“We condemn the police for its continuous red-tagging, harassment and forcing Julie Marcos, an elderly peasant woman and member of AMIHAN in Amulung, Cagayan to surrender to ‘clear her name’. Today, Nay Julie was forced to sign a document prepared by the PNP and ordered to encourage other members of the farmers’ organizations to surrender and clear their names as well. We are enraged that Duterte and his state forces continue their attacks to peasant women, progressive leaders and activists amid pandemic, “exclaimed by Zenaida Soriano, National Chairpeson of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women.
According to Karapatan Cagayan Valley, the PNP Amulung first visited Nay Julie’s house last March 29, 2021 and forced her to surrender as a member and supporter of the CPP/NPA/NDF by clearing her name.
AMIHAN Cagayan decried the recent violation of Nay Julie’s basic rights and should be condemned as it endangered her life and her family. Nay Julie was active in promoting the welfare of the peasantry in the province and also a victim of Martial Law during the Marcos era.
Aside from the harassment of Nay Julie, last March 25, Anakpawis Amulung chapter coordinator Calixto Cabildo was arrested, charged with trumped-up charges and currently incarcerated.
Moreover, on December 2, 2020, Amihan Cagayan peasant organizer Amanda Echanis was illegally arrested and detained, along with her then 4 month-old baby boy Randall Emmanuel by the combined forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in Baggao town, Cagayan province. Amanda was charged with non-bailable trumped-up charges such as Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions and Illegal Possession of Explosives, same with the charges filed against peasant women who are currently incarcerated.
“We urge the public to join us in calling for #HandsOffJulieMarcos and condemn the fascist attack of the Duterte regime to peasant women and activists in Amulung, Cagayan and other parts of the country,” Soriano ended. ###
