2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 59 199 Gloria Tumalon, a Manobo indigenous activist and opponent of mining projects, was arrested in Surigao del Sur. Tumalon was one of 468 people accused of being an NPA member, a charge that is disputed. Environmental defenders in Mindanao, especially indigenous opponents of mining and agriculture projects, are often labeled as communists. In Negros, police and military forces have arrested and killed members of farmers groups and land rights activists and accused of being communist rebels. The associates of one group reported receiving frequent “visits” from the military during the island-wide lockdown. 200 The CHR Region 1 Office documented four cases of alleged red-tagging involving a fisherfolk member of the “Stop Exploitation Ilocos,” and the Secretary General of Anakbayan Ilocos Chapter. Allegedly, the victims in these cases were being harassed by Members of the 81st IB, Civil Military Operation, Sulvec, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. They are being accused that their respective organizations/ groups are just a front and that they are recruiting members to join the NPA. At present, these cases were assigned to CHR Investigators and are validating/ investigating the same.254 201 Akap Ka Manila Bay sent an email to the CHR Region III Office (CHR RO3) alleging that harassment, intimidation, and red-tagging is being committed by the 48th Infantry Battalion against the fisherfolks of Barangay Taliptip, Bulakan, Bulacan. Special investigators of CHR RO3 conducted an ocular inspection on the site and were able to meet and have a dialogue with the remaining residents consisting of eighteen (18) families out of the three hundred (300) affected families. All of those present denied that there was intimidation, harassment, and red-tagging committed against them. They say that the presence of the 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was primarily to maintain peace and order and they neither forced them to vacate nor demolished their respective houses. During the ocular inspection, the families at Sitio Kinse, Sitio Parihan, and Sitio Camansi were interviewed and stated that they will voluntarily demolish their respective houses after San Miguel Corporation will pay the PHP250,000.00.255 202 This kind of atmosphere of red-tagging covers not only human rights defenders but also extends to all Filipinos, especially celebrities who express their beliefs and convictions towards what they believe is right. The CHR is deeply concerned with the warning made by Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. against celebrities Liza Soberano and Catriona Gray after their vocal support of women’s rights and their participation in an online forum to voice out their dissent on gender-based violence. Thus the CHR issued a statement to 254 Romero, A. (2020). Region 1 HR Situation Report. La Union: CHR Regional Office 1. 255 (2020). Human Rights Regional Situationer Report January to June 2020. San Fernando City: CHR Regional Office III.