Representatives of farmers, rural women, fisherfolk, and rights defenders in Southern Negros Occidental have stepped forward to expose what they claim are threats, intimidation, and coercion by military personnel and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) during a press conference in Bacolod City on October 16.

These individuals allege that they are falsely accused of supporting the New People’s Army (NPA) and pressured to sever ties with the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group, Inc. (PDG), a local development NGO.

The farmers and activists assert that PDG, a duly registered non-stock, non-profit organization, has significantly contributed to improving their livelihoods and understanding their rights during its more than three decades of operation.

In recent months, military personnel have made repeated visits to their communities, spreading allegations that PDG is a recruiter and supporter of the NPA, which the resource persons vehemently deny.

During an activity organized by NTF-ELCAC in Kabankalan City on September 21, a self-proclaimed NPA surrenderer, Jonel Moreno, who identified himself as “Ka Roy,” claimed to have served as a liaison between PDG and the NPA. However, the representatives at the press conference deny any knowledge of “Ka Roy” and reiterate their trust in PDG’s legitimacy.

Perla’s testimony

Perla Jaleco-Pabillar, an organizer for PDG in Cauayan, South Negros, has been facing threats and harassment from military personnel almost daily since July. She received a threatening letter on October 3 and was warned the following day by a military element that her family might find her dead if she didn’t cease her work with PDG.

After the October 4 incident, Perla reported it to local authorities and filed a police blotter. She has since been approached by military personnel attempting to persuade her to stop her work, claiming that she is on a list by Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) with a shoot-to-kill order. Perla also received threatening text messages from someone named Sgt. David Villanueva, warning her to cease her activities or face dire consequences.

Perla further reports that Sgt. Jomar Castro of the 15th Infantry Battalion has allegedly spread rumors among peasant, fisherfolk, and farm worker associations that PDG is an NPA recruiter, vilifying Perla and other PDG organizers during meetings in various active areas, including Brgy Tuyom, Brgy. Kaliling, and Brgy Guilungan.

In the latest incident, Joper Makiling, CMO (civilian-military operations) supervisor of the Visayas region, labeled Perla a “traitor” for reporting the incident to the police and urged her to retract her report. Perla believes she is under constant surveillance during her daily activities.

She has called for an end to the military’s actions, emphasizing the positive impact of PDG’s work on rural communities.

“The PDG’s purpose is noble in helping farmers, fishermen, and laborers. Even the residents and associations can testify to the falsehood of their allegations against us,” Perla stated.

Woman farmer speaks out

Florena Talibutab, a farmer from Brgy. Tabunan, Kabankalan City, has also shared her experiences with the military since June. She reports regular visits to her home by the military, with their presence persisting through August, September, and October. During these visits, they focused on taking photographs and requesting lists of association members, their officers, and their total numbers.

Despite Florena’s refusal to provide this information, the military continues to pressure her for details. Florena recounts an encounter with five military personnel, including De La Cruz, Rallios, De Mateo, and De Atras, who asked her to attend a meeting in Brgy Orong. She declined their invitation.

The next day, they approached her again, this time insisting that she attend a meeting at 5 AM the following morning at their brigade in Murcia. Once again, she refused to attend. The military’s visits continued until September, each time presenting a written resolution alleging that the PDG supported the NPA. Florena did not sign any of these resolutions.

Florena’s daughter was also approached and asked to sign another resolution certifying their participation in a so-called “peace rally” in Kabankalan while condemning alleged legal fronts of the CPP-NPA. Florena asserts that they were not present at the peace rally since she was at the Dr. Gumersindo Garcia Sr. Memorial Hospital at the time. She also notes that their address in the resolution is incorrect, stating that they reside in Brgy Hilamunan, not Brgy Orong as indicated in the document.

She demands an end to the harassment and interrogation, emphasizing that these actions disrupt their ability to work peacefully and earn a living as farmers.

Fisherfolks under attack

Alex Necessario of PAWIS Association, a fisherfolk organization based in Brgy. San Juan, also decried the relentless militarization and harassment they have faced from state forces and the NTF-ELCAC, all while encountering difficulties in acquiring their land.

The association alleges that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has manipulated the land acquisition process to serve its interests, and that the military, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), has been used to suppress the beneficiaries’ fervent aspirations to obtain the land vital for their livelihoods.

Since June 2020, multiple military forces, including the Special Action Force (SAF) and the PNP, have camped in their vicinity, instilling fear among the beneficiaries. The DAR has taken advantage of the situation, asserting that little progress can be made in the land acquisition process due to the substantial influence of the military and the presence of the Yusay family.

The struggle of PAWIS San Juan dates back to 2006, enduring over two decades under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which Alex claims has failed as a land reform program. Members of PAWIS have experienced gradual displacement from their jobs, facing ejectment cases, imprisonment, harassment, and confrontations initiated against them. During the pandemic lockdown in 2020, many members were arrested on baseless charges, requiring each member to pay bail up to Php36,000, depleting their already limited resources.

Complications in the process have compounded their difficulties. Erroneous issuance of notices of coverage, flawed resolutions from the Provincial Agrarian Reform Committee (PARCCOM) excluding lands from the process, and other issues have left them frustrated. They urge the DAR to provide effective solutions and adhere to the law in their pursuit of land reform.

In 2021, PAWIS members were allegedly coerced by elements from the NTF-ELCAC to surrender as rebels. Despite these challenges, the PAWIS association has found support in PDG Inc. According to Alex, it was the late Atty. Ben Ramos, then director of PDG, who initially extended a helping hand to them. Ramos was shot and killed by alleged state-sponsored assailants on November 6, 2018.

Alex maintains that PDG has operated with transparency, without any hidden agendas or underground affiliations, contrary to the claims made by an individual named Ka Roy. In Alex’s view, Ka Roy appears to be a creation of the military with the intention of discrediting PDG, which has been a valuable source of support throughout their ordeals.

Disinformation campaign

“This problem stems from the issue of land concentrated in the hands of a few large landowners due to the failed CARP,” Danilo Tabura of Kilusang Magbubukid Negros (KMP) stated.

He claims that until genuine land reform is achieved, the government will continue to deploy state forces to suppress farmers who demand it. Tabura believes that the attacks against PDG are essentially an attack against farmers’ rights to organize and assert their democratic rights.

Tuyom Small Farmers Association (TUSFA), Salong and Camansi Farmers Association (AMMCAO), Paghiliusa sang mga Mangunguma kag Mamumugon sa Salong kag Camansi (PAMANGAS-CA), Kauswagan sang Bino para sa Hilway nga Palangabuhian (KABUHIAN), and other local associations in South Negros have released statements condemning the disinformation campaign against PDG.

These associations have emphasized that PDG has been an invaluable partner in assisting them for many years, offering guidance on agrarian reform, sustainable agriculture, and productive techniques. They have reaffirmed their commitment to working with PDG to continue their mission of improving the lives of impoverished farmers and laborers and have urged the public not to be misled by false information spread by individuals like Roy, urging them to stand up for their rights and land reform.