The Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA)-Karapatan condemned 5th ID soldiers for its renewed series of harassment against Antonio Pugyao, a peasant leader of the Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitation), a regional chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Ilocos. Soldiers in civilian clothing visited Pugyao at his home in Barangay Cacafean, Marcos, Ilocos Norte on December 6.

According to IHRA, Sgt. Junas Difuntorum led the team of soldiers who went to Pugyao’s house. The soldiers reportedly forced Pugyao to sign a certificate of non-participation in the “CPP-NPA-NDF.” Pugyao refused and asserted having no connection with these organizations, thus he would not sign.

Sgt. Difuntorum also forced Pugyao for a photograph with the soldiers against his will. This is the second time Pugyao was harassed in the last three months. Prior to these incidents, the military already targetted him for Red-tagging and harassment in 2019. In 2020, they visited and “spoke” to his young child at school.

“The constant harassment of state forces caused so much stress and fear to his family, causing his wife to suffer a stroke,” IHRA stated. The group demands state forces to end the attacks against leaders like Pugyao and many others who are harassed for asserting their rights.

On November 20, IHRA documented the harassment of Timek ken Namnama Dagiti Babassit a Mangngalap (Timek)-Pamalakaya chairman George Cacayuran in Agoo, La Union. Meanwhile, in October, the Marcos regime charged Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment, and Development (ICRED) development worker Lenville Salvador, and Myrna Zapanta of the Ilocos Region Ecumenical Council (IREC) with “terrorism financing.”

According to IHRA, military officials are apparently pursuing a quota for promotions, rewards, and other personal gains under the Marcos regime’s counter-insurgency program. “Instead of continued repression, the Marcos Jr administration must instead listen to the calls of the peasant and fisherfolk communities for economic aid and compensation,” the group stated.