Climate justice group condemns harassment of Bukidnon farmers following dialogue with DAR X

Media Communications
Jun 18
3 min read

Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) strongly condemns the systematic profiling and monitoring of agrarian reform beneficiaries and advocates by state security forces.

On June 10, 2026, members of Don Carlos Bukidnon United Farmers Association, Inc. (DCBUFAI) were intimidated by state forces, a day after an official dialogue with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Region 10 Office in Macanhan, Cagayan de Oro City. June 10, 2026 marked the 38th year of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.

DCBUFAI demands absolute accountability from DAR Region 10 officials regarding how the dialogue's confidential participant attendance list was leaked to law enforcement. The dialogue of DAR Region 10 and DCBUFAI is part of the national dialogue between June 10 Land Rights Committee and the Central Office and was officially scheduled by the DAR Office of the Secretary.

“DCBUFAI members had traveled to the DAR Region 10 Office specifically to track the progress of their long-delayed land distribution in Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Instead of addressing these systemic administrative delays, state security forces responded with immediate, heavy-handed surveillance and profiling of the civilian participants,” said Daisy Aballe, PMCJ senior Mindanao campaign officer for Food, Land, Water, and Climate (FLWC).

According to DCBUFAI, a member received a phone call from an individual identifying herself as a police officer. The caller demanded to know why the group held a "rally" outside the DAR office, citing a copy of the official dialogue attendance list in her possession.

“Another DCBUFAI member was contacted by a local barangay kagawad, who reported that individuals in civilian clothing, identifying themselves as police officers, arrived at the barangay hall and interrogated about organizational membership and recent activities. We did not conduct any protest program that day. But even if we did, farmers should not be surveilled and harassed like this. Intimidation tactics by the intelligence community and local police directly violate constitutional guarantees and our freedom of assembly. What the DAR Region X and the state security forces did will only support the interest of the big landlords and the big agribusiness corporation , and distract from the government's failure to enforce agrarian reform laws,” Aballe said.

Ian Rivera, PMCJ national coordinator, asserted that the rights to assemble and express grievances peaceably are inherent human rights protected under our Constitution. Region 10 of Mindanao is unique and alarming while other dialogues that happened in other provinces outside Mindanao on the same day had no security reprisals.

"We will not be put on the defensive for demanding that the government do its job. When laws are ignored, and government agencies prove inutile, it is the duty of responsible citizens to demand accountability. The illegal profiling and investigation by the police only compound the ongoing violations of agrarian reform laws, actively shielding powerful landowners and negligent officials from the consequences of their inaction,” Rivera stressed. He also highlighted an alarming norm where state "duty-bearers" treat constitutional exercises of free speech as security threats. This questionable protocol of the intelligence community creates an environment of fear, resulting in direct harassment and the stifling of legitimate dissent.

Aballe recalled that last July 2025, DCBUFAI farmers held a short protest after a dialogue with DAR Region 10. “Year after year, farmers go to these government agencies and offices to practically beg for the land they have tilled for decades. The government adds to the burden of the nation’s food producers, who are bearing the brunt of the multiple crises we are experiencing, by withholding the land they rightfully own. With all of those hardships, these state forces have the gall to harass our farmers. How much more should they have to take?” Aballe lamented.

DCBUFAI and PMCJ issue a stern reminder to police, military, and local government officials to respect basic human rights or face legal accountability for these violations. ###

For inquiries, contact:

Pat Pangantihon

Mindanao Policy and Communications Officer

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice

pjpangantihon.mindanao@climatejustice.ph

Mobile: +63 969 362 8588

For other PMCJ-related concerns, contact:

Sheila Abarra

Senior Media and Communications Officer

Philippine Movement for Climate Justice

mediacommunications@climatejustice.ph

Viber: +63-991-669-2356