Despite intense harassment and threats from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police, the Peoples Rising for Climate Justice successfully held the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) from October 11 to 14 in Rizal, Mindoro, Samar, Tacloban, and Negros.

With the theme “Grounding Solidarity: A Learning and Solidarity Mission to Communities Affected by Climate Injustice and Militarism,” ISM aimed to investigate and build solidarity with communities affected by the climate crisis, environmental plunder, corruption, and militarization.

The mission was part of a series of activities for the Asia Pacific People’s Conference on Climate Imperialism and Militarism, which will be held in Manila on October 16 and 17. Participants included researchers, journalists, academics, human rights and environmental advocates from different countries. Also participating were Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas’ Ka Danilo Ramos, former ACT Teachers Partylist representative France Castro, and Makabayan’s Liza Maza.

On the activities’ first day, October 11, PNP and AFP elements harassed the delegates in Tacloban City while they were conducting their regional educational tour. Intelligence agents reportedly patrolled the area where the delegates were staying and took photos without their permission. When confronted, the agent disclosed his work but refused to show his ID.

In Occidental Mindoro, on the same day, local agencies repeatedly subjected the delegates to fake processes to impede their planned activities. The activity nevertheless proceeded at the camp set up by the Mangyan-Iraya indigenous people of Sitio Malatabako in Abra De Ilog. They held a discussion on the indigenous peoples’ ordeals including land grabbing, corruption, militarization, and discrimination.

In Tanay, Rizal, 80th IB elements harassed the delegates on October 12. They forced to get the delegates’ names. Six soldiers were also seen patrolling around their accommodation that night. According to the group, this only showed the repression the AFP imposes against the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous people for opposing the Kaliwa Dam.

In Negros Occidental, groups held a discussion on the province’s sugarcane farmers’ condition and the Oil Palm plantations’ effects on the community.

The community in Marabut, Samar warmly welcomed the delegates on October 12. They discussed the farmers’ ordeals including rising poverty, lack of state support for agriculture, the effects of the climate crisis and calamities, and widespread militarization.

Ten soldiers were guarding the barangay hall when the delegates arrived in the community. Plainclothes soldiers were repeatedly seen taking photos of the activities. Soldiers set up a checkpoint just as the delegates were leaving the community. Plainclothes soldiers on motorcycles trailed them up to their temporary lodging. When confronted, one showed his AFP ID with the name Edwin Nabong, then immediately left. Two other men on unregistered motorcycles were also seen in the area.

On October 13, surveillance drones were repeatedly observed at the camp in Mindoro and in the Dumagat community in Tanay, Rizal. Motorcycle riding men were also seen taking photos and videos of the campsite. Dozens of police and military personnel threatheningly loitered around the camp.

In the afternoon, the Land Transportation Office-MIMAROPA, military and police blocked the vehicle of the Iraya indigenous people and their lawyer who will attend their hearing at the Abra de Ilog Municipal Trial Court. Their IDs were checked before they were granted passage. The land grabbing Pieceland Corporation charged 32 indigenous people with malicious mischief, trespassing, and usurpation or occupation of real rights and properties.

On October 14, men on motorcycles resumed their threatening presence while filming the campsite and flying drones overhead. Around 3 p.m., dozens of soldiers and police carrying long firearms entered the campsite area, terrorizing the community, especially children. Although the activity was planned to end on October 15, the blatant intimidation and harassment by the military and police forced the delegates to conclude it that same day.

On the same day, concluding the activity in Negros Occidental, the delegates held a press conference to discuss the initial data they gathered regarding the residents’ issues.