File photo of Gloria Arellano joining a protest action (Photo by Dee Ayroso/Bulatlat)

“In truth, all of this panic mongering and “red scare” angling is being spurred by the authorities to justify increased repressive measures taken against critics of the government.”

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Urban poor group Kadamay assailed the harassment and surveillance of its leader Gloria Arellano as two police officers visited their office on Sept. 25.

The two police officers arrived around 9:00 p.m. at the national office of Kadamay, asking where Arellano lives and how often she reports to their office.

“When asked what their intentions were, they said they were tasked by their chief to ask questions about Kadamay,” the group said in a statement.

The visit came in light of the vilification of progressive groups as supposedly among those planning the ouster ploy against President Rodrigo Duterte dubbed as “Red October,” which Kadamay disputed.

Specifically, the military claims that the communities of Kadamay in Bulacan serve as so-called “breeding ground” of New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Kadamay said “this visit by state forces was meant to instill fear and gather information on the organization.”

“In truth, all of this panic mongering and “red scare” angling is being spurred by the authorities to justify increased repressive measures taken against critics of the government,” Kadamay said.

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