Amihan condemns harassment of Cagayan women leaders

MANILA – The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women condemned the harassment and threats allegedly perpetrated by state agents against their leader Emilia Ventula in Cagayan Valley. They said that the incident was part of the government’s campaign to silence activists and peasant women who are pushing for genuine land reform and rural development.

According to Tanggol Magsasaka Cagayan Valley, an intelligence agent named Jeric Santos went to Ventula’s home on Sept. 8 in Alcala, Cagayan and asked her child regarding her whereabouts. 

Later that day, Santos allegedly tried to force Ventula onto his motorcycle when they crossed paths, but she refused. Two days later, on Sept. 10, Santos reportedly threatened Ventula inside the barangay hall in front of the barangay captain and secretary, warning her to “stay away from Jackie Ratin if you don’t want to get involved.” He added that Ratin, chairperson of Amihan Cagayan, would be the next to face a terrorism financing case and that authorities were only looking for evidence.

“The government’s response to legitimate calls against corruption, poverty, and injustice is intimidation, instead of addressing the issues and problems that farmers and women face every day,” said Cathy Estavillo, secretary general of Amihan.

Also on Sept. 12, the barangay captain summoned six members of Ventula’s organization to the barangay hall where police allegedly pressured them to pledge that they would no longer join any groups. The summons was reportedly based on a photo showing them alongside the logo of Bayan Muna.

Santos further warned Ventula by citing the fabricated terrorism financing cases already filed against Cagayan Valley organizers Isabelo Adviento, Agnes Mesina, Cita Managuelod, and Deo Montesclaros.

Jackie Ratin, chairperson of Amihan Cagayan and ninth nominee of the Gabriela Women’s Party, has also been subjected to continuous surveillance and intimidation allegedly by the 17th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women earlier reported to UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan that peasant women continue to face systematic state attacks for asserting land rights and food sovereignty. In a Jan. 23 dialogue at the UN House in Manila, Amihan, along with Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Tanggol Magsasaka, cited the killing of 46 peasant women, 14 minors, and 10 couples under the Duterte administration, as well as five minors and the Fausto family massacre under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.

The group also noted that there are at least 80 peasant women political prisoners, 60 of them during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s term, including cases of deaths while in detention. 

Other violations include harassment and red-tagging of leaders such as Leonisa Taray of Bohol, Emelia Ventula and Jacqueline Ratin of Cagayan, and Cita Managuelod, Rowena Hidalgo, Nenita Apricio, and Gladys Ganado of Isabela; freeze orders and red-tagging of Amihan’s bank accounts and website; and militarization and bombings of peasant communities.

Amihan linked these abuses to government counterinsurgency measures such as Martial Law in Mindanao, Memorandum Order 32 in Negros, Samar and Bicol, Executive Order 70 which created the National Task Fore to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. 

NTF ELCAC is the counterinsurgency arm of the government that has been criticised for rabidly red-tagging individuals. 

“It is only right to call for the abolition of the NTF ELCAC, the number one red-tagger. All those involved in violating the people’s rights must be held accountable. Women and farmers will not be cowed in raising awareness, organizing, and mobilizing to advance the fundamental rights of the people,” Estavillo said. (AMU, DAA)

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