Enrique Lozada Jr (Teng), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Manila spokesperson, confronted the Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence agent on August 19 for surveilling and stalking in his community in Barangay 105, Tondo, Manila for several days. Lozada confronted the agent in the barangay to complain about his spying. Apart from him, they are also looking for his father, Enrique Lozada.

Lozada said the agent is pressuring him to “surrender and reintegrate” with the government. Since August 16, he has noticed the agent repeatedly loitering near his house to take pictures. Lozada found out that the agent even tasked a barangay councilor to take pictures but the latter declined.

During the confrontation in the barangay, Lozada and his paralegal were able to force the agent to reveal his real name. The police agent brazenly offered him to enter the government’s “balik-loob” (resubmission) program and “surrender.” Lozada asserted his refusal since he has not committed a crime or wrongdoing.

They even tried to deceive Lozada into receiving aid, economic services and housing from the government. The Bayan-Manila leader rejected knowing it was part of the government’s “community support program” scheme that would later post him on social media as “surrenderee” or “rebel returnee”.

The Lozada father-and-son already suffered similar harassment and surveillance in March 2023 from soldiers of the 11th and 12th Civil Military Operations Battalions who encamped in the middle of poor communities in Manila, including Tondo. In April, state forces distributed posters that included the younger Lozada’s photo and name linking him to the New People’s Army.

Lozada believes that the harassment and surveillance on him is intensifying because of the growing resistance of the residents they are organizing for the Samahan ng Magkakapitbahay sa Temporary Housing (SMTH) where he also serves as an official.