Several progressive groups in Southern Mindanao have announced their intention to file a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regarding a now-deleted social media post by the Cateel Municipal Police Station in Davao Oriental. The post allegedly identified some of their members as “Active Wanted Persons,” a claim the police later retracted, citing an administrative error.
During a press conference on May 29, 2026, Grecian Asoy of Karapatan Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) stated, “We will file with the Commission on Human Rights, and yes, there is a plan to file a case. We are still discussing the specific details with our legal counsel.” Asoy characterized the post as a “dangerous precedent” that endangers the lives of progressive leaders, asserting that the allegations were baseless and infringed upon their rights to freedom of expression, association, and belief. She further argued that the action violated their right to democratic participation by criminalizing human rights workers and individuals with differing political views.
Rauf Sissay of Bayan-SMR described the posting as a tactic used by security forces to intimidate and silence human rights defenders. He noted that similar incidents occurred during the Duterte administration, when activists were labeled as terrorist recruiters, human rights violators, or sympathizers of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). “Being an activist, being progressive, is not a crime, and we have done nothing wrong,” he emphasized.
Cora Espinosa of Gabriela SMR, an activist for over 20 years, recounted experiencing similar incidents under previous administrations, including those of former Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte. She stressed the importance of activism, particularly for women, many of whom remain unaware of their rights. She highlighted that activists, especially women, play a crucial role in empowering victims of Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC).
Alyssa Ancheta of Gabriela Youth SMR expressed shock at being included in the “Active Wanted List” after advocating for women’s rights. She noted that the post not only affected those directly named but also their families and friends, who feared for their safety. “Is it wrong to fight for the rights of the people? Is it wrong to call attention to rising prices of goods, where women are among the most affected? The increase in VAWC cases is happening not only in Davao but throughout the country. Is that wrong? Is that enough reason to place us on the wanted list?” she questioned.
Fauzhea Guiani of Anakbayan-SMR called the post a clear form of harassment and intimidation targeting progressive groups, particularly youth advocates. She stressed that young people have become targets because they refuse to ignore injustices in the country. “The youth should not be afraid to voice concerns and question the government. Critical thinking is a right, and organizing is not a crime. Asking for justice, education, livelihood, and democratic rights is not terrorism,” she said.
The groups also called for accountability from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for spreading false information and condemned the current administration, demanding the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac). During the press conference, leaders tore up printed copies of the deleted post in protest.
According to the groups, two posts were uploaded to the PNP-Cateel Facebook page around 8:45 a.m. and 8:47 a.m. on the day of the incident. They were taken down later that afternoon but remained online for approximately eight hours. The first post garnered 11 reactions, one comment, and two shares; the second received 26 reactions, three comments, and three shares. The groups believe the posts reached a wide audience, especially since they were tagged with the Davao Oriental Police Office. Approximately 14 individuals were listed, including nine youth leaders, three student leaders from the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin), and other leaders and spokespersons from progressive groups. The groups suspect more individuals were included, as the photos appeared cropped, and copies may still exist in police stations across the region.
Police Major Michael P. Celecio, chief of police of PNP-Cateel, apologized for the post, stating it was uploaded in error. “We had no intention of posting it. It was just a mistake that it got posted on our social media,” he said in a media interview. He ordered its immediate deletion upon learning of it and announced plans to strengthen screening processes for future posts. He clarified that the progressive leaders have no standing warrants and are not wanted in Cateel, and he apologized to the individuals and their families.
Gabriela Youth Davao condemned the apology, arguing it does not erase the danger, fear, and harm caused by the post. The group stated that falsely branding activists as wanted individuals and dismissing it as an “error” is a dangerous act that fuels intimidation, harassment, and public vilification. They linked the incident to a culture of criminal-tagging and attacks against dissenters through the NTF-Elcac, reaffirming their commitment to advocating for women’s rights, social welfare, and accountability.
UPMin issued a statement on May 28 expressing full support for any member of its community facing threats or harassment due to the post. “The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao administration firmly reiterates its commitment to safeguarding its students, faculty, and staff from unsubstantiated public insinuations, red-tagging, or harassment resulting from their critical stances on public issues,” the statement read. The university urged affected individuals to contact its official hotline and email, noting that emergency assistance is available. UPMin is investigating the incident and stressed that its commitment to due process and student welfare is “absolute and immediate.”
