Labor leader cries harassment from rebels

From the Manila Times (May 12, 2023): Labor leader cries harassment from rebels (By Eugene Y. Adiong)

BACOLOD CITY: A labor leader in Negros Occidental said that he is being harassed by suspected members of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the province.

Allan Gozon, chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Labor Sector (DALO), on Thursday said he received information last April that a team of a special partisan unit (Sparu) of the NPA has been deployed to Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, where he resides.

Gozon said two persons in their mid-30s and wearing helmets went to their house on May 6, 2023.

"They acted suspiciously because they were wearing helmets despite the extreme heat. Our CCTV monitored their presence at our sari- sari (variety) store," the DALO chairman added.

On Monday, May 8, a group of suspicious-looking persons were seen "wandering near my house and when we verified their identities they were suspected rebels," Gozon said.

On Tuesday, May 9, another group composed of one female and three males "came to our area monitoring my movement and today (Thursday, May 11) the same group of unidentified individuals were seen by my neighbors returning," he said.

Gozon said that he was the target.

"My movement is legal. I regularly go to the offices of the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Labor Reconciliation Commission and other government agencies," he said.

"Right now, I am not staying home," Gozon added.

He said he had been advised that he is "a fixed target."

Gozon is the secretary general of the Kapatiran Para sa Progresong Panlipunan Inc. composed of former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group who signed a peace agreement with the national government.

"Why are they targeting me? I am not a combatant, I am not anti-people," he said.

Gozon also said he knows that as former members of the communist movement, the NPA "will be going after us."

"If they intend to assassinate me, that is not good propaganda. It seems they want to prove that they are a strong movement by assassinating individuals who are not even their enemies," he added.

"Our group does not want to wage war against them. We just want to protect our people."

He claimed that NPA rebels "had killed 13 of our leaders since the start of our peace agreement with the government."

Gozon called on the government to provide protection to three resettlement sites where they have built communities.

"We are asking the government to allow the putting up of a community defense unit to protect our community," he said.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/05/12/regions/labor-leader-cries-harassment-from-rebels/1891064