz; explosive farmers through warrants of arrest. They were identifi ed devices in the house of Jerry; and three rifl e grenades and as Salvacion Abonilla, John Jason Abonilla, Jenny Capa, two hand grenades in the house of Herminiano. The three Marilyn Olpos, Catherine Magdato, and Eden Gualberto are currently detained at the Cauayan City Police Station. who are all members of Samahang Magsasaka ng San Mateo (SAMA-SAMA), an affi liate of Alyansa ng Magbubukid In Agusan del Norte. On February 5, elements from Butuan sa Bulacan – KMP. On January 14, at least 14 farmers City Police Offi ce onboard two SUVs arrived at a house affi liated with SAMA-SAMA were charged with theft as the where Isaias Geñorga was staying, served the warrant of guard of the Royal Moluccan Realty Holdings, Inc. caught arrest related to the alleged NPA killing of Corporal Mario them harvesting coconut fruits inside the disputed 75.5 P. Suson on November 20, 2019 and brought him to Camp hectares of agricultural land which the farmers have been Rafael Rodriguez in Libertad, Butuan City, and 18 other cultivating for more than three decades. Said land is part activists are implicated in the case. Geñorga was 72 years of a Notice of Coverage under the Comprehensive Agrarian old at the time of the arrest; he is a known and long-time Reform Program (CARP) via Compulsory Acquisition. Royal activist in Butuan City. He has two other cases fi led against Moluccan Realty Holdings, Inc.’s eff orts to exempt the him while four more cases were earlier dismissed. On property from the program became fruitless as the Court of March 4, he underwent medical check-up and RT-PCR test Appeals recently issued an order for the distribution of the for COVID-19 prior to his transfer to Cabadbaran Municipal land to qualifi ed benefi ciaries. The Municipal and Provincial Jail. The following day, he was told that he tested positive Agrarian Reform Offi ces have yet to act on the order. but was not shown the result. He was then put in isolation.

In Isabela. On January 23, around 6 p.m., elements from On February 6, Gina Tutor, Gabriela Women’s Partylist Cauayan City Police Station, the 1st and 2nd Provincial coordinator in the province, was arrested inside her home in Mobile Force Company, the Isabela Provincial Police Offi ce, Buenavista. Elements from PNP and CIDG served the warrant and the 86th and 95th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine of arrest in relation to the alleged ambush of government Army, simultaneously raided the houses of Virgilio Dela troops by the NPA on April 3, 2016 in Sitio Kantikol, Brgy. Cruz Jr., Jerry Ramos and Herminiano Ramos in Brgy. Telesfora, Tubay. She was also brought to Camp Rafael Villafl or, Cauayan City. The police and military presented a Rodriguez by the CIDG. She was transferred to Butuan City search warrant issued by Cauayan City, Isabela RTC Branch Police Station 3. Tutor was set to undergo tests for her heart 20 Judge Reymundo Aumentado. Family members present condition last March. Under the Duterte administration, 26 KARAPATAN Monitor

she has been red-tagged along with Gabriela – Caraga’s Atel he became involved with fi sherfolks in Buenavista and Hijos. Following the barrage of trumped-up charges against organized education campaigns about the Fisheries Code activists in Agusan del Norte, she performed paralegal work. of 1998. Two murder cases fi led against him in 2020 were Three other cases fi led against her that are related to NPA earlier dismissed. activities were earlier dismissed while warrants of arrest were issued for two other cases against her with similar On March 17, Rosanilla “Lai” Consad was arrested through nature. an arrest warrant issued by the Tubay-Santiago, Agusan del Norte Municipal Circuit Trial Court on charges of attempted On February 11, members of PRO 13 and the CIDG went to the homicide. Consad is the present assistant principal of house of Rogelio de Asis in Brgy. Matabao, Buenavista to San Vicente National High School in Butuan City and the serve a warrant for his arrest but he was not in his home. The regional secretary general of the Alliance of Concerned police proceeded to the house of his brother and pressured Teachers (ACT) in Caraga. She was released on bail on March him to look for De Asis, who begged him to surrender. De 19. The court dismissed the charge against her on June 7. Asis was arrested for murder in relation to the March 19, 2020 killing in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. Rogelio was fi rst On May 14, 70-year-old peasant leader and former political brought to Camp Rafael Rodriguez but was later brought to prisoner Virgilio “Yoyong” Lincuna, a leader of KMP’s the Buenavista Municipal Jail where he remains detained. Caraga chapter was arrested in Butuan City based on a De Asis owns a small t-shirt printing shop in Buenavista trumped-up charge of two counts of murder. Lincuna was and an active member of the Promotion of Church People's fi rst arrested on October 10, 2019 on another trumped-up Response (PCPR) in Agusan del Norte. Through PCPR charge of attempted murder but he was released on bail

Celebrating Father's Day with a call for freedom for all political prisoners. Photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta/PDI January – March 2021 27

after several days in detention. KMP said that he suffers from partial paralysis due to stroke -- “he can barely walk and needs constant assistance in his daily activities.” He is currently detained at the Lianga Municipal Police Station in Surigao del Sur.

In Surigao del Norte. On February 6, elements from CIDG and PRO 13 aboard four SUVs arrived at the house of Liza Relliquette in Mainit, Surigao del Norte. They proceeded to serve the arrest warrant against Vilma Yecyec in relation to an alleged violation of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity and for murder. Yecyec was brought to Camp Rafael Rodriguez. Sixteen other activists and civilians are likewise implicated. Yecyec has been a Tribal leaders, Lumad youth and their teacehers in detention health worker for more than 40 years and has been the in . Photo by NUPL project coordinator of the Visayas Mindanao Regional Office for Development of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente since by officials of the USC and Fr. Rogelio Bag-ao, provincial 2010. Former trumped-up charges of double murder and supervisor of Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Southern murder against her were earlier dismissed by the courts. Philippines, who stressed that there were no indications that the children’s stay at the retreat house was without the In Cebu. On February 15, three Lumad students, two tribal consent of their parents. A joint statement by the SVD and leaders, and two volunteer teachers were arrested by the the USC questioned the need for police force in the light of operatives of the Women and Children Protection Center of previous correspondence leading to the agreed-upon return the PRO 7 and social workers from the Cebu City Department of some children ready to go home, which were delayed due of Social Welfare Services in what they said was a “rescue to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. They also stated that operation” of 19 Lumad minors inside a bakwit school at the communication between the students and their families retreat house in the (USC). Without were maintained throughout the duration of their stay getting consent from school administrators or prior notice inside the USC campus. and without presenting any legal document to justify the operation, the police forcibly took 22 Lumad students along Several videos posted by the Save Our Schools Network–Cebu with the two teachers and two tribal elders who were taking on Facebook showed Lumad children screaming and crying, care of the children. Immediately brought to an undisclosed obviously much upset with the presence of the police. They “safehouse” were 19 students. Moddie Monsimuy-at, belied police claims that it was a “rescue operation.” What Jomar Benag, Esmelito Oribawan, Datu Benito Bay-ao, they showed was that it was a police raid. The police filed Datu Segundo Milong and volunteer teacher Chad Errol complaints of kidnapping, child exploitation, and human Booc were taken to the PRO 7 headquarters in Camp Sergio trafficking against Booc, Porcadilla, Datu Bay-ao, Datu Osmena. Volunteer teacher Roshelle Mae Porcadilla was Milong, Benag, Oribawan, and Mansimuy-at. These charges brought to the Cebu City Police Office in Camp Sotero were eventually dismissed by the Davao del Norte provincial Cabahug. prosecutor. The victims of police abuse were released from detention on May 14, but the NTF-ELCAC boasted that they The police claimed that the Lumad students in the bakwit intend to file new cases against them. school were taken without the consent of their parents and made to undergo “warfare training” to become “child Furthermore, 13 minors among the Lumad students were warriors” for the NPA. The police claim was contradicted illegally flown to Talking, Davao del Norte. One Lumad child 28 Karapatan Monitor

