Makabayan Southern Mindanao

𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 | Forum on the PNP Attacks Against 14 Activists from Southern Mindanao

Date: June 14, 2026
Platform: Google Meet
Time: 3:00 PM

After the recent malicious and dangerous attacks of PNP Cateel, targeting youth activists from different organizations, namely Emmanuel Pamaylaon from KPL-UPMin and Cobbie Canda KPL SMR Chairperson, branding them as "active wanted persons", we must ask what really transpired during that day and how do we continue the fight against fascist attacks.

This isn't simply an "inconvenience" easily excused with an apology. Instead, it is a clear threat of state fascism in the face of our youth activists. This act of red-tagging is a calculated tactic used by state forces to stifle dissent. By baselessly framing activists as criminals, PNP Cateel is not only stripping us of our constitutional rights but is also effectively placing a target on our backs, exposing our comrades to heightened risks of surveillance, dry, illegal arrest, and state-sponsored violence. These tactics are intended to sow fear that discourages youth activists from advocating for social justice and accountability in our government.

In light of this forum, we will discuss the political implications of these attacks and solidify our collective response to hold PNP Cateel accountable for their abuse of power.

It is imperative that we stand together in the face of this intimidation, as we continue to assert that activism is not a crime and that our fight against corruption and state neglect remains necessary.

📍𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: https://forms.gle/Myp9vkBwfGjYpm6G7

BOGUS HEARING, BOGUS EVIDENCE: SENATE PROBE SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR POLITICAL DEMOLITION JOBS

The Makabayan bloc condemns the use of the so-called “Blue Ribbon Committee” hearing as a platform for political demolition jobs, unsubstantiated accusations, and manufactured narratives against progressive leaders and former Makabayan representatives.

Sa gitna ng nagpapatuloy na sigalot sa liderato ng Senado, nakababahala na may mga pagdinig na itinutulak sa ilalim ng kaduda-dudang awtoridad at pagkatapos ay ginagamit upang magpakalat ng mga alegasyong walang sapat na ebidensya. Kahiya-hiya sa mamamayan ang isang hearing na batbat ng tsismis, haka-haka, at pampulitikang agenda.

Ang ipinresentang "ebidensya" ay hindi ebidensya kundi puro kwento, insinuation, at tahasang kasinungalingan. Lalong nawawalan ng kredibilidad ang mga tinaguriang testigo dahil kitang-kita ang pagbabago ng kanilang script depende sa umiiral na pampulitikang alyansa. Pagu-bago ang mga kasinungalingan depende sa kung sino ang kakampi at sino ang kalaban sa kasalukuyang agawan sa kapangyarihan. May mga pangalang nawawala at may mga bagong pangalang lumilitaw depende sa pangangailangan. Ito ang pinakamalinaw na patunay na maruming pamumulitika ang nagaganap. Weather-weather ang kanilang mga akusasyon. Hindi ito seryosong imbestigasyon kundi isang demolition job na nakabalot sa anyo ng Senate hearing.

Muli, mariin naming pinabubulaanan ang anumang pagtatangkang iugnay ang Makabayan sa flood control scandal. Walang flood control projects, infrastructure allocations, o project insertions ang Makabayan, kaya wala ring anumang kickback na maaaring matanggap.

The Senate should get its house in order. Ang mga pasilidad at pondo ng bayan ay hindi dapat ginagamit para sa mga bogus na hearing, bogus na testigo, at bogus na ebidensya.

The Makabayan bloc will not be intimidated by fabricated allegations, political harassment, or smear campaigns. Patuloy naming igigiit ang katotohanan at pananagutan habang naninindigan kasama ng mamamayan laban sa korapsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan.

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PRESS STATEMENT
Rep. Sarah Elago
Rep. Antonio Tinio
Rep. Renee Co
June 4, 2026

𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: Kabataan Partylist Southern Mindanao Chairperson Cobbie Jan Canda, Kabataan Partylist Vice President for Mindanao Harvey Lao, and Kabataan Partylist 5th Nominee Jayvie Cabajes were posted as “ACTIVE WANTED PERSONS” by the PNP Cateel Municipal Police Station in their official page. The now-taken-down post also contains the names of youth activists from other organizations. This comes after a series of youth-led protests started calling for the impeachment of Sara Duterte and the arrest of Bato dela Rosa.

This is not the first instance of attacks on Canda. On June 16 of the previous year, suspected intelligence agents were looking for him in Midsayap, North Cotabato. These same state agents were also seen surveilling his family’s residence during that time.

Kabataan Partylist Southern Mindanao vehemently condemns in the strongest terms the state-sponsored attacks targeting progressive individuals and youth activists. These attacks are not only baseless but a waste of public funds. PNP Cateel labels these individuals as “ACTIVE WANTED PERSONS” but does not indicate any charges being charged against these individuals, and only aims at intimidating the youth who continuously fight for students' rights, human rights, a higher budget for education, and the youth who courageously call to hold corrupt government officials accountable. These patterns of attacks directly endanger the said individuals, as these will set precedents in future harassment cases and attacks directed at activists.

Kabataan Partylist Southern Mindanao also calls on the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines to investigate the case, and we also call on the support of other human rights advocacy groups to stand with your fellow human rights advocates. With the budget season on the horizon, this just goes to show where Confidential and Intelligence Funds are actually used, not to pre-empt security threats to the nation, but to attack its fellow Filipino citizens, especially youth activists.

Kabataan Partylist Southern Mindanao calls on the youth to remain vigilant and to face these state-sponsored attacks head-on. In the face of fascism, the youth must remain steadfast and militant in fighting for the future that we deserve. Instead of cowering in fear, the youth must show that through organized and collective action, no amount of state-sponsored attacks can break their spirits, no amount of state-sponsored attacks will break us. We will continue to call for justice and accountability, and forward the genuine alternative to the rotten societal system that the Filipino people are suffering from right now.

Tanong-sagot hinggil sa impeachment