Farmers’ group leader kidnapped in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — A leader of a farmers’ organization was seized from her home by unidentified men in Bantayan, Cebu on Saturday night.

In a statement, human rights group Karapatan said that four men and two women barged into the house of Elena Tijamo, program coordinator of the Farmers Development Center (FARDEC), in Barangay Kampigganon at around 8 p.m.

Tijamo’s sister tried but failed to prevent the suspects from taking her sibling away, Karapatan said, adding that “as of this writing, authorities have yet to locate the victim.”

The suspects were wearing face masks and black shirts, and did not introduce themselves.

Tijamo serves as coordinator of FARDEC’s sustainable agriculture program in Central Visayas.

FARDEC was among 19 organizations earlier identified by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as “fronts of communist terrorists” during a committee hearing at the House of Representatives, Karapatan said.

In a separate statement, peasants’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) condemned the incident and described it as a part of the government’s red-tagging of various organizations.

“Activists and development workers are being red-tagged and kidnapped. We are experiencing a preview of the ominious Terror Law,” the KMP said.

The KMP was referring to the anti-terrorism bill recently transmitted by Congress to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signature to become a law.

Under the proposed measure, a person suspected of being a terrorist can be detained without a warrant for 14 days.

The bill also seeks to repeal a provision under the Human Security Act of 2007 that awards a P500,000 per day remuneration for  wrongful detention.