was taken back by his father on March 12 after a favorable of Julie Lago when soldiers from the 12th Infantry Battalion decision of the court on his petition for the writ of habeas of the Philippine Army raided the residence. Some soldiers corpus. entered the house and after a while, gunshots were heard outside. Fernando and Lago were ordered to go out of the In Occidental Mindoro. On February 23, at about noon, three house. When they went back inside, a .45 caliber pistol, two non-uniformed men and three policemen led by Captain magazines, and seven bullets, some parts of an improvised Ariel Roldan, chief of the Rizal Municipal Police Station, explosive device, gadgets and “subversive documents” arrested Genalyn Avelino inside her house in Saulog were already laid out. The Philippine Army later reported Estate in Brgy. Adela, Rizal. The warrant for her arrest was that what happened was an encounter with the NPA and based on a rebellion charge filed before the Roxas, Oriental Fernando was arrested afterwards. They brought Fernando Mindoro RTC Branch 43. Avelina is an active member of the and Lago to the Janiuay Municipal Police Station, but Lago women peasant federation Amihan and a former national was eventually released. Fernando denied keeping a firearm executive council member of KMP. She has led the fight of and explosives and asserted that no encounter occurred that local peasants to defend their farm lots in the Saulog Estate. morning. The police said a complaint for frustrated murder Avelino is currently detained at the Roxas District Jail in as well as illegal possession of firearms and explosives will Bagumbayan, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro. be filed against Fernando. The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said she was among the alleged NPA members who In Iloilo. At around 1:30 a.m. on March 16, Nena Fernando launched an attack using improvised explosives in nearby was in Brgy. Mañacabac, Janiuay and was asleep in the house Lambunao earlier in March.

TABLE 4 In Bulacan. On March 26, the police arrested Concepcion Political Prisoners (as of March 2021) Opalla, a former leader of KADAMAY in Pandi. Opalla was in her small store in the Siling Bata Market around 4 p.m. Total No. Arrested NDFP Region of Detention of Political Women Under when cops swooped in with a warrant for her arrest. She was Consultants Prisoners Duterte charged, along with five other leaders, of child trafficking Cordillera 5 0 0 5 and abuse in line with KADAMAY’s recruitment of minors Ilocos 1 0 0 1 to join the NPA. Opalla was denied communication with her Cagayan Valley 30 4 0 28 family and legal counsel for several days after the arrest. She Central Luzon 17 7 0 16 was also deprived of basic needs such as food and water. Southern Tagalog 56 9 0 41 Opalla and her husband joined the occupation of idle public 118 19 10 47 National Capital Region housing units in Pandi, Bulacan in 2017. Ever since, they have Bicol 31 4 0 17 been active in developing the community. They participated Western Visayas 83 22 0 80 in promoting the rights of the urban poor. In September Central Visayas 56 10 0 55 2018, when Opalla stood as witness against Duterte in the Eastern Visayas 32 7 0 15 International People’s Tribunal held in Brussels, Belgium. Western Mindanao Region 11 5 0 7 Northern Mindanao In Tarlac. On March 30, elements from the CIDG Provincial Region 58 8 1 41 Force Unit Tarlac and Tarlac Provincial Police Office raided Southern Mindanao Region 84 7 0 30 the residence of the chairperson of BAYAN–Central Luzon, Socsksargen 34 5 0 23 Florentino “Pol” Viuya, in Brgy. Anupul, Bambam. The Caraga 87 19 0 69 police allegedly used a search warrant to plant evidence to TOTAL 703 126 11 475 justify Viuya’s arrest. May Arcilla, a paralegal of Karapatan Sick 96 – Central Luzon, who was with Viuya during the incident, Elderly 65 questioned the validity of the search warrant, but instead Arrested as Minor 6 of responding to her query, the police also arrested her. January – March 2021 29

Both Viuya and Arcilla were brought to Camp Macabulos in later brought to her house in Makati City after undergoing Tarlac City. Prior to his arrest, Viuya was consistently red- a COVID-19 swab test. tagged in various tarpaulins, posters and social media as a recruiter of the NPA, Arcilla was released on March 31, In Albay. UCCP pastor and BAYAN – Bicol spokesperson pending further investigation for the obstruction of justice Dan Balucio was arrested as the police and military forcibly case filed against her. entered the Shannan Christian Academy in Brgy. San Isidro, Sto. Domingo, where Balucio, his wife and two children, and In Bohol. At around 8 p.m. on April 7, about 10 policemen a staff of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines under Police Executive Master Sergeant Joselito Justol, (NCCP) were staying. Balucio serves as the administrator of deputy chief of police of the Trinidad Municipal Police said school. They were forcibly brought out of their house Station, came to the house of peasant leader Oscar Balonga as police and military operatives conducted their so-called in Brgy. Bongbong, Trinidad to serve a search warrant. search. After 30 to 45 minutes, the barangay captain and The search supposedly yielded a .38 caliber revolver a kagawad arrived. It was only then that the warrant was pistol. Balonga was threatened and was being forced to shown to Balucio. The police and military conducted their admit that he buried a corroded and an unserviceable .38 search for another 30 minutes after which they allegedly handgun under the house. A copy of the search warrant found guns, ammunition, a grenade, and a red flag. Balucio issued by Executive Judge Azucena Macalolot-Credo of the is reportedly detained at the Sto. Domingo Municipal Police Talibon, Bohol RTC Branch 101 later obtained by members Station. of the Trinidad-Talibon Integrated Farmers Association showed that Balonga was the subject of a search for a KG-9 submachine gun and undetermined number of ammunition. Balonga was handcuffed and brought to the Trinidad Municipal Police Station. An inquest hearing was held on April 8 in Tagbilaran City and Balonga was charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was able to post bail several days later and was granted temporary freedom. Balonga is the chairperson of the Bongbong Farmers Association, an affiliate of Hugpong

