The reactionary state’s harassment against labor leaders in the Davao region is again on the rise. State forces harassed two labor leaders of the region this past week.

Two self-identified 10th ID soldiers “visited” the family of former Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region secretary-general Carlo Olalo twice at his house in Davao City. They threatened Olalo’s family and told them to make Olalo “surrender” himself to “clear” his name. This incident occurred on April 23, and was repeated yesterday, April 26.

On April 26, soldiers also “visited” the community of Melodina “Melod” Gumanoy, a labor leader in Compostela Valley in Davao de Oro. She was repeatedly threatened and forced to surrender.

The attacks on the two leaders are part of a series of harassments by the AFP on workers in the region. On April 10, the 48th IB abducted William Lariosa, also a veteran workers’ leader of the region, and has yet to be surfaced.