Peasant, fisherfolk groups raise alarm over alleged surveillance

Peasant group Anakpawis and Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Friday expressed alarm over the alleged surveillance in their Quezon City headquarters.

In a press statement, Anakpawis noted that on December 11 and 16, some suspicious individuals were allegedly seen in the vicinity of the headquarters in West Kamias.

These were caught on CCTV, Anakpawis said.

Also, it said the headquarters is housing former Anakpawis lawmakers Ariel Casilao and Fernando Hicap as well as Erlinda Echanis, the widow of slain Anakpawis chairperson Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis.

"Given the successive raids of houses and offices that led to arrests of activists, we can’t help but be alarmed on the series of surveillance targeting our office by suspicious individuals pretending to be usual passers-by," Hicap, now chairperson of Pamalakaya, said.

"We maintain that our office is a legal national campaign center of Anakpawis as well as Pamalakaya, and does not contain any firearms, explosives, or any illegal documents and paraphernalia. We are warning the police not to dare conduct any raid and plant any evidence that would indict our staff,” he added.

The alleged surveillance activities on the groups' headquarters came after the recent arrests of progressive individuals. The latest incident was on December 10 wherein Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem and six others were nabbed by authorities.

Activist groups have decried the supposed planting of evidence by state forces during police raids.

Hicap noted that the alleged planting of evidence and fabricated charges against activists to stifle dissent must stop. 

"All the police involved in this massive crackdown of democratic activists must be held accountable, including the human-rights-violator-in-chief President Duterte," Hicap said.

On the other hand, Anakpawis said it would make a request to the Commission of Human Rights to inspect the office as part of the preemptive measure against police raids.

GMA News Online is trying to reach the Quezon City Police District for comment regarding the matter.  —LBG, GMA News