Mag-uumang Bol-anon – KMP. Pastor Dan Balucio (holding a megaphone) with community members. In Manila. On April 19, youth activists Alicia Lucena and Sofia Bangayan were “invited” by barangay officials to In Camarines Sur. On the same day of Balucio’s arrest, undergo random COVID-19 swab testing. They were in Jovenes Anakbayan spokesperson Maria Jesusa “Sasah” Anakbayan’s office in Manila. Instead of being brought to Sta. Rosa was also arrested. The police and military forcibly the San Lazaro Hospital as told, Lucena and Bangayan were entered her relatives' house in Brgy. Cararayan, Naga City, brought to the barangay hall. Lucena’s phone was then where she, her sibling, aunt, uncle and cousin were staying. confiscated, preventing her from contacting a paralegal The state agents occupied the house and went through or a lawyer. Lucena’s father arrived at the barangay hall, the belongings of those staying there. After an hour, two accompanied by a staff from the NTF-ELCAC. As barangay barangay kagawad arrived. The raiders allegedly found officials continued to question Lucena, her mother, Relissa, guns, ammunition, a grenade, a book, a black t-shirt, a also arrived with two police escorts. The latter was then green envelop with documents, a wallet and a pack of panty- forcibly brought to a waiting car. Bangayan, on the other liners. Sta. Rosa was brought to Police Station 2 in Naga City. hand, was not allowed to speak with fellow relief workers Copies of the search warrant obtained later reveal that the who arrived at the barangay hall that afternoon. She was address on the warrant is different from that of the house that was raided. 30 Karapatan Monitor

Attempting to stifle youth voices: (L) Alicia Lucena speaks at the press conference in the House of Representatives as the Senate holds a hearing on the alleged recruitment of students by leftist groups. (R) Arrested youth leader Sasah Sta. Rosa at a protest action in Naga City. Photos from CNN Philippines, Anakbayan

In Surigao del Sur. On May 14, 59-year-old peasant leader NPA. The residents included: Jaypril Allesa, an employee and Stage 4 cancer patient Marcela “Silay” Diaz, a member of the Maasin Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and of Kapunungan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Surigao del Sur, was Management Office; Ponciano Fajardo, an employee of arrested by combined elements of the Butuan City Police the Maasin Municipal Mayor’s Office; motorcycle driver Office, the Police Regional Office 13, the Surigao del Sur Conrado Maido; Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Army’s 3rd sa Panay kag Guimaras members Jose Rizalde Saquite, Special Forces Battalion in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur. The Aril Saquite, and Renold Begayo; high school students arrest warrant was for attempted homicide. She is currently Roden Perante and Jobert Begayo; multi-cab driver Joven detained at the Police Regional Office 13 headquarters in Maquiling; junk scrap gatherer Ruben Maquiling; college Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Butuan City. student Harold Marterio; and bamboo gatherer Edmund Fajardo.

Clearings and forced and fake surrenders The above-mentioned residents went to the barangay hall individually to be “cleared” accompanied by a barangay In Iloilo. On February 11, elements of the Philippine Army’s official. They were brought inside a room to be interviewed 61st Infantry Battalion conducted house-to-house visits in and were made to write their names and other personal Brgy. Bolo, Maasin. The soldiers summoned the residents data. Despite great fear of what could happen to him, Allesa for an assembly with military officers stationed in Calinog did not submit himself to the military and asserted that the following day, February 12. The residents were fearful was there was nothing to be cleared for. He believed that he of the repeat of the massacre and arrests on December was singled out because he is a son of German Allesa who 30, 2020, as the deployment of the military’s Community was arrested in November 2019 and is still in prison after Support Program (CSP) preceded the operations. The CSP policemen raided their house and planted a grenade. teams conducted house-to-house visits and summoned residents who were supposedly on their list to “surrender” On March 4, also summoned were officials of Brgy. Boloc, and “clear” their name. Tubungan. They were made to fill up forms to “clear” their names and also to “clear” the barangay in the military’s Some 40 residents summoned were supposedly in a records. The soldiers in Brgy. Boloc were led by a Sergeant photograph taken during an anniversary celebration of the Camporedondo and a Sergeant Dela Cruz. One of those January – March 2021 31

summoned was Julie Talha, a barangay tanod. Like the other was supposedly identified as a member and supporter of barangay officials, he filled up and signed the form with CPP-NPA-NDFP. Marcos is a senior citizen and a member of his personal data. His fingerprints were taken. Apparently a local women farmers association. The police also ordered such activities were being used by the military to gather her to tell her colleagues in the association to surrender as information about the Tubungan United Peasants Alliance well. which they tagged as a communist front. The soldiers further threatened that the December 30, 2020 operations In Pampanga. On March 18, intelligence agents from PRO might befall the barangay if the officials fail to “cooperate” 3 brought Dan Tungol and his brother Eduardo Tungol to to “clear” their names. Camp Olivas in San Fernando City. At around 11 p.m., the PRO 3 presented Dan as an NPA surrenderee through their On March 22, the soldiers summoned Reynaldo Canatoy of Facebook page. At Camp Olivas, police officers interrogated Sitio Dalihi, Brgy. Igpaho, Tubungan to the barangay’s health Dan regarding his connection as the former leader of the center. In the presence of Lt. John Alex Yap, some soldiers Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Mawaque interrogated Canatoy and accused him of being a certain Maragul in Brgy. Mawaque, Mabalacat City. He clarified that “Japet.” They ordered him to go to the military headquarters he was no longer connected to the organization since his in Miagao to surrender, to have his name “cleared” and to wife died and that he has been staying in Bataan. Pictures receive financial assistance; otherwise, he will be served a were also presented to him and he was asked if he can warrant and documents will not be issued to his children identify any of them. The brothers questioned why Dan was when they eventually apply for work. They also reiterated made to hold a “surrenderee” placard and asserted that what the threat of the repeat of the December 30, 2020 operations. they have been doing is not terrorism. Meanwhile, Eduardo Canatoy insisted that he was doing nothing wrong, and if he currently serves as the chairperson of AMGL in Bataan. surrendered, it was as if he admitted he was guilty of a crime he did not commit. Earlier on February 27, the same ordeal happened to him when at least 15 residents of Brgy. Igpaho Threats, harassment, and red-tagging were summoned by the soldiers camped in the barangay. In March, when the soldiers returned, 20 more names were In Capiz. On January 7, residents of Brgy. Lahug, Tapaz added to the list of individuals to be cleared, but the soldiers were forced to return to their barangay despite deep fears of kept the list to themselves. continued military presence and violence from State forces. This occurred when Tapaz Mayor Roberto Palomar ordered In Cagayan. 26 residents of Brgy. Carupian, Baggao were the displaced citizens to return to their communities threatened, harassed, and intimidated into “surrendering.” citing cancellation of activities in the civic center where On February 12, Baggao Mayor Joan Dunuan went to the the Tumandok temporarily took refuge. He also threatened barangay to fetch some residents for a so-called “dialogue.” barangay officials that they would be removed from office if According to Ronald Reyes, one of the kagawad of Brgy. they insisted on defying his order. Palomar also barred the Carupian, elements of the Philippine Army’s 77th Infantry media as well as humanitarian and human rights groups Battalion coursed their action through Dunuan to “clear” the from entering the civic center. After the December 30, 2020 names of the residents. They were interviewed individually massacre, 78 families from Brgy. Lahug fled their homes and in Dunuan’s house on February 13 and made to sign a certain took refuge in the municipal civic center. document referring to them as “surrenderees.” Only after were they allowed to return to their barangay. In Aklan. On January 14, tarpaulin and paper posters red- tagging BAYAN – Aklan and Makabayan – Aklan as fronts On March 29, police arrived in Brgy. Gabut, Amulong, of the CPP-NPA were found hanging and pasted on the wall and proceeded to the house of martial law survivor Julie of an elementary school in Kalibo. October 18, 2020 paper Marcos. They forced her to sign a document indicating her posters containing the pictures of personalities of BAYAN “surrender” as the police told her to “clear her name” as she – Panay and Makabayan were also seen pasted on the wall 32 Karapatan Monitor

