The women’s group Gabriela condemned the series of intimidation and surveillance of women leaders from Cebu and Marikina in the second week of September. The police and military targeted women leaders Bebe Allere, Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League (CUPWOL) president, and Elizabeth Maynigo, Gabriela Partylist Marikina president, for standing up in behalf of the rights of the poor and their community.

In Cebu, Allere experienced two incidents of surveillance on consecutive days of September 10-11. Her neighbors said three plainclothes policemen idled across Allere’s house on September 10 from 2 pm to 4 pm. They again spotted state agents on September 11 at 2 a.m. They even pretended to be staff and employees of an electricity company.

They said the men asked residents questions and showed photos of Allere. They were allegedly looking for a woman-leader and investigating her activities. The police and military even took pictures of Allere’s house and its adjacent areas, spreading worry and fear among the neighbors.

Allere has previously experienced red-tagging and harassment on different occasions because of her solidarity with the people of CICC Mandaue and Carbon Public Market against threats of demolition and privatization.

In Marikina city, two self-identified policemen pretended to give financial aid to Gabriela Partylist Marikina president Elizabeth Maynigo on September 11 in Barnagay Santo Niño. After tracking down Maynigo’s house, the two operatives urged Maynigo to “surrender” and “cooperate” with them.

In March 2023, Maynigo experienced the same threat from an agent of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).

“These attacks by the state not only violates the rights of these women but also aims to instill fear among communities resisting unjust policies and projects,” Gabriela said.