By KIMBERLIE QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY— Innabuyog, an alliance of women’s groups in the Cordillera, has called on the government to ensure the safety of an indigenous woman rights defender amid growing concerns over her continuous red-tagging.

In a statement, Innabuyog Chair Virgie Damay strongly denounced the red-tagging of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) against Fortunata “Emi” Barona-Careon, 52.

Damay urged the government to prioritize Carreon’s safety and security, emphasizing that red tagging violates her rights and places her in imminent danger.

“We implore relevant authorities and institutions to uphold the principles of justice, human rights, and democracy. It is crucial for the Philippine government to take decisive action in ensuring the safety, well-being, and protection of Emi and other women human rights defenders who have faced similar violations,” Damay stated.

The group said Carreon had been subjected to red tagging since 2020.

In a handwritten statement, Carreon called upon NTF-ELCAC, AFP, and PNP agents to cease spreading false accusations against her. She revealed that her name and photograph appeared in the Philippine Army’s “Rogue Gallery,” a list containing alleged members and leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“It is shocking, alarming, and disheartening to hear from my siblings that NTF-ELCAC agents have instructed them to tell me to clear my name and respond to accusations against me,” Carreon wrote in Ilocano.

She further disclosed that the same individuals threatened to obtain an arrest warrant against her if she failed to clear her name.

However, she has endured even worse mistreatment from Philippine Army soldiers. She recounted an incident on December 22, 1988, when soldiers in Abra used her, her siblings, and fellow villagers as human shields at gunpoint to escape a clash with NPA rebels.

“We encountered government soldiers in the boundary of Licuan-Baay and Lacub while a battle between government troops and NPA rebels was ongoing. They held us at gunpoint, confiscated my beaded necklace and my sister’s, and emptied our bags. They even claimed my face powder was a grenade and accused my sister of killing one of their fellow soldiers,” she narrated in Ilocano.

“I will never forget this experience, and now they (soldiers) have included me in their list, putting my life in danger,” she continued.

In addition to her safety, Emi expressed concerns for her family’s well-being, especially her mother’s frail condition. She shared that being tagged as a rebel has affected her work and source of livelihood.

Carreon, originally from Barangay Masablang, Licuan-Baay town in Abra province, currently resides in Barangay Camdas, Baguio City. She supports herself as a night market vendor in the city and is married with two children.

While acknowledging her fear for personal safety, Emi proudly proclaimed herself as an activist who has dedicated almost three decades to advocating for the rights and welfare of indigenous women.

“Despite the challenges, I have no regrets and will not turn my back on my work with indigenous people, especially women. I firmly believe that my contributions, however small, have empowered women in indigenous communities in the Cordillera,” she emphasized.

Emi demanded that the AFP, PNP, and NTF-ELCAC cease their red-tagging and dissemination of false information against her, asserting her innocence. She stressed that being a member of people’s organizations fighting for the rights and well-being of marginalized and oppressed individuals is not a crime.”Remove my name from your list because it puts my life at risk. Disseminating lies is unquestionably wrong,” she concluded. # nordis.net