By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY—Unannounced and unwanted visits by military personnel have left members of a youth volunteer group in Ilocos feeling threatened, prompting calls from human rights and science advocates for an immediate investigation.
Project Namnama, a volunteer organization focused on addressing educational gaps, reported multiple visits from individuals claiming to be members of the Philippine Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion. However, when asked to present identification or state their purpose, they refused to respond.
“We are alarmed by this invasion of our privacy and safety. This constitutes illegal surveillance and harassment, violating our rights. We are not engaged in any illegal activities; we are simply volunteering to address educational gaps in our communities,” Project Namnama said in a statement.
Science and technology group AGHAM condemned the incident, emphasizing Project Namnama’s role in providing disaster preparedness education and addressing the lack of educational resources in underserved communities.
The group cited Project Namnama’s program Panagsana para iti Didigra: Reimagining Disaster Preparedness Education for Children, which uses storytelling in the local language to teach life-saving knowledge in a culturally relevant way.
“This is not just an attack on Project Namnama. It is an attack on science advocates, volunteer educators, and every grassroots effort that steps up where the government has failed,” AGHAM said.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) urged the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the incident, describing it as “sowing terror” through the military’s Community Support Program (CSP).
CSP is part of the military’s Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan, intended to “establish and protect a conflict-affected community.” It is promoted as a key strategy for countering the New People’s Army’s influence in villages by identifying and dismantling their “politico-military structure.”
IHRA, however, views its implementation as an effort to suppress independent community initiatives, including youth-led educational projects. Aside from Project Namnama, the group has also documented similar cases involving fisherfolk leaders in La Union.
“A notable case involves the forced and fraudulent surrender of civilians, using aid as leverage and compelling them to sign documents such as the Oath of Allegiance in exchange for minimal or virtually no assistance,” IHRA said.The group also called on local officials to investigate the alleged harassment. They also urged candidates in the 2025 midterm elections to “take a stand for human rights and side with the people against ongoing rights violations.”#nordis.net
