Both government agencies have moved to block the websites of a number of organizations, including those within our coalition, due to baseless accusations of terrorism. These organizations include PCFS members agricultural workers group Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA, Federation of Agricultural Workers), fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations in the Philippines) and rural women group Amihan Women as well as our network International League of Peoples’ Struggle, whose global secretariat is also based in the country.

Many of these groups represent and forward the interests of marginalized groups including the peasant sector and have been vocal against the government’s anti-people policies and human rights violations. This censorship presents nothing else but a direct threat to people’s right to free speech and expression. More importantly, the red-tagging is being weaponized as if advocating for people’s rights and food sovereignty are terrorist acts.

We denounce the government of the Philippines for yet another act of suppression, which is a danger not only to the organizations themselves but more so to the general recognition of political rights and civil liberties in the country. We say this following the unlawful mass arrest of more than 90 farmers and peasant advocates in Tinang, Tarlac province more than a week ago due to their assertion of their rights as agrarian reform beneficiaries.

These brazen attacks are not only additions to Duterte’s long list of atrocities against the Filipino people but are also a tell-tale that incoming president Marcos II will carry on his tyrannical legacy—more so considering that the latter will take the helm of the country’s Department of Agriculture.

That being said, we reiterate our call for Duterte’s accountability. We stand with the farmers, fisherfolk, and rural peoples who continue to publicly resist injustices despite constantly being pursued with malicious and groundless allegations. We also call upon our fellow advocates to denounce this attack and to echo our message of solidarity.