Project Namnama

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𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝘀 𝗟𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

KARAPATAN condemned the incidents of harassment perpetrated by elements of the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (IDPA) against a La Union-based youth organization that advocates education for all.

The Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) has reported that three members of youth group Project Namnama (PN)—Pearl and Precious Baybayan and Haggeo Perez—received last March several unwanted visits from soldiers of the 5th IDPA, who interrogated the victims and tried to pressure them into disclosing the names and addresses of PN officers and members.

“Such harassment in not new,” said KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay, who cited an incident in 2023 when a community library established by Project Namnama in Sitio Nagpanaoan, Barangay Alaska, Aringay, La Union, with a permit from the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office and the Barangay Local Government Unit, was forced to close down after the police harassed and red-tagged the barangay official who allowed the establishment of the community library. The police alleged that the library carried “communist and anti-government readings.”

“In another instance,” said Palabay, “police disrupted a Pproject Namnama activity by abruptly pulling out parents and hauling them off to attend a supposed meeting on the Anti-Rape Law. The meeting, however, turned out to be a seminar that red-tagged progressive organizations.”

Palabay decried the fact that the 5th IDPA’s harassment of the youth activists persisted even after the victims filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Regional Office. The 5th IDPA claimed that La Union Gov. Raphaella David had authorized the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, which is under the 5th ID’s command, to conduct a Community Support Program (CSP) in the province. “The CSP is the military’s monicker for psywar operations, under which the red-tagging, harassment and forced surrender of progressive organizations falsely alleged to have links with the armed rebellion is undertaken,” said Palabay.

“These red-tagging and harassment incidents are not harmless,” warned Palabay. “As the IHRA has noted, public vilification through red-tagging creates a political predicate for more severe human rights violations, including the filing of fabricated charges; procurement and ex*****on of search warrants based on fabricated statements from false or coached witnesses; and, in the most extreme cases, extrajudicial killings.”

“We urge the Commission on Human Rights to take action,” said Palabay. “Red-tagging is dangerous and must be stopped,” she concluded.

9 April 2025

Defend community education, protect children's right to learn!

The Children's Rehabilitation Center condemns the recent harassment of Project Namnama, a community education initiative in La Union, by members of the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (50th IBPA). This incident is a blatant attack on the right to education and a direct threat to the future of children in deprived communities.

On March 22, a Project Namnama volunteer reported being visited by individuals claiming to be members of the 50th IBPA. Despite failing to show any identification or explain their purpose, these individuals aggressively questioned the volunteer about their activities and pressured them into signing an affidavit declaring the initiative "inactive." This incident echoes previous instances where members of the 50th IBPA and the Philippine National Police have targeted volunteers, seeking out personal information and attempting to shut down their efforts.

These actions are not isolated incidents. They are part of a disturbing pattern of harassment and intimidation by state forces aimed at suppressing education initiatives in deprived communities. This pattern, which often includes community raids and community hamletting, directly denies children their right to education. The irony is that these same state institutions, while actively restricting access to education, often use "educational" activities like book drives and seminars to improve their public image. This hypocrisy reveals a callous disregard for the real needs of children and their right to learn.

The impact of these attacks on community education initiatives is devastating for the children they serve. These incidents directly impede children's access to crucial educational programs and resources, hindering their development and progress. The constant threat of harassment and intimidation creates a climate of fear, discouraging participation in educational activities and undermining children's sense of safety and security. The suppression of community education initiatives is a blatant violation of children's right to education, a fundamental human right enshrined in international law.

We stand in solidarity with Project Namnama and all community education initiatives facing harassment from state forces. These initiatives play a vital role in addressing the widening education gap, providing access to learning opportunities for children in underserved communities. Instead of wasting public resources on intimidating and threatening grassroots efforts, the state should focus on fulfilling its responsibility to provide quality education to all Filipinos, especially those in remote areas.

We call on all child rights organizations and advocates to denounce this attack on community educators. We urge the government to stop these acts of intimidation and harassment, and to prioritize the right to education for all children.

WE JUST WANT TO HELP THE KIDS!

Earlier today, one of our volunteers reported being visited again by individuals claiming to be members of the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (50th IBPA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), but did not show any identification or explain their purpose for being there.

On March 3, 17, and 19, they also visited other members of Project Namnama, asking about the whereabouts of other volunteers and whether Project Namnama is still active. They even presented a supposed “roster” of our members, which is private information. One of our members was pressured to sign an affidavit declaring that Project Namnama is “inactive.” Just like today, these individuals did not provide any identification.

There have been previous instances of harassment against our partners and organizations. In 2023, one community member who hosted our library reported that members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) questioned the presence of our library in her home. Later, in February of this year, other community members reported that individuals claiming to be police personnel showed them pictures of our members and inquired about our whereabouts.

We are alarmed by this invasion of our privacy and safety. This constitutes illegal surveillance and harassment, violating our rights. We are not engaged in any illegal activities; we are simply volunteering to address educational gaps in our communities.

We are reaching out to all our friends, supporters, and former and current partners during this attack. Like you, we want to inspire hope and drive change, especially for the future of our nation’s children.

We are already in contact with the Commission on Human Rights and consulting with lawyers for legal advice. We will not be intimidated by illegal harassment and human rights violations. We will continue our advocacy for quality education for all.