• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) has condemned a death threat directed at Atty. Rey Gorgonio, chairperson of their Negros Chapter, amid intensifying land disputes in the region.
The threat surfaced during a public forum regarding a Writ of Kalikasan and a campaign against a palm oil plantation in Candoni, Negros Occidental.
A Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group (PDG) Inc. worker Joselito Macapobre received a text message warning that Gorgonio’s “bravery will lead to silence,” implying his assassination.
The message specifically cautioned others to distance themselves from the lawyer to avoid being ‘dragged down’ with him.
Gorgonio also currently serves as the lawyer of the PDG Inc.
“They create a chilling climate meant to intimidate and hinder human rights lawyers from independently performing their duties and providing legal services without fear,” the group said in a statement.
The NUPL noted the threat mirrors the 2018 assassination of Gorgonio’s predecessor and PDG executive director Atty. Benjamin Ramos, who was killed after similar surveillance and red-tagging.
The organization describes the incident as a ‘weaponization of counterterrorism’ intended to intimidate lawyers representing farmers, peasants, and political prisoners.
In addition, the Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights denounced the death threat and called on the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an investigation.*
