Prior to the proposal & passage of the Anti-Terror Law, youth activists in Bacolod coming from various sectors such as environmental, gender rights, mental health, leadership, human rights, and the like had been subjected to major explicit red-tagging and intimidation from authorities even during the 70’s, and now blatantly via social media.

During 2019, the youth in Bacolod held milestone events such as the largest climate strike that led to Gov. Marañon an anti-coal executive order, declaring Negros as “coal-free”, the revival of the LGBTQ+ pride festivities & the largest pride parade in Bacolod City , a major awareness event & campaign for mental health held in collaboration with Cong. Gastaya, and various strides in promoting ecological welfare, youth empowerment, and campus journalism & press freedom (via Rappler’s #MoveBacolod initiative).

However, as the country’s largest media network was forced off the air and the Anti-Terror Law sweepingly passed in a matter of weeks, the once-accommodating attitude of authorities towards the youth activists of Bacolod and Negros have slowly changed.

June 5, 2020 – 8:00 am
Authorities harass youth outside Cong. Gasataya’s Office

As about 20+ protesters gathered in Bacolod City outside Cong. Gasataya’s office to protest the proposed Anti-Terror Law, police in Type A camoflauge uniform were already there dispatched ordering them to disperse, and documenting all those who attended. They also threatened arrest of everyone present, intimidating & harassing the youth, as well as ordering initially for their banners to be confiscated. Protesters were observing social distancing & health protocols, and were accommodated by the staff of Congressman Gasataya who engaged with them via a Zoom call later that evening concerning the Anti-Terror Law.

July 4, 2020 – 2:00 pm
Authorities threaten to arrest youth at the Bacolod Public Plaza

One day after the passage of the Anti-Terror Law, two groups of seven youth protesters marched from the San Sebastian Cathedral towards the Bacolod Public Plaza to express their dissent concerning the controversial law. The authorities intimidated them into dispersing, accused them of being “manipulated by adults who were enemies of the state”, and were threatening arrest despite unable to cite a valid reason as protesters were observing the quarantine protocols. When they tried challenging the youth upon their stance of the Anti-Terror Law, one youth protester cited the different clauses that deemed it troubling, further angering the police & military present.

July 15, 2020 – 6:30 pm
“House to House” by alleged officials and online slander of Bacoldnon activists

Three days after the youth created a solidarity lennon wall & shrine in front of ABS-CBN Bacolod to express solidarity with their workers & calls for press freedom, one Bacolodnon youth activist from the Student Christian Movement was slandered online for being a “supporter & legal front of the New People’s Army group”. Meanwhile, one day after the “house-to-house” search scheme was announced by PNP Chief Gamboa, the house of the aunt of an activist from the Bacolod Youth Alliance was approached by alleged “authorities” who stated that the youngster may be quarantined as they suspect she was a PUI. However, the youngster does not live in the same barangay as her aunt, had returned from Manila last March prior to announcement of any quarantine measures, and the authorities used her Facebook name instead of her real name.

July 27, 2020 – 4:00 pm
Dumaguete Youth harassed, barred from protesting at the city’s freedom park

Participants from various cause-oriented groups such as human rights, environment, LGBTQ+, good goernance, and church clergy were threatened arrest by local authorities who interrupted their program before they even started, claiming that having chants to #OustDuterte is illegal, and even rummaging through their belongings without a warrant & confiscating their placards. Their assembly was deemed “illegal” despite having sent a letter to the governor’s office. They were monitored & surrounded by military in riot gear and plainclothes officers, one of whom posed as a news reporter.

July 29, 2020 – 10:08 pm
Philippine Army Facebook Account brands Bacolodnon youth activists as terrorists

Youth activists from Bacolod were seriously red-tagged where pictures posted on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ official account Brown Eagle and page 303rd Infantry Brigade were used to label the students and youth activists who attended the #SONAgkaisa as terrorists and enemies of the state. The rally, spearheaded by Movement Against Tyranny Negros was attended by various organizations, civic groups, the church and government officials. The Army eventually credited the graphics to a user named Ramon Chua wherein the original post was last July 29, 2020 in the evening while the alleged creator (Chua) had posted the photos two days later at around 8 am om the morning of July 31, 2020.

August 6, 2020
303rd Infantry Brigade labels youth activists as subordinates of CPP Leader Joma Sison

After several Bacolodnon youth groups released a joint statement condemning the red-tagging, “Ramon Chua”, Brown Eagle (official FB account of the 303rd Infantry Brigade according to bio), and a separate 303rd Infantry Brigade published another redtagging post saying the Bacolodnon youth activists are “certified terrorists” and framing them as entities under the CPP-NPA.

August 7, 2020
303rd Infantry Brigade implies League of Filipino Students – Bacolod and Anakbayan are “front organizations of CPP-NPA”

The red-tagging continues as Ramon Chua and the 303rd Infantry Brigade stole an infographic from the League of Filipino Students – Bacolod and manipulating such utilizing rudimentary techniques to frame the organization as New People’s Army recruiters. They also state that “youth organizations are not terrorist, be aware of the terrorist virus behind the activist”, ultimately tagging the mass organization as terrorists.