MANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:03 p.m.) — Women's group Gabriela Cebu on Monday called for protection for Sheila Eballe, the woman who complained to President Rodrigo Duterte about quarrying in Naga City, Cebu and who is now reportedly in hiding.
The group the president's "tagging her as 'well-trained' by the New People’s Army" and alleged attempts by the quarry company to find her have put her at risk.
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"Because of this, Eballe was forced to seek refuge in a religious organization to protect her security after facing intimidation and harassment from security personnel of APO CEMEX Corporation a day after the dialogue," Gabriela Cebu said.
Apo Land and Quarry Corp. has denied it has sent its people to look for Ebarle.
"[W]omen in the community play a vital role in the recovery process through putting forward legitimate demands that enable government actions," the group said, adding women and children are most at risk after calamities. They are more vulnerable to hunger, intimidation, sexual assault and even death at evacuation centers.
Duterte's post-disaster visit
Eballe had presented herself as an evacuee from landslide in Naga and faced the president during his visit to the city last September 21.
"Stop the Apo Cement quarry. That’s what I’m asking. We don’t need food. What we need is for the quarry to stop because I believe if the people would just work, we’d still manage to eat," Eballe told Duterte.
According to reports, Eballe had not returned to their home since her confrontation with Duterte a few weeks ago.
The Freeman reported that the woman is safe but had to go into hiding after learning that security personnel of Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) reportedly went looking for her.
"I fear for my safety now. They are looking for me. I was first alerted when the security personnel from Apo were looking for me. Have I committed any wrongdoing? I only expressed what is true," Eballe said in a statement sent to The Freeman.
"Under the macho-fascist rule of Duterte, women like Sheila Eballe who speak not only for herself but also for the welfare of the community are branded with names and labels to silence their legitimate demands," Gabriela Cebu said.
Firm denies involvement
ALQC, meanwhile, denied any involvement to the supposed disappearance of Eballe and maintained its commitment to supporting the victims of the landslide in Barangay Tinaan, where at least 77 were killed and hundred others displaced.
"Said irresponsible claim has no room in this difficult time, when the communities' welfare IS OF the paramount importance. This is the last time ALQC will respond to this baseless report," the company said in a statement.
"It is foul for us to be associated in this incident," company spokesperson Chito Maniago said in The Freeman report.
Call to close down quarry
Eballe was among those who were asked to leave their residence in Barangay Pangdan as the area is located within the 100-kilometer radius from the landslide site.
When she made her request to Duterte, the president remarked on her fingernails instead of answering her appeal to stop quarrying, according to a report from SunStar Cebu.
"I guess you were at the beauty parlor when the landslide happened," Duterte said.
The president also suggested that New People's Army members might be inciting the people to protest, later on proceeding to rant against the Communist Party of the Philippines without responding to the plea against quarrying.
At least 72 have been confirmed dead in the September 20 landslide in Naga City while 11 are still marked missing.
The remains of 15 of the fatalities were laid to rest on Sunday.
LOOK: A Requiem Mass will be offered for the 15 Naga City landslide victims at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St Francis of Asisi before they will be laid to rest at Naalad Public Cemetery this afternoon | via Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad pic.twitter.com/wSL34ECAd5
— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) September 30, 2018
Cebu 'insurgency-free' for years
"Cebu is insurgency-free. There are no NPAs here," Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said in September 2017 after a former rebel who left the NPA in the 1990s turned over an old pistol."They are probably remnants of the Communist movement here who are now back to normal living."
In August 2017, the 3rd Infantry Division said the New People's Army has been trying to revive its presence in Cebu, which, The Freeman reported has been "insurgency-free for more than a decade now."
"They (NPA) are struggling, but they are doing it," Maj. Gen. Jon Aying, division commander, said then.
"That is what we are trying to do also because we want Cebu and Bohol to be vigilant, to prevent the resurgence of the communist movement there."