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Two members of the independent and progressive media UMANI Productions were fired shots at while interviewing peasant advocates, and farmers in their fact‐finding mission at Sitio Ricafort, Barangay Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, a disputed land between the local farmers and the Araneta Properties Inc. 

Journalists Manuel Garcellano and Reymark Umpacan of the fact‐finding team were attacked by four armed men who immediately left.

More than ten men arrived after around 15 minutes whose faces were covered with bonnets and masks. They were reportedly armed with handguns and high-powered rifles and harassed the journalists and families in the area. 

The men continued firing as the people scampered for safety. The armed men were able to chase Garcellano and attempted to snatch his camera. As he struggled, he was punched in the face, causing his nose to bleed.

The armed men also stole Garcellano’s SD cards, audio recorder, cables, IDs, ATM cards, keys, and cash.

One of the men allegedly taunted Garcellano, “Ayaw naming tinatakot kami. Sanay kami sa gulo,” reported by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and alternative media outlet Bulatlat. 

Garcellano stated that the armed men saw him filming the testimonies of the farmers before the attack.

The men coerced Garcellano, the paralegals, and the farmers to lie face down. Elderly farmers were also shot at by the armed men while they were lying face down; whereas Garcellano was also fired at, boring a hole in his pants. 

A group of women were also interrogated by the armed men, questioning who they were, where they were from, and their involvement, Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA) reported. The men also reportedly threatened the people while pointing a gun at their head. 

One of the guards took Garcellano’s monopod mount and smashed it in front of the journalist before leaving.

Local farmers revealed that the armed men are security guards of Araneta Properties Inc.  The corporation is allegedly planning to build a subdivision on the disputed land. 

Greggy, the husband of Irene Marcos,  is the brother‐in‐law of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Sa dami ng nangyari, maibubuod sa ganito: duwag ang Araneta-Marcos. Nagtatago sila sa likod ng mga baril at kawatan, kitang-kita naman ang anino nila sa gitna ng karahasan,” SAKA stated. 

In fact, this was not the first instance of harassment against the peasants by Araneta’s goons. Local farmers also reported that the armed men were the same men who destroyed their houses last January 26, 2022. 

The farmers have been facing eviction threats since 2013.

READ: https://www.facebook.com/csspsinag/posts/3220874564798797 

In a statement, Altermidya expressed, “The shooting and intimidation of journalists are a blatant violation of press freedom. Journalists should not be hindered in covering stories especially those that involve human rights abuses against farmers and marginalized sectors.”

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