(L) With seemingly unlimited funding, the Duterte government churns out posters, distributed across the country, tagging activists as terrorists. An online poster (R) including a photo of Makabayan representatives and Karapatan's Cristina Palabay was circulated by a Facebook page "Quiet No More PH" maliciously tagging them as "terrorists in Congress". Left photo by Mark Saludes/PCIJ

of the front gate of the Northwestern Visayan Colleges. A On February 19, days after the police raid on the Lumad picture of George Tumaob Calor of BAYAN – Aklan was bakwit school in the USC, then-PNP Chief Debold Sinas included in the posters. Months prior to the killing of Jory met the Lumad students, and according to a report, Sinas Porquia on April 30, 2020, the same posters were pasted in threatened a female student during the meeting when strategic areas in Iloilo City and Oton, Iloilo. she invoked her Miranda rights. Sinas told her that her invocation of the Miranda rights was the start of her path In Cebu. Members of progressive organizations were to becoming an NPA and that they will start fighting each harassed and tailed by suspected intelligence officers other in the mountains in 10 to 15 years. The student in plainclothes after police dispersed a protest to disclosed the incident to his father, who was also subjected commemorate the Mendiola massacre on January 22. A to harassment when Sinas tagged the father as an NPA confrontation occurred around 12:53 p.m. at Ayala Malls member in Mindanao. Cebu when one of the suspicious individuals tried to snatch the phone of Kabataan Partylist – Cebu’s Dyan Gumanao In Eastern Samar. On January 23 combined elements of to stop her from recording. Gumanao and Armand Jake the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office’s Provincial Dayoha were brought to (CBP) Security Intelligence Unit, CIDG Eastern Samar Field Unit, 81st Office for documentation. When the activists asked to Military Intelligence Company, 8th Military Intelligence verify the identity of the suspect at the CBP Security Office, Battalion, Military Intelligence Group 8 of the Intelligence Gumanao and her companion were told to stay put for Service of the AFP, and the Borongan City Police Station feedback. The CBP security personnel then told the two that headed by Colonel Carlito Abriz entered and searched the suspect was already brought to Mabolo Police Station, the house of Cesar Agosto Palce in Brgy. Songco, Purok but activists who went to the station were not able to find Greenland, Borongan. The Eastern Samar Police Office said the suspect. CBP security personnel then brought a different that the operation was conducted to serve a search warrant man after four hours. The riding-in-tandem suspects were issued by Borongan, Eastern Samar RTC Branch 2 Presiding initially sighted at SM Mabolo and followed the members of Judge Nathaniel Baldono. The operatives claimed that they progressive organizations even inside the premises of Ayala recovered two hand guns, ammunitions and two explosives Malls Cebu. Increased presence of suspected intelligence from Palce’s house. Place, however, was not at his residence officers had also been observed in past protest actions. when the search warrant was served. Palce is the leader of the local chapter of People’s Surge, a broad coalition of January – March 2021 33

survivors of Typhoon Yolanda. The military had previously affirmed Fortunata’s statement. Before leaving, the two tagged People’s Surge as a legal front organization of the CPP. men told Fortunata to convince her husband to cooperate before anything bad happens to him. In an incident report, In Ilocos Norte. On two separate occasions, suspected Fortunata said that the men seemed to have tracked down military agents harassed Lenville Salvador, former political her husband’s affiliations with Bayan Muna and Anakpawis prisoner and martial law survivor, and once his wife, Partylists, and “[she] argued that this is a basic human right Fortunata Salvador. On February 14, a man who identified and these organizations are legally recognized anyway.” himself as Dennis Sibayan of the Office of the Presidential Salvador was a political prisoner in Laoag City nearly 40 Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) entered a cottage along years ago – from 1983 to 1986. As a college student, he was the beach in Brgy. Caaoacan, Laoag City around 10:30 a.m. president of the UP Namnama, an Ilocano organization where Salvador was. He accused Salvador of being a leader established in 1974 to fight the dictatorship of the late of a rebel organization and that he needed to “clear” his Ferdinand Marcos, himself an Ilocano born in . name. Sibayan also took a photo of Salvador before leaving. Salvador contacted the OPAPP to confirm Sibayan’s claim In Ilocos Sur. On February 17 at around 11 a.m., seven men but the office responded that no Sibayan is employed there. claiming to be soldiers and one that did not introduce himself trooped to Brgy. Tablac, Candon City. They went to On February 17, two men in plainsclothes went in front of talk with barangay officials looking for church worker Jenny Salvador's house. They identified themselves as Technical Beth Mariano. The barangay chief then sought a certain Sergeants Franco Gomez and Rod De Guzman and claimed Delfin, who owned the house where Mariano’s relatives to be members of the AFP. They said that Salvador was in resided. The soldiers presented pictures of Mariano to their Periodic Status Report, but when he asked for further Delfin and described her as a youth recruiter and a member explanation, they refused to elaborate and sought to talk to of the NPA. This event is only part of a long and continuing him in private. They also took a photo of him. harassment against the Mariano family.

