PRESS STATEMENT
January 26, 2026
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemns the death threat directed at Atty. Rey Gorgonio, chairperson of the NUPL–Negros Chapter, and the continuing attacks against development workers of the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) Inc.
On January 25, 2026, while NUPL–Negros was holding a public forum on the Writ of Kalikasan and the campaign to stop the palm oil plantation in Candoni, PDG development worker Joselito Macapobre received a threatening text message explicitly warning against Atty. Gorgonio and intimidating those working with him. The message referred to drone surveillance near Macapobre’s home and implied grave harm should Atty. Gorgonio continue his work. It read: “Si Gorgonio, huwag lang nya sobrahan ng tapang. Kasi lahat ng katapangan, babagsak yan sa katahimikan. Pag napunta na sa katahimikan, walang saysay kung anumang posisyon o titulo niya ngayon. Huwag ka na sumabay sa kanya. Baka madamay ka pa.”
This threat echoes the killing of the late Atty. Benjamin Ramos, former secretary general of NUPL–Negros and executive director of PDG, who was gunned down on November 6, 2018 by suspected military personnel after being heavily red-tagged and surveilled. To this day, no one has been held accountable. Atty. Gorgonio now represents the clients left behind by Atty. Ramos, including farmers, peasants, and political prisoners, and is assisting in the campaign for the humane treatment of detainees at the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City.
On January 18, elements of the 15th Infantry Battalion attempted to abduct Macapobre, who is assisting farmers resisting the operations of Hacienda Asia Plantation Inc. His motorcycle was blocked by a black vehicle in Barangay Caningay, Candoni. He was forcibly seized by three armed personnel and brought toward a waiting van. Fortunately, as he was being pushed inside the vehicle, he managed to free himself and escape. Prior to this incident, soldiers from the same unit had repeatedly gone to his home and accused him of being a recruiter for the New People’s Army.
Soldiers also harassed another PDG Inc member, Analyn Merano, on January 16 and 17. She received threatening messages from a person claiming to be an agent of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, accusing her of links to the NPA and pressuring her to “cooperate” in exchange for money and assurances of safety. These incidents form part of a broader pattern of harassment against PDG Inc staff and partner communities, including terrorism financing charges against several workers and the coercion of farmers to monitor PDG’s activities amid intensified military operations and the implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).
These attacks against Atty. Gorgonio and his clients, whom the military has labeled as “high value individuals,” are part of the continuing weaponization of counterterrorism measures against development workers and human rights defenders. They create a chilling climate meant to intimidate and hinder human rights lawyers from independently performing their duties and providing legal services without fear.
These attacks must stop.
Hands off, Atty. Gorgonio and Negros peoples’ lawyers!
Hands off, PDG and development workers!
#StopTheAttacks
Reference:
Atty. Josalee S. Deinla
NUPL Secretary General
+639174316396
