Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group, Inc. (PDG), a non-governmental organization supporting farmers in Souther Negros, has condemned the surveillance of its Kabankalan office by two armed men on a motorcycle on the morning of January 17, 2025, calling the incident a “direct threat” to the safety of its staff and facilities.

According to PDG’s official statement released today, two unidentified men on a motorcycle arrived outside the compound at approximately 9:30 AM. One of the men reportedly took photographs of the premises using a mobile phone, while the driver remained on standby.

When approached by a PDG staff member, the back rider allegedly revealed a pistol tucked in his waistband. Both men immediately left the area without explanation.PDG said that this act violated the election gun ban currently in effect.

PDG further stated that one of the men involved had previously been linked to an incident of harassment against Joselito Macapobre, a fisherfolk leader and witness in the case of detained social worker Perla Pavillar.

Pavillar, a development worker for PDG, alongside colleague Federico Salvilla, has been in detention since January 2, 2025, due to charges of “Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012”. (Read related story: https://paghimutadnegros.wordpress.com/2025/01/03/three-development-workers-of-pdg-inc-arrested-on-terrorism-financing-charges/)

The organization has called on government authorities to investigate the incident and ensure the enforcement of the election gun ban.

On the same day of the incident, two staff membere of the PDF filed a complaint letter to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) central office, where they reiterated their demand for the immediate release of Ms. Pavillar and Salvilla, as well as the dismissal of what it described as unfounded charges against them.