MANILA, Philippines — Peasant activist group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the recent spate of surveillance and harassment against their leader in Bulacan by unidentified men believed to be government intelligence agents.
KMP had this to say on Saturday about their national chairperson Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos, after motorcycle-riding men reportedly looked for his whereabouts in Malolos City last January 3 and 5.
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"In one incident, one of the intelligence agents asked: "Where does Danilo Ramos live? We've been looking for him for such a long time since he's a terrorist,'" reported KMP in a mix of Filipino and English.
"This dangerous and brazen case of terror tagging poses a direct threat to the life of Ka Daning, his family, and other peasant leaders and members of the KMP and the progressive peasant movement."
KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka said that surveillance and harassment against Ka Daning have escalated since 2023, one of which happened in August last year. The incident led to a filing of reports with the Commission on Human Rights to "expose the state-sponsored rights violations. "
KMP and other legal activist organizations affiliated with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan have long been tagged by government officials as "one and the same" to the clandestine Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) even if the former are unarmed and working within the bounds of the law.
Philstar.com already sought the comment of Philippine National Police spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo regarding the alleged harassment by government agents but has yet to respond.
Ramos not fazed
"Despite such circumstances, Ka Daning remains critical and outspoken on the policies and programs of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Malacanang that affect farmers, fisherfolks, and rural sectors," the KMP said.
"We demand a stop to the harassment against Ka Daning. We demand a stop to the attacks against farmers and the peasant masses who feed the nation. Instead of heeding the plight of farmers and strengthening domestic agriculture, the Philippine government weaponized laws and used them against farmers, fisherfolk, peasant women, agricultural workers, and the rural youth," it added.
The CPP-NPA have earlier been designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council as a "terrorist group" in 2020 under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The group, however, remains legal and not a terrorist organization before the court.
The communist underground's political wing National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have earlier agreed to start a fresh peace negotiation with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in hopes of achieving "relevant socioeconomic and political reforms towards a just and lasting peace."