Surveillance and harassment by government agents intensified against an international mission investigating climate injustice and militarism in the Philippines on the fourth day of their probe.
The Peoples Rising for Climate Justice said both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police enforced “blatant surveillance” activities against delegates of the “Grounding Solidarity: A Learning and Solidarity Mission to Communities Affected by Climate Injustice and Militarism” in Marabut, Samar today.
The group reported in an alert that a truck carrying more than 10 soldiers arrived at a farming community where the mission was heading.
They added that in the soldiers’ effort to intimidate both the delegates and the residents, the soldiers stayed at the barangay hall near where they were conducting their activity.
While the farmers and delegates were conducting their program, a soldier in civilian clothes was seen taking pictures of the delegates.
Questioned by the organizers, the man claimed he was a resident of the barangay, a claim denied by barangay officials present.
Peoples Rising further reported that as their group was leaving the community, police suddenly set up a checkpoint at their exit route without any explanation.
Their convoy was also tailed by a man on a motorcycle with no plate numbers.
At a stopover, the delegates spotted another man on a motorcycle parked at the entrance of where they were staying. The man had a firearm.
When approached, the man showed an AFP ID bearing the name Edwin Nabong. When asked why he was there, the man only said he was there “as a friend,” the mission reported.
More men were seen casing the facility where the delegates were lodged aboard motorcycles with no plate numbers.
It was the second day that the Eastern Visayas contingent of the mission was harassed as a suspicious motorcycle-riding person was seen around their activity area on Monday.
Steadfast against harassment
The mission in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro meanwhile suffered more surveillance and harassment on their fourth day at their campsite in Sitio Malatabako.
At 9:30 AM, men on motorcycles filmed the delegates and locals without consent, returning at 1:13 PM to taunt participants and community leaders.
It was followed by a drone flyby at 2:42 PM.
As of 3 PM, dozens of fully-armed soldiers and police officers have entered the Mangyan-Iraya campsite, causing fear in the community, especially among the children, the organizers said.
WHAT WENT BEFORE:
1. International environment mission faces harassment from NTF-ELCAC, LGUs
2. Surveillance, harassment hound int’l solidarity mission on 3rd day
“People’s Rising for Climate Justice condemns these intimidation tactics, which mirror the NTF‑ELCAC’s playbook,” Peoples Rising said in a statement.
“Despite the harassment, the mission remains steadfast in supporting the Mangyan‑Iraya against land grabbing and displacement by Pieceland Corp.,” the group added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