On February 23, Salvador’s wife Fortunata was asked to come On April 11, Mariano was bombarded with red-tagging to the barangay’s day care center, where she was interviewed on social media by troll accounts such as “Pag lintingan,” by two people who introduced themselves as Captain Edward “Haidy Lacsaman,” and other fake accounts claiming that Gascon Salvador from Brgy. Bliss, Ilagan City, Isabela and a they are co-members of Mariano in Anakbayan – Ilocos Jerome de la Cruz, who both claimed to be from the DND. and that she is a youth recruiter of the NPA in Ilocos Sur. In They asked Fortunata where her husband went in Ilocos other comments, they called Karapatan a front organization Sur in October, but she told them that he had not yet left of NPA. Ilocos Norte ever since the lockdown. The barangay chief In Aurora. On February 21, John Dominic Salamanca and Efren Jardin were harassed and threatened at gunpoint by elements from a 60-strong 91st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Aurora Provincial Police Office. According to Salamanca, they were on their way to their farm when the police and military personnel approached them saying that they were trying to find five armed men who were allegedly hiding in the premises. Salamanca agreed to have their farm searched but as soon as they got there, he and Jardin were interrogated separately and were accused of being members and supporters of the NPA. A soldier named Archie Nebria took Salamanca’s phone and

Photo by AFP 34 KARAPATAN Monitor

read each message. Jardin has been repeatedly accused of in his farm. One soldier took Camagos’ picture and later, a entertaining NPA members in huts inside the farm. military offi cial showed it to him saying it was the picture of an NPA member they are looking for. They eventually In Manila. On February 20, UP Diliman University Student took his bolo, tied him up, and interrogated him about Council chairperson Froilan Cariaga was grabbed by the the NPA. At around 4 p.m., an older resident of Brgy. Boloc police during a protest in Mendola as he explained that the passed by and told the soldiers that Camagos is a nephew of effi gy burning during the mobilization was a “symbolic Brgy. Boloc chairman Alejo Capio, Jr. and that they should action” for the basic right to protest. Meanwhile, League let him go. It was only then that they released Camagos and of Filipino Students spokesperson Carwin Candila was returned his bolo. harassed by a policeman during the same protest action. According to Candila, the policeman threatened them by As the soldiers remained in the barangay, Julie Talha and alluding to enforced disappearance. He was specifi cally other activists were constantly harassed and threatened asked if he knew what happened to “his cousin” Jonas Joseph to “clear” their names. This prompted Talha and Carlos Burgos, a peasant activist abducted by military in Quezon Talaman, a barangay kagawad, to seek refuge in Iloilo City. City in 2007, who remains missing. Various youth and They reported the threats against them to the Commission progressive groups launched the protest action to oppose on Human Rights. They also sought the help of Karapatan the skyrocket increase in the prices of basic commodities and the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center. and to call for resolutions to the health and economic crisis. The protest was cut short when police offi cers destroyed On March 28, during the session of the barangay council Duterte’s effi gy and dispersed the crowd. in Brgy. Tig-amaga, Miagao, barangay chief Lorna Nalang and kagawad Marlyn Fabillo informed peasant leader In Negros Occidental. On February 20, Godofredo Zamora Joanna Baroza that some residents of the neighboring along with twelve CAFGUs went to Sitio Varca, Brgy Jonob- Brgy. Cabalaunan told them that soldiers belonging to 61st jonob, Escalante City and attempted but failed to arrest Infantry Battalion PA were looking for her. They said that Rotter Cuevas. Earlier, Cuevas received successive threats she should surrender or have herself arrested if she does from Zamora who works for Mayor Melecio Yap. not want to be placed on a hit list of the military. Baroza is the current secretary general of Alyansa sang Mangunguma In Iloilo. At around 9:40 a.m. on February 21, peasant leader sa Miagao. Since last year, after former chairman John Wenceslao Duco, was at home in Brgy. Ayubo, Leon, when Farochilin was killed, Baroza took over as a leader of the two men came on a motorcycle. They introduced themselves as members of the CIDG as they asked to talk to Wenceslao in the hut beside his house. One of the men said the name “Islaw” was seen in an encounter between Philippine Army and the NPA in Miag-ao recently. They pressed him to admit that he knew a certain “Ka Bebong,” said to be an NPA, and a certain “Benjo” from Brgy. Mayang, Tubungan. Wenceslao denied he knew the two and the men accused him of being a liar. They further threatened him that if he does not surrender, what happened in Tapaz, Capiz will also befall him. The two men left afterwards. Wenceslao is the secretary general of the Leon Unifi ed Peasants Alliance.

At 2 p.m. on March 4, soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion accosted Osias Camagos, Jr., a Countering online harassment with protests. Photo by AFP resident of Brgy. Boloc, Brgy. Boloc, Tubungan while he was January – March 2021 35

We are human rights defenders: Streamers such as these are hung outside offices and headquarters of peoples' organizations in light of police raids against activists. Photo by Karapatan organization. She heard that she was being summoned by CPP-NPA in the Facebook account of a so-called “Call Center army personnel deployed in Brgy. Pudpud but she did not go Agents for Democracy.” Other current and former officers of because she had not received any formal notice. Personnel BIEN were also mentioned, such as Harmonie Maria Cui, of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Paulino “Paul” Galutera, Mary Ann Krueger, Arcy Dialino followed her when she goes to town, and would ask her Parayno, Sarah Prestoza, Jane Siwa, Mylene Cabalona, to talk to “their boss.” She repeatedly declined and asked Joel Capulong, Michael Dela Concepcion, and Jupiter for a formal notice. The army personnel were part of the Delda, Filomeno Eco, Christalyn Jamolin, and Ferdenand team that implements the CSP under the NTF-ELCAC. Brgy. Liwagon Lacia. Cabalaunan is one of the 11 barangays of Miagao targeted for the CSP. In Batangas. On March 7, during the day of the Bloody Sunday raids in the Southern Tagalog region, elements from On April 23, streamers from a so-called “Western Visayas CIDG raided the house of BAYAN – Batangas coordinator Alliance of Victims of the CPP-NPA-NDF” vilifying leaders Lino Baez in Sto. Tomas based on a search warrant with of people’s organizations and human rights groups were dubious claims. Baez was not at home yet police pushed spotted in St. Paul Hospital, West Visayas State University, through with the search operation and planted firearms and Gaisano in Iloilo City. The streamers contained the and explosives. The police forcibly entered the house and pictures of activists Lean Porquia, Bryan Bosque, Atty. threatened his wife Anna that she would be killed if she Teofisto Melizza, Atty. Jobert Pahilga, Lucy Francisco, does not open the door. They ordered Anna to delete the John Ian Alenciaga, Irish Inoceto, Maura Abellon. Their videos she captured during the search. organizational affiliations were mentioned and they were tagged as members of CPP-NPA who are supposedly entitled In Quezon City. On March 7, at 5:17 p.m., hours after the to avail of the government’s anti-insurgency fund for rebel Bloody Sunday raids in Southern Tagalog, Karapatan’s public returnees. information desk phone received a text message containing a list of names of activists in Negros which are allegedly the Porquia, the son of slain activist Jory Porquia and the former next target of a “Kill Kill Kill Program:” national president of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), was previously tagged on April 12 as a member of the 36 Karapatan Monitor

