Soldiers of the 15th IB surrounded and broke into the house of fisherman Joselito Macapobre in Guiljungan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on June 11. Macapobre is a supporter of the development organization Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group Incorporated (PDG Inc) which the Marcos regime accuses of being involved in “terrorism financing.”

Two days before the incident, Macapobre was summoned by the soldiers to force him to retract his statement supporting the PDG Inc staff’s counter-charges submitted against those who filed “terrorism financing” charges. In addition, Macapobre also noticed two people on a motorcycle who were surveilling him.

Human Rights Advocates Negros (HRAN) condemned the 15th IB for threatening Macapobre’s life. HRAN had earlier denounced the state’s harassment on PDG Inc for filing what it called trumped-up charges against the group’s five staff and associates.

The case of “terrorism financing” was filed by PMSG Francisco John Dumdumaya, deputized Anti-money Laundering Council Financial Investigator and member of the Regional Intelligence Division of the PNP Regional Police Office 6. It was based on the sworn statements of the self-identified “finance and logistics officer and commander of the “Tahod Ilahas Command of the CPP-NPA” allegedly operating in Negros, Jonel Roy Moreno and Danilo and Jeonna Dela Cruz who identify themselves as members of the local fishermen’s association in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

PDG Inc is an organization in the central and southern part of Negros Island and promotes the rights of farmers and fishermen for sustainable agriculture and social reform. The organization was founded in the 1980s.