A network of alternative media organizations denounced the alleged intimidation experienced by a student leader and a media worker while conducting fieldwork at the Indigenous Molbog community in Barangay Catagupan, Balabac, Palawan.

In a statement, the People’s Alternative Media Network (Altermidya) stressed that no journalist or media worker should face intimidation, surveillance, or threats to life for doing their work. “These reported threats are grave and unacceptable.”

On October 8, Brent Sumague of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) Southern Tagalog and Marky Casaquite of Southern Tagalog Exposure, a member-organization of Altermidya, allegedly received threatening remarks from a certain Xyron Aliño who reportedly introduced himself as a personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command.

The alleged intimidation happened after local authorities trooped to the focus group discussion and consultation activity of Sumague and Casaquite with Molbog community members. The two went to the area as part of a documentary they wanted to produce about the possible effects of Super El Niño on Indigenous peoples, as well as the impact of alleged land grabbing linked to the establishment of the military site in Balabac town under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Balabac was reportedly part of the operating team. It released a statement debunking the allegations of harassment.

Sumague told Bulatlat that two individuals who introduced themselves as administrative staff of the Barangay Catagupan government brought them and other Molbog community members to the barangay hall, questioning the activity’s objective. The said barangay staff, he said, told them that the gathering of Indigenous peoples requires prior notice to the barangay.

“This was not new to Indigenous peoples since they have been told several times that gathering has been prohibited,” Sumague said in Filipino.

Julius Abubakar, administrative staff of the Barangay Catagupan government, said in a public Facebook post that the barangay’s action, in coordination with AFP and PNP, stemmed from the lack of coordination by Sumague and Casaquite as they conducted a meeting without prior notice.

He said that it is prohibited to conduct a pagtitipon (gathering) in the barangay, especially if the initiators are from other provinces.

“A prior notice from the barangay is not needed. A focus group discussion is a legal activity and covered by the constitutional right to free expression. The barangay has no power to impose such a requirement,” human rights lawyer Ephraim Cortez told Bulatlat when asked for a comment.

Sumague said that the activity was conducted at the Molbog Tribal Hall and it was attended by around 20 community members.

Human rights alliance Karapatan criticized local authorities for not allowing Sumague and Casaquite to stay in the community overnight. The LFS member told Bulatlat that they were on board the police mobile patrol and brought to a boarding house allegedly recommended by the police.

“It is equally unconscionable for the police and military to harass and threaten people who want to get the facts on the ground about the impact on the masses of both natural disasters like El Niño and man-made disasters like militarization to protect US interests,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general, said in a statement.

Altermidya expressed concerns about the situation of the concerned Indigenous community. “Communities must be free to speak to journalists, raise grievances, and express their views without fear of retaliation, surveillance, or harassment.”

The group called for an immediate and transparent investigation of the alleged threats attributed to AFP Western Command personnel, urging government authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists.

For Southern Tagalog Exposure, these alleged acts of intimidation violate the right to inform the public on issues faced by local communities and are attempts to stifle press freedom. (DAA)