The 12th Civil Military Operation (CMO) Battalion and NTF-Elcac have been harassing North Caloocan residents for a month now. They have carried out rampant Red-tagging, surveillance, and harassment, especially against the barangays’ progressive organization members.

The battalion was first deployed in Barangay 181-182, Pangarap Village on October 3 under the guise of the Community Support Program. The military plans to suppress the people’s resistance against the Araneta family’s threat of demolition.

On orders of 2nd Lt. Julie San Jose and using peace and order as its pretext, the 12th CMO began encamping on October 6 behind the covered court of Barangay 175, Camarin, where the battalion concentrated its operations. Their operations expanded to Barangay 187-188 Tala several days later.

On October 28, individuals who identified themselves as police raided the Gabriela-Caloocan office. They claimed to have an arrest warrant but did not show any document. On the same day, the military and the barangay captain summoned Gabriela-Matarik members to the barangay hall, where they were accused of being recruiters for a revolutionary organization.

NTF-Elcac also used the barangay assembly on October 18 to spread disinformation and Red-tag mass organizations. The military blatantly surveilled progressive groups during anti-corruption protests held at Camarin Kiko Palengke and at UCC Congressional Village on October 10 and 17.

Defend Caloocan fears that the military will again coerce members of progressive groups and residents to “surrender,” similar to what the 12th CMO did to the United Vendors Alliance in 2024.

The ongoing militarization in North Caloocan aligns with the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development framework. According to the program Capacitating Urban Communities for Peace and Development led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, communities in urban areas with existing patriotic organizations are subject to surveillance, harassment, and repression operations by the PNP and AFP.