A day before World Fisheries Day, state forces reportedly harassed leaders of fishing associations in La Union and Iloilo. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers and Philippine National Police (PNP) elements swarmed the homes of the victims and attempted to arrest one of them.

In La Union, three 5th ID elements raided the home of Timek ken Namnama Dagiti Babassit a Mangngalap ti La Union (Timek)-Pamalakaya president George Cacayuran, on the morning of November 20 in Barangay San Manuel Norte, Agoo. Timek reported that the three individuals identified themselves as “Fernandez,” “Cacal,” and “Beltran,” and that a military truck parked in the San Manuel Norte barangay hall.

It stated that soldiers sought out Cacayuran without disclosing their reasons. The 5th ID soldiers themselves lingered long in front of Cacayuran’s house. “Prior to this, Cacayuran has been repeatedly harassed and forced to ‘surrender’, and has faced red-tagging,” Timek-Pamalakaya stated.

In Iloilo, police elements stormed and attempted to arrest Tay Victorino Vergara, an over 70-year-old member of the Asosasyon sang Magagmay nga Mangingisda sa Santiago (AMMS), in Barotac Viejo on the same day. The police attempted to arrest him to “clear his name.”

Barangay officials stood firm against the police’s intentions, stating that they had no sufficient and clear basis to take Vergara.

A Panay Alliance Karapatan statement said “the threat to [Vergara] remains, and we will continue to monitor the situation.” The group also noted that Vergara is not the only fisherman experiencing harassment throughout the island of Panay while advocating for the right to free association.

The Panay Alliance Karapatan reports that Barangay Santiago, where AMMS is based, has long been under military occupation. “Military personnel and the National Task Force-Elcac have subjected residents to red-tagging and pressured local leaders to ‘surrender’ and ‘clear their names.'”