1. “Iver of Bacolod, Negros Occidental,” believed to be In Masbate. On March 19, the Masbate City Police Station Iver Larit of KADAMAY – Negros circulated on its Facebook page a poster tagging Nica Ombao 2. “Butch of Bacolod, Negros,” believed to be John of Bicolana Gabriela, Vince Casilhan of Makabayan – Bicol, “Butch” Lozande, secretary general of NFSW and Justine Mesias of Youth Act Now Against Tyranny – 3. “Erning of Bacolod,” believed to be Ereneo Longinos, Bicol as NPA recruiters. Ombao, Casilhan, and Mesias denied spokesperson of BAYAN – Negros the accusations against them and averred that the PNP 4. “Clarissa of Bacolod,” believed to be Clarizza Singson, only wanted to threaten and silence them. Ombao told the secretary general of Karapatan – Negros Island local media outfit Baretang Bikolnon that they have already 5. A certain “Alyas Tatay Ogie and his one-eyed wife of reported the Facebook page. They also asked everyone to Bacolod” mass report the page for spreading disinformation. 6. A certain “Berting of Bacolod” 7. “Christian of Bacolod,” believed to be Christian In Negros Occidental. On March 22, soldiers belonging Tuayon of NFSW and former secretary general of to the 61st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and a BAYAN – Negros certain “Dodong” raided four houses in Sitio Maravilla, 8. “Epi of Negros Occidental,” believed to be Felipe Gelle Brgy. Mahalang, Himamaylan City without presenting of the September 21 Movement any warrant. Residents, including children were rounded 9. “Darel of Kabankalan,” believed to be Dharryl up. Some were beaten up, held at gunpoint, interrogated, Albanez, secretary general of the September 21 and accused of being NPA sympathizers. One individual Movement was illegally arrested. The residents are farmers who are 10. “Roque of Bacolod,” believed to be Rolando Rillo of members of Mahalang Small Farmers Association, an NFSW affiliate of KMP.

The following day, March 8, the Karapatan public In Bohol. At around 5 a.m. on March 29, 15 policemen led information desk phone received another message at 1:48 by Carmen Municipal Police Station chief Jesus Casipong p.m., saying: “O ano takot na takot na kayo no? Susunod namin Daplin raided the house of Leonisa Taray, chairperson Negros humanda na asawa ni Clarisa na si Jules! Matataymingan of Sandigan sa Bol-anong Kababayen-ang Nag-uma ug din yan!” (“So, are you scared now? We will put Negros next. Nanagat, an affiliate of Amihan, in Brgy. Matin-ao, Carmen. Jules, the husband of Clarisa, must watch out! He will have Taray reported that the raid was based on a search warrant his time!”). Jules is believed to be Juluis Dagatan, currently issued by Sisinio Virtudazo, acting presiding judge of the media liaison of BAYAN – Negros. the Carmen, Bohol RTC Branch 51 for illegal firearms and ammunition. The type and caliber were not specified in In . On March 16, Mandaluyong RTC Branch the warrant. The police also took pictures of the motorcycle 209 Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio was red- and old campaign materials of Anakpawis Partylist and tagged in tarpaulins hanged in footbridges along EDSA. Makabayan senatorial candidate Atty. Neri Colmenares in The tarpaulin, which bore the logos of the CPP-NPA-NDFP, Taray’s house. No firearms nor ammunition were found supposedly thanked her for dismissing the trumped-up after the search. charges against Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem and unionist Rodrigo Esperago, who were among the seven Around 9 a.m. the same day, unidentified men and arrested during the raids in Metro Manila on International women riding motorcycles gathered outside the residence Human Rights Day last year. Along with ordering the release of Carmilo Tabada, Bohol coordinator of the Farmers of Salem and Esparago after junking the charges against Development Center (FARDEC) at Brgy. Poblacion, Trinidad. them, Ignacio also voided the search warrants issued by They brought placards against CPP founder Jose Maria Sison Villavert. but their speakers verbally attacked Carmilo by maliciously accusing him of hiding firearms. The crowd was driven away by Carmilo's relatives. Some of the participants said January – March 2021 37

set to go back to the upstream barangays. Residents and government employees later identified the men as soldiers.

Destruction of properties, forced evacuations, and attacks on communities

In Kalinga. In the evening of January 3, in Brgy. Bugnay, Tinglayan, hooded man allegedly belonging to the PNP were seen at the monument of Macliing Dulag, Lumbaya Gayudan and Pedro Dungoc — prominent heroes of the Anti-Chico Dam struggle. The next morning, January 4, the metal panels of monument were found dismantled. Those in the community moved them to a nearby place to keep them safe. According to some residents they noticed the change of policemen manning the checkpoint near the monument in the evening of January 3. Residents of Brgy. Bugnay complained to Tinglayan Municipal Mayor Sacrament Gumilab as well as to the PNP, but the PNP blamed the Betwagan tribe in Mt. Province for the destruction of the monument.

A Facebook account of the Masbate Police red-tags online Bicol human rights defenders. The Brgy. Bugnay Council came up with a resolution implicating the PNP as culprits for the desecration and destruction of the monument and called for an investigation they were deceived to attend a party. After being sent which they submitted to the Upper Kalinga District away from Carmilo's place, the attackers proceeded to the Engineering Office. Brgy. Bugnay residents also said they Trinidad-Talibom Integrated Farmers Association in Brgy. were not informed before the monument was demolished. San Vicente, Trinidad harping on the same accusations. When asked why the monument was demolished, the Carmilo has been the subject of repeated red-tagging from police said that the order came from PRO Cordillera Director State forces for his work with farmers along with FARDEC. Pagkalinawan who stressed that the monument should be gone before he goes to Brgy. Bugnay. In Leyte. The staff of the Leyte Center for Development, Inc. were preparing for the program for the cash livelihood In Laguna. On January 6, armed security personnel entered distribution around 8:30 a.m. on April 22 when an Sitio Buntog, Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba. Upon arrival the unidentified man in plainclothes approached LCDE’s project guards started demolishing the houses of peasants Freddie coordinator Fenna Joyce Moscare and asked if he could Cacao and Mario Mangubat while some residents were join the program. However, the unidentified man refused to forced to lie on the ground. Aside from the recent incident, disclose his name and agency. As a result, he was not allowed other violations were committed since July 2020. Farmers to join the activity. On the same day, unidentified men, also experienced getting barred from tending to their plants in plainclothes, visited the Palapag Municipal Mayor’s Office and their crops getting destroyed. Sitio Buntog is part of and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office Hacienda Yulo. It is disputed land between farmers and and asked about the activity, citing reports that some NPA Ayala Land that acquired the property and plans to build rebels were allegedly lining up for assistance. Checkpoints a subdivision. The farmers claimed that they have been were put up as the women beneficiaries of the program were occupying and tilling the area as early as 1911. 38 Karapatan Monitor

Dismantled monument: Overlooking the mountains and the Chico River, the Macliing Dulag monument has served as a venue for community gathering for the indigenous peoples of Cordillera. The metal frames were found dismantled early this year Photo by Northern Dispatch

