The Save Gubat Bay Movement condemned the continuing repression of residents of Barangay Cota na Dako, Gubat, Sorsogon and members of its alliance. The group stated that despite victories in their struggle, they still face threats to their security.

SGBM’s brave stand and collective action won successive victories over the past years. It successfully nullified Fisheries Administrative Order 264, which prohibited them from catching crablets, and obtained a cease and desist order from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) to stop the planned construction of a coastal road in their community. It also pushed the dismissal of the cases filed three times by LKY Resorts and Hotels Inc., owned by former Agri Partylist representative Wilbert Lee, to seize their land.

In August, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) fined the company P50,000 for constructing the Cogon-Cota na Daco-Balud Del Norte Sur Coastal Road without an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

In an interview on Bicol TV Sorsogon on September 15, the leaders of various groups under SGBM discussed the continuing repression they experience and their resistance to the illegal land grabbing in their community.

Samahan Alay sa Kalikasan Cooperative (SAAKCO) vice president Rosanna Almine observed Armed Forces of the Philippines intelligence agents repeatedly asking questions about community leaders and their residence.

SGBM members have also been relentlessly red-tagged and continue to be maliciously accused of being members of a revolutionary group.

“We appeal to the AFP and PNP, we are legitimate fisherfolk, we stand for our rights, we are not NPA. You know that because you have intelligence funds to find out who we are. Do not label those who stand up for right and wrong as NPAs,” SGBM and the Sorsogon King Crab Raisers Association Inc. (SKRA) president Allan Espallardo asserted.

“You (the government) did not help us with our problem. Who is helping us? Those you call rebels (Bayan Muna Partylist) are the ones who helped us to restore our livelihood. None of you helped us when we were oppressed and persecuted,” Espallardo angrily declared.

Last year, LKY deployed guards in the community blocking them from repairing their houses, claiming their eventual eviction from the land. In a dialog, the Sorsogon second district Congress representative Wowo Fortes tried to convince the residents to relocate. They were offered housing and P15,000, but availing a house would cost each of them P4,000 monthly for 25 years. The residents said completing the planned coastal road would be followed by the construction of a hotel, resort, and casino in the area.

The LKY personnel’s direct harassment and violence against residents may have refrained but the residents remain vigilant. They said the company plans to file more cases against them.

“We experienced LKY’s severe persecution, and no one hears us because this corporation is powerful. At night we fear that it might just set us on fire,” Cota na Dako Crablet Workers (COTAW) vice president Rofe Doncillo explained.

SGBM demands the AFP and LKY to stop the repression of the people and government agencies to respect their rights.