Around 100 police and military personnel from Task Force Ugnay under the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division attempted to enter the Lupang Ramos community, as militarization efforts have intensified in recent weeks.

Residents were initially informed that city officials from Dasmariñas were conducting a “fire prevention inspection”. However, military and police personnel vastly outnumbered the city officials, with plans to conduct drone surveillance in the area.

Two weeks earlier, the Dasmariñas city veterinarian that inspected for suspected cases of African swine fever was also accompanied by a large contingent of state security forces.

Due to the pressure from the community, representatives from the Dasmariñas LGU then revealed supposed city resolutions alleging that Lupang Ramos was being investigated as a “consolidation area for radicalization” allegedly for the CPP-NPA.

“Huwad nga talaga ang pinakitang “concern” ng LGU ngayong malalaman nating operasyong kontra-insurhensya pala talaga ang pakay nila. Walang masama sa pag-oorganisa at paglaban ng mga magsasaka lalo na sa panahon ng malawakang kawalan ng lupa at paghina ng produksyon ng pagkain”, said Danilo Ramos, National Chairperson of KMP.

Kasama-LR has raised the alarm over the series of incidents and attempts to enter their community, fearing potential human rights violations amid Task Force Ugnay’s militarization efforts. KMP lambasts the clear attempt of the AFP, PNP, SWAT, BFP, and the LGU to violate the farmer-residents’ human rights and quell their struggle for land.

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka (Defend Farmers) reiterate their demand for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. ###