In Bataan. On January 14, farmers’ homes were demolished On February 8, at about 8 a.m., employees of the San Jose in Sitio Bangad, Brgy. General Lim, Orion by a combined Del Monte City Hall, aided by MBB Security and the Bulacan force of 200 police officers and a 100-member demolition Provincial Police Office, demolished four houses in Purok team. Former Government Service Insurance System 4, Brgy. Paradise 3, San Jose Del Monte City. Among those president Federico Pascual ordered the demolition of the affected was farmer Ina Sayco, the leader of Sikhay, a houses owned by 42 families to give way to a lucrative local farmers’ association affiliated with the Alyansa ng residential project with Sta. Lucia Realty. Last March 23, Magbubukid sa Bulacan. In 2015, the DAR issued a Notice of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown and quarantine Coverage for the 15-hectare land occupied by three families, in Luzon, Pascual ordered the fencing of the disputed land including Sayco’s. However, in 2020, DAR Bulacan Provincial and displaced the farmers from the 33 hectare landholding. Agrarian Reform Officer Engr. Emmanuel Aguinaldo The families said they have been tilling the land with palay, reversed all decisions that favored the farmers. Aguinaldo vegetables, and fruit-bearing trees for over two decades instructed the farmers to vacate the land and disallowed as part of CARP. They also claimed that Pascual had been them to file any motion for reconsideration. maneuvering to have them exempted from CARP. In Negros Oriental. On January 17, around 3 p.m., elements In Bulacan. On January 16, hundreds of crop-bearing trees of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion fired 11 were destroyed and flattened using a backhoe by members mortar rounds near Sitio Batong-buang, Brgy. Trinidad of the San Jose Del Monte City Public Order and Safety in Guihulngan City. Hundreds of residents were affected Office (POSO) upon the instructions of a certain Obet Robes, including those in the neighboring sitios. The incident also believed to be related to San Jose Del Monte City Mayor brought fear among the residents. Arthur Robes. An estimated 2.7-hectares of farmland tilled by the Ajose family in Sitio Dalandanan, Brgy. Tungkong In Negros Occidental. On February 19, houses of more than Mangga, San Jose Del Monte City was bulldozed, destroying fifty families in Sitio Varca, Brgy. Jonob-jonob, Escalante City crops. According to the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa were destroyed after Mayor Yap ordered their demolition. Dalandanan, a local affiliate of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid The families are affiliated with the NFSW. sa Bulacan – KMP, the San Jose Del Monte City POSO employees went to the farmland presenting a cancelled On March 9, around 9 p.m., 10 suspected elements from Certificate of Land Ownership Award and insisted that the the 303rd Infantry Brigade, PA ransacked the house of Girlie farmers vacate the land. The Ajose family said the POSO Mahinay at Sitio Katoltulan, Brgy. San Antonio, Himamaylan employees did not have any writ of execution or court order City. The following day, March 10, around 9 a.m., Daisy for bulldozing the farmland. Nicor, Mahinay’s mother arrived at her daughter’s house January – March 2021 39

and saw that the tables in the house were overturned, 4. 15 families in Sitio Village their belongings scattered on the floor, and the cabinet 5. 18 families in Sitio Lining where they kept their clothes were in disarray. The bamboo 6. 670 families at the Madrasahtul Lugatol windows and doors of the house were also destroyed. Upon 7. 169 families in Sitio Lower Salbo (house based) learning of the incidents, Mahinay immediately reported 8. 33 families in Sitio Panang (house based) them to the barangay. She also recounted that there were instances of harassment from soldiers of the 303rd Infantry A total of 1,217 families or 7,302 residents including Brigade whenever she comes to feed her chickens and clean children, women and the elderly, were forced to evacuate her house. due to military operations. Indiscriminate use of mortar and employment of aerial assault in Moro communities In Maguindanao. On March 18, on the 53rd year have resulted in the death and injury of civilians. In 2020, commemoration of Bangsamoro Freedom Day, residents three children and one pregnant woman were killed and of Brgy. Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and neighboring thousands were displaced due to the AFP’s use of mortar barangays and towns were forced to evacuate their shelling in pursuing the BIFF. communities due to the operations of the the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army against the Bangsamoro In Batangas. On April 4, around noon, undetermined Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the area. According to number of armed guards belonging to Manila Southcoast the residents of Brgy. Kitango, sounds of mortar shelling Development Center (MSDC) trooped to Sitio Limbones, and gun fires started around 5 a.m. and soon, military Brgy. Papaya, Nasugbu. The armed guards tore down armed personnel carriers were seen at the highway of Sitio chicken coops belonging to the residents. Tatapan in Brgy. Kitango. A local clinic was also hit and destroyed by mortar shelling. The continuing firefight Around 6:30 a.m. of April 14, at least twenty armed guards resulted in the evacuation of families to different makeshift wearing masks belonging to the MSDC trooped to the centers and houses in Brgy. Salbo: nearby Sitio Iba. They took possession of two fishing boats and two speedboats and tore down three cottages which the 1. 170 families at the Datu Pendililang Elementary residents built to rent out to tourists. School 2. 65 familes at the Sitio Marketsite 3. 77 families at the madrasah Strengthened solidarity and resistance

The Duterte government’s desperate attempts to use the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and invariably bring crisis after crisis to stifle dissent and to threaten those bravely speaking against the regime’s abuses and incompetence, along with the shameless acts of government repression, corruption, and outright hypocrisy, have only strengthened the courage and unity of the people and various democratic forces to resist the Duterte regime’s fascism and its State terror.

In the fight against President Duterte’s terror law, prominent human rights lawyers who represent the 37 petitions seeking the junking of the law before the Protesters calling for the abolition of the of NTF-ELCAC. Photo by Carlo Manalansan/Bulatlat Supreme Court have continued their show of force in the oral arguments to assert the Filipino’s constitutional rights 40 Karapatan Monitor

International Women's Day 2021. Photo by Gabriela and basic liberties. Various democratic forces have also petitions or complaints in order for the courts to provide pushed through with staging mass actions during the oral relief in each case. This included petitions for the writs of arguments to support the petitioners and legal counsels amparo or habeas data. and to assert the calls to junk the terror law — defying the restrictions on mass gatherings directed against protests On March 24, Senator Franklin Drilon filed Senate Bill No. and various forms of dissent. Despite the threats of arrests 2121, which sought to define and penalize red-tagging — and violent dispersals, the people reclaimed the streets in a move welcomed by various church-based formations, commemorating the anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People human rights groups, and humanitarian organizations. Power uprising, and in demanding government aid and Parlade and Badoy were also censured for their red-tagging wage subsidy during the mass protests on International of community pantries. Women’s Day and Labor Day. After retiring from the Supreme Court, former Senior The rabid red-tagging of the NTF-ELCAC especially against Associate Justice Antonio Carpio sparked discussions community pantries and unions as well as the attacks on that has undeniably awakened thousands of Filipinos in a lawyers and judges have spurred calls among senators to nightmare created by the government for years. Last March defund the task force and criminalize red-tagging. It also 18, Carpio, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del brought about a rare condemnation from the Supreme Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Court. led a broad opposition initiative by forming the 1Sambayan coalition to field candidates in the coming 2022 national On March 23, the Supreme Court issued a statement elections and oppose Duterte’s appointed successor and condemning the attacks on the judiciary, particularly the endorsed candidates. attacks on lawyers and their clientele as well as the labelling and threatening of judges. The SC encouraged lawyers who In the midst of the intensified abuses of the government had experienced harassment, or whose client had been despite the glaring effects of the health and economic threatened or harassed, to file the necessary motions, crisis, various human rights and media groups launched January – March 2021 41

the coalition, #CourageON: No Lockdown on Rights. It is led by MovePH, Rappler's civic engagement arm. Karapatan is a member of the broad coalition along with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, the Commission on Human Rights, the Coalition for People's Right to Health, Dakila, the Ateneo Human Rights Center, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, and the 2030 Youth Force Philippines. The coalition’s membership is growing by the day.

