60 2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines remind government officials, in particular the security sector, to focus on promoting the rights and freedom enjoyed by the people, instead of perpetuating fear and distrust among them as they speak on behalf of the voiceless.256 203 On 6 May 2019, human rights group Karapatan, women’s group Gabriela, and religious group Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), went to the Supreme Court and filed a petition for the issuance of writ of Amparo and Habeas Data. The protection order was requested against the entire military sector and Malacañang officials. The filing of the petition spurred harassment tactics against them. There were posters vilifying them, incidents of tailing, and threatening messages. They juxtaposed these with public statements of military officials calling them communist fronts. 204 The Supreme Court granted the writs and remanded the case to the Court of Appeals (CA). In the CA, the hearing was for the purpose of determining final judgment – to grant the privileges or not. Due to procedural misunderstandings at the CA, witnesses were not allowed to go on the stand. Among the witnesses, was Zara Alvarez, who was to testify on the vile red-tagging against her and her colleagues in Negros and across the country. As stated in her 2019 sworn statement I have also experienced being detained for crimes I did not commit and I fear that it may happen again or I might be killed like what happened to the many farmers of Negros as well as Tatay Toto and Atty. Ben Ramos.257 The CA proceeded without hearing them, and in June 2019, denied the petition.258 205 On the celebration of the Human Rights Day on 10 December, the PNP-CIDG also launched a string of operations that led to the arrest of a journalist and six trade unionists on charges of alleged possession of firearms and explosives.259 The arrested individuals were Lady Ann Salem, Dennise Velasco, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Raiselle Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio, Joel Demate, and Rodrigo Esparago. 206 Such arrests are cause for concern given that there were statements by families and concerned personalities alleging irregularities and errors in the said operations, including the fact that arrests were made in the midst of red-tagging of activists and human rights workers. 207 It would be beneficial for the government, particularly the PNP, to address these doubts and allegations of anomalous arrests, especially since several pronouncements were already made by this administration—here and abroad—on its commitment to respect and protect the human rights of all.260 208 The CHR in its July 2020 report said that President Rodrigo Duterte created “a dangerous fiction” against activists and defenders. Groups reported an increasing number of incidents of red-tagging and harassment since June 2020. Groups claimed that there was clear intent to associate their names, faces, and organizations with violence, including rampant 256 See http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-commissioner-gwendolyn-pimentel-gana-on-the-warning-made-by-a-militaryofficial-to-liza-soberano-and-catriona-gray/. 257 Navallo, Mike. “‘I might be killed’: Karapatan shows slain Zara Alvarez’s 2019 affidavit seeking protection,” ABS-CBN News, 1 September 2020, available at https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/01/20/i-might-be-killed-karapatan-showssc-slain-activist-zara-alvarezs-2019-affidavit-seeking-protection, accessed 18 December 2020. 258 Buan, Lian. “Zara Alvarez asked for protection, but she died before the court could give it,” Rappler, 20 August 2020, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/zara-alvarez-petition-writ-amparo-habeas-data-court, accessed 18 December 2020. 259 Talabong, Rambo. “PNP goes on arresting spree on Human Rights Day,” Rappler, 10 December 2020, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/pnp-arresting-spree-human-rights-day-december-10-2020, accessed 18 December2020. 260 Commission on Human Rights. Statement of CHR spokesperson, Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, on the string of arrests on Human Rights Day, 13 December 2020, available at http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty – jacqueline-ann-de-guia-on-the-string-of-arrests-on-human-rights-day/, accessed 18 December 2020.