30/05/2026
NEWS | ‘𝗔𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵’: 𝗦𝗠𝗥 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗡𝗣 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆, 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀
Southern Mindanao Region (SMR) progressive organizations and leader activists vehemently denounced the apology issued by Philippine National Police (PNP) Cateel Municipal Police Station over its posting of falsely identifying activists and student leaders as “active wanted persons,” further demanding accountability from the PNP unit’s reckless and dangerous act.
On May 27, the PNP Cateel unit published two now-deleted “Wanted Person Advisories” containing the photos and names of SMR activists, UP Mindanao alumni and student leaders. The 14 individuals falsely named on the posts had no standing warrants against them.
The said advisory posts were eventually deleted on the same day. In a media interview on May 29, PNP Cateel Police Chief PMAJ Michael Celecio apologized, describing the incident as a “mistake” and expressed regret for the “inconvenience” caused by the posts.
However, SMR groups and activists promptly rejected the apology and raised concerns over the harm it caused to the individuals involved.
“Anong ‘sorry, sorry’? Hindi ito simpleng pagkakamali lang. Malaki ang pinsalang naidulot ninyo at hindi ito mabubura lang ng hungkag at minadaling ‘apology’ ang panganib na ipinataw ninyo sa aming buhay, seguridad, kapakanan, at kalagayang pangkaisipan—pati na rin sa aming mga pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” Gabriela Youth Davao Chairperson Allysa Ancheta expressed.
Gabriela Youth Davao also condemned the apology, asserting that the incident was not a mere error but a harmful act that promoted intimidation, harassment, and public vilification against progressive individuals and organizations.
“It further emphasized that this reflects the deeply entrenched culture of criminal-tagging and attacks against dissenters that have long been normalized under the state’s counterinsurgency framework, particularly through institutions like the NTF-ELCAC, which continue to be weaponized against activists and other progressive personalities,” they added.
Kabataan Partylist-SMR Chairperson Cobbie Canda and Anakbayan-SMR Chairperson Fauzhea Guiani also stressed that PNP Cateel must be held accountable and demanded for an immediate investigation to the said police station.
“Dili matapalan sa ‘sorry’ lang ang epekto niini sa amuang seguridad. Dili kini simpleng sayop lamang o samad na pwede ra tapalan og band-aid. Kinahanglan manubag kamo sa katawhan ug sa balaud!” Guiani asserted.
KPL-SMR Chairperson Canda also expressed that the apology is not enough and demanded PMAJ Celecio to be ashamed and step down in response to the harm they did to involved individuals and their families.
“The apology of Mr. Celecio is a start but it is far from being enough. Commensurate to the danger that this has caused to activists, the damage done to their reputation and dignity, and the anxiety caused to them personally and their families, he should have some shame and resign!” Canda remarked.
Canda further called for an immediate investigation, raising questions about their sources, their motive in targeting progressive people, the amount of intelligence and confidential funds used, and the PNP unit’s standard operating procedure for information verification and posting information online.
Canda added that PNP Cateel must realize the weight of this issue holds, citing the documented cases in which the vilification of activists, journalists, and social justice advocates preceded bogus charges, arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝘃𝘀 𝗣𝗡𝗣 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹
In a press conference held on May 29 by the involved organizations and individuals, they announced that their next plan is to seek assistance and help from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“As our next step para ani na kampanya, of course, mag-file ta sa Commission on Human Rights,” Karapatan-SMR Deputy Secretary General Grecian Asoy said.
Asoy also confirmed that the groups are discussing the filing of administrative charges, although details are still being finalized in consultation with their legal counsel.
“Naay plano nga mag-file og case. Ang mga specific details ani, ginastoryahan pa namo with our legal counsel,” Asoy added.
Asoy expressed that the PNP Cateel’s action caused fear among them and it produced a “chilling effect,” explaining that this prompted threats to their lives and affected their sense of security.
“Aside sa fear na mag-istorya about specific issues, perhaps naa dira ang threat to life mismo. Wala na kay sense of security sa mismo nimong panimalay because historically speaking, naay mga namatay sulod sa silang balay, naay gipang-ransack ilang balay, gipangtamnan sila og evidence, planted evidences and of course, naa dira ang enforced disappearance,” the Karapatan-SMR Deputy Secretary General explained in a separate interview.
Bagong Alyansa Makabayan-SMR (BAYAN-SMR) Secretariat Member also maintained that there is malicious intent behind PNP Cateel’s posts.
“Gusto namo iduso na kini na mga screenshot, kini na mga post, kini na mga panulti—walay basehan, malisyoso, dili tinuod, ug walay lain na tumong kundi hadlokon ang mga aktibista, mga progresibo, ug mga nagpakabana na mga organisasyon dinhi sa Southern Mindanao Region,” Sissay said while tearing a copy of the post to signify condemnation.
The groups also reiterated their calls to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and to hold the PNP accountable for the incident.
Report by ZM, HD, RG.