2021 will prove to be a challenging year as the Filipino people face Duterte’s last months in power as the 2022 national elections draw near. The International Criminal Court is also expected to proceed this year with a formal investigation into the crimes against humanity committed in the Duterte government’s brutal drug war. Adamant in its non-cooperation with the ICC investigation, Duterte and his cabal of notorious war criminals and bloodthirsty human rights violators can only be expected to escalate their fascist attacks and bloody campaign of repression to silence and destroy any form of opposition and dissent.

Now, more than ever, all efforts to exact accountability and justice will be crucial in building alliances, coalitions, and unities to oppose Duterte’s de facto martial law and dictatorship. Such is only possible through the collective Activists call for Duterte's ouster during the June 12 power of the Filipino people and their struggle to defend Independence Day Commemoration. Photo by PUP Catalyst, and advance people’s rights, national liberation, and Karapatan genuine democracy.

Art by Arpak / Saka 42 Karapatan Monitor

LEAP TOWARDS JUSTICE ICC prosecutor requests investigation into PH ‘War on Drugs’

Photo by Karapatan

Llore Pasco leaped in the air as she heard the Lozano were mercilessly slain on May 12 and news about report of the Office of Prosecutor to August 10, respectively. the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber formally asking for an investigation On June 14, 2021, a day before her retirement, over the killings and other rights violations in the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda reported that Philippines due to the Duterte administration’s the preliminary examination into the situation in sham drug war. the Philippines has concluded and that she has requested judicial authorisation to proceed with “Nagagalak ako na halos ‘di na ako makatulog. an investigation.1 Iniisip ko na ito na ‘to! Nasilayan na ng liwanag ang matagal na naming paghihintay para sa “I have determined that there is a reasonable hustisya (I am so happy that I can’t sleep. I have basis to believe that the crime against humanity thought about this! Finally, there is light in our of murder has been committed on the territory quest for justice),” she said. of the Philippines between 1 July 2016 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the Government of Pasco, who lost two of her sons in Duterte’s bloody Philippines ‘war on drugs’ campaign,” she said in anti-drug campaign, said she is really “elated” the statement. after years of injustice. It was in 2017 when her sons were killed in separate police operations in She further said that “[F]ollowing a thorough Diliman, Quezon City: Crisanto and Juan Carlo preliminary examination process, the available information indicates that members of the January – March 2021 43

Philippine National Police, and others acting in that he is responsible for the 'war on drugs',” the concert with them, have unlawfully killed between complaint read. several thousands and tens of thousands of civilians during that time.” The total lives claimed by the regime’s war is still not certain even today, but the government’s “My Offi ce has also reviewed information related own data range from 6,117 individuals3 to 20,000 to allegations of torture and other inhumane individuals4 killed. acts, and related events as early as 1 November 2011, beginning of the Court’s jurisdiction in Victims and kin are enjoined by the ICC’s Victims the Philippines, all of which we believe require Participation and Reparations Unit to “provide investigation,” Bensouda said. their views, concerns and expectations regarding the Prosecutor’s request to the ICC judges for The prosecutor’s words meant a lot not only for their consideration” through https://www.icc-cpi. Pasco, but for all the families of victims, human int/about/victims. rights advocates and lawyers who are seeking justice and accountability despite threats. The Killings: A State policy request is indeed a long-awaited step towards justice and in holding the Duterte regime to Bensouda’s request for an investigation clearly account for the thousands of killings in the shows that the killings “appear to have been Philippines. It is yet another damning indictment of committed pursuant to an offi cial State policy of the Duterte government’s murderous policies that the Philippine government” along with “Philippine have killed — and continue to kill — thousands of offi cials’ failure to take meaningful steps to Filipinos with impunity. investigate or prosecute perpetrators” of the killings in the drug war — highlighting the sheer ICC complaint

In 2018, kin of the victims of the government’s drug war fi led a complaint before the ICC, stating that Pres. Duterte committed “crimes against humanity” in the spate of its campaign against illegal drugs.

Assisted by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), the families gathered by Rise Up for Life and for Rights, in a 50-page complaint, asserted that Duterte is “guilty” and that he should be indicted for the crimes he committed because he was the one who incited the killings through his public pronouncements.2

“By his words and actions, President Duterte is the perpetrator and most responsible for the killings and other horrifi c acts. He has consistently stated Suspected drug pushers were often found dead in the streets of Metro Manila since the early days of the Duterte presidency. Photo by Raffy Lerma/PDI 44 KARAPATAN Monitor

limitations and failure, if not virtual non-existence, of domestic and independent mechanisms of accountability.

In 2019, the Duterte regime’s withdrawal from the ICC formally took effect, but the ICC prosecutor said that the requested investigation will look into the killings from 2016, the year the President took offi ce, and 2019, the year when the Philippine government offi cially withdrew from the ICC.

The government, since groups and families of drug war victims pronounced plans to fi le complaints, distanced itself from the ICC and has declined calls for it to take part in preliminary processes.

In the midst of the country’s extremely worsening human rights crisis and the regime’s relentless bid to dissuade the growing calls for an international investigation into the Philippines, incoming ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan is being asked by Filipinos to pursue the investigation at the Pre- Trial Chamber and “to hold Duterte and all offi cials involved in the drug war accountable for their crimes against the Filipino people.”

1 Statement of the Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on her request to open an investigation of the Situation in the Philippines, 14 June 2021: https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx- ?name=210614-prosecutor-statement-philippines 2 Communication and Complaint by Rise Up for Life and for Rights, 28 August 2018: https://www.scribd.com/document/387193529/ Communication-and-Complaint-by-Rise-Up-for-Life-and-for-Rights 3 #RealNumbersPH Year 4: https://pdea.gov.ph/2-uncatego- rised/279-realnumbersph 4 VERA Files Statement on PCOO’s #RealNumbers in Fighting Illegal Families of the victims who were extrajudicially killed in Drugs, 15 July 2019: https://verafi les.org/articles/vera-fi les-state- line with the war on drugs program of the Duterte regime ment-pcoos-realnumbers-fi ghting-illegal-drug continue their fight for justice. Photo (top to bottom) from AFP, Rappler, Karapatan

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