KARAPATAN raises alert on renewed harassment vs. Negros dev’t worker Joselito Macapobre
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
April 2, 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN raises alert on renewed harassment vs. Negros dev’t worker Joselito Macapobre
KARAPATAN raises alert on the latest incident of harassment and intimidation against Joselito Macapobre, a community organizer of the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG), amid continuing attacks against development workers and human rights defenders in Negros Occidental.
On March 30, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m., two coastal guards, identified as Jennery A. Pancho and Arquisa John Mark delos Reyes, went to Macapobre’s residence in Barangay Guiljungan, Cauayan. The two reportedly attempted to obtain the names of members of fisherfolk association PAMAGI. They interrogated Macapobre’s wife and another resident, inquiring about his whereabouts and making accusations linking him to the New People’s Army (NPA).
The incident has caused fear and alarm among the families of fisherfolk members, who believe that the gathering of names places them at risk of red-tagging and further harassment.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a series of threats and attacks against Macapobre and other PDG staff. On January 18, 2026, Macapobre survived an attempted abduction by alleged members of the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Candoni, Negros Occidental. He has also been subjected to repeated surveillance and red-tagging, including accusations of supporting the NPA.
Earlier, on January 25, 2026, death threats were sent against human rights lawyer Atty. Rey Gorgonio through Macapobre, while another PDG staff member, Analyn Mirano, received threats and coercion to become a military informant. These incidents prompted the filing of petitions for the writs of amparo and habeas data before the Supreme Court in February 2026.
“The harassment against Joselito Macapobre, his family and community, along with the threats against Atty. Rey Gorgonio and other PDG workers should stop. It places Macapobre, his family and community in danger, and we can only hold the state accountable for any harm that might be inflicted on them, Atty. Gorgonio, and the other persons under threat,” Palabay said.
Palabay stressed that the recent incident underscores the urgency of granting the petitions for their legal protection.
“We reiterate our call on the Supreme Court to immediately grant the protective writs, and on the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into these incidents. The lives and security of Macapobre, PDG workers, and the communities they serve are at stake,” she said.
KARAPATAN also called for an end to red-tagging and the targeting of organizations, warning that such actions have historically led to grave human rights violations, especially in Negros.
“These acts, from surveillance and red-tagging to attempted abduction and now the profiling of fisherfolk communities, are very clear violations of people’s rights. We demand that the Marcos Jr. government, whose policy of repression and curtailment of people’s rights does not stop even during these times of crisis, stop these attacks by his state security forces,” Palabay concluded.
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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.