CHR probe sought over alleged harassment of fishers; OPAPRU denies role

MANILA, Philippines — Fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the alleged harassment and intimidation of its members in Manila Bay by individuals who reportedly identified themselves as personnel of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

OPAPRU, however, denied the allegations, saying the person who identified himself as OPAPRU personnel is not employed by or affiliated with the agency.

In a letter addressed to CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc on Oct. 6, Pamalakaya members from Cavite and Navotas alleged that they had been subjected to repeated visits, surveillance and profiling by individuals who identified themselves as OPAPRU personnel.

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Pamalakaya had earlier detailed some of the alleged incidents in an Aug. 6 statement involving officials of its Cavite chapter.

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According to the group, on July 25, a certain James Gomez and another individual who identified themselves as OPAPRU personnel visited the residence of Pamalakaya-Cavite President Richard Catenza in Rosario, Cavite.

The two allegedly asked to speak with Catenza but were instead met by his wife, also a Pamalakaya member, whom they questioned about the organization’s activities and why local fisherfolk continued to join the group.

“Following the visit to Catenza’s residence, the two individuals traveled from Rosario to Bacoor City to visit the home of Bong Benosa, Pamalakaya-Cavite’s vice president. There, they again questioned the organization’s activities and repeatedly asked why fisherfolk continued to join Pamalakaya. The questioning took place in the presence of his family and several volunteers who were at the house,” the group said.

Pamalakaya said the individuals later visited the residence of its Cavite chapter treasurer, Arni Villalon, and again asked about the organization and its members.

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“This time, the individuals also tried to convince Villalon and her family to ‘have their names cleared’ from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) by cooperating with them, further raising concerns over the nature of the visit and the apparent monitoring of the fisherfolk leaders’ whereabouts and engagements.”

Pamalakaya said the individuals left their contact information with the fisherfolk leaders.

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The group told the CHR that the alleged “series of harassment and intimidation” targeted local Pamalakaya chapters involved in campaigns against reclamation, seabed quarrying and other forms of conversion in Manila Bay.

READ: Navotas fishers renew call to stop Manila Bay reclamation

Pamalakaya described the incidents as part of a “fake surrender program” and called on the CHR to investigate what it described as a coordinated campaign of harassment against its members.

“The government’s coordinated harassment against fisherfolk in Manila Bay does not concern only the safety and security of our local members. It also undermines the fishing sector’s collective efforts to preserve marine and coastal resources from destruction,” Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando Hicap said in a statement.

“The fishers who have been subjected to state harassment are the fishers who tirelessly campaign for the protection of our environment. They don’t deserve such dirty tactics of intimidation, surveillance and coercion from the authorities,” he added.

Hicap urged the CHR to send investigators to look into the incidents cited in the complaint.

“We urge the CHR to dispatch investigators and look into these serious cases of human rights violations. The OPAPRU should be made to explain why it has been targeting the legitimate concerns of fisherfolk regarding socioeconomic and environmental rights,” he said.

OPAPRU denies involvement

In a statement sent to the Inquirer on Wednesday, OPAPRU rejected Pamalakaya’s allegations as “baseless” and “malicious,” and specifically denied any connection to Gomez.

“The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) categorically denies the allegations made by the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) regarding alleged recent incidents of ‘harassment and intimidation’ carried out by our agency against members of the fishers’ group,” the agency said.

“First of all, there is no individual by the name of James Gomez who is employed by or affiliated with the OPAPRU. Any claim linking this individual to our agency is entirely false,” it said.

The agency clarified that its work is guided by peacebuilding, mutual respect and dialogue, and that its initiatives seek to resolve conflicts through conversation.

“As such, our agency will never engage in any form of harassment or intimidation, especially against marginalized sectors or local communities that must be protected and supported at all costs,” it added.

READ: Opapru partners with UP, Miriam College on women, peace, security issues

The agency said it is already coordinating with law enforcement authorities to identify the person who allegedly presented himself as an OPAPRU personnel.

“We are now closely coordinating with the concerned law enforcement agencies to identify this ‘James Gomez,’ who presented himself as OPAPRU personnel,” the agency said. “Our agency will not allow any individual to misrepresent our institution or compromise the integrity of our peace work.”

OPAPRU also said it remained open to engaging with the fisherfolk group to resolve the issue.

“If Pamalakaya wishes to engage with the OPAPRU and find a peaceful resolution to this issue, we are very much open to this,” it said.

The agency also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified accusations that it said could undermine the integrity of its peace workers and institution.

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It called for cooperation in addressing what it described as “animosity, fear and misunderstanding” and in promoting dialogue and peace. /dm