KARAPATAN condemns harassment of environmental activist and student leader
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
June 18, 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN condemns harassment of environmental activist and student leader
KARAPATAN strongly condemned the harassment against environmental activist and student leader Angel Lopez while in a community immersion activity in Nueva Vizcaya on June 13-14, 2026.
Lopez is a student at the College of Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman who served as Chairperson of the UP Diliman Engineering Student Council last year and is currently a councilor-elect of the UP Diliman University Student Council. He is also a member of Agham Youth UP Diliman, which is part of the broader environmental alliance Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP).
According to Lopez's account, he traveled to Nueva Vizcaya to participate in a community immersion and environmental investigative mission in communities affected by large-scale mining operations. While attending an Information and Education Campaign (IEC) in Kasibu, he was forcibly removed from the activity after family members, accompanied by men believed to be military personnel in civilian clothes, arrived at the venue.
Lopez was then transported in a vehicle accompanied by four suspected military intelligence agents and later brought to a restaurant, where he was interrogated by individuals who introduced themselves as a former rebel and a military officer. During the interrogation, he was repeatedly forced to admit of being a member of underground organizations, and was told that such activities that he participated in to lead to being a member of the New People’s Army. Lopez repeatedly asserted that there is nothing wrong in community work he is participating in.
"The forced removal of Angel Lopez from the community and his subsequent interrogation constitute clear acts of harassment and intimidation. We strongly condemn the use of military and intelligence personnel, the profiling of community volunteers, and the coercive questioning of a young environmental advocate," said Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general.
"Angel's case reflects the continuing pattern of red-tagging, surveillance, and intimidation employed against students, environmental defenders, community organizers, and human rights advocates under the Marcos Jr. administration. Instead of addressing legitimate concerns regarding destructive mining projects and environmental degradation, state forces continue to target those who stand with affected communities," Palabay added.
Lopez's case comes amid worsening attacks against environmental defenders in Nueva Vizcaya. In Dupax del Norte, communities that oppose Woggle Corporation’s gold exploration activities have faced intensified police operations, arrests, and trumped-up charges filed against environmental defenders. In Kasibu, residents resisting the planned operations of North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation have likewise reported intimidation, harassment, and increased military presence in their communities.
KARAPATAN also condemned the apparent use of Lopez's family members by State agents to pressure him into abandoning his advocacy and to compel what appeared to be efforts to make him "surrender" despite having committed no crime.
"Attempts to force activists to 'surrender,' extract admissions of links to underground organizations, or frighten them into abandoning their advocacy have no place in a society that claims to uphold people's rights. These practices violate fundamental freedoms and create an atmosphere of fear among young people who seek to serve communities and advocate for social change," Palabay said.
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.