Following the Philippine National Police (PNP) Cateel Municipal Police Station’s now-deleted Facebook post of “Active Wanted Persons,” human rights defenders in Southern Mindanao condemned the blatant red-tagging of activists and student leaders in the advisories.
In a press conference on May 29, 2026, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Southern Mindanao Region (BAYAN-SMR) Representative Rauf Sissay said the group received reports on May 27 regarding two Facebook posts uploaded around 8:45 AM and 8:47 AM by the PNP Cateel Municipal Police Station page.
The posts, which were later deleted, contained the names, photos, and organizational affiliations of 14 individuals from progressive organizations in the Davao Region.
“Dili na kini bago nga insidente. Kung atoang balikon ang kasaysayan sa niaging rehimen ni Rodrigo Duterte, adunay gipakatag nga mga poster ug social media posts nga naga-tag sa mga progressive leaders ug aktibista isip mga terrorist recruiters ug supporters sa CPP-NPA,” Sissay said.
Sissay added that the posts were intended to intimidate and silence activists, reflecting continuing surveillance and profiling of progressive organizations in the region.
“We have reason to believe nga kadto usa ka taktika o pamaagi sa PNP, state security forces, ug sa NTF-ELCAC [National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict] aron hadlukon, i-intimidate, ug pahilumon ang mga progressive leaders, organizers, ug human rights defenders diri sa Southern Mindanao Region,” he asserted.
The posts remained online for about 8 hours before they were removed, but Sissay noted that the incident may already have sparked public suspicion against those included in the wanted persons materials.
“Whether gi-take down nila o wala, the damage has been done… Daghan na ang mga katawhan nga mahimong impression nga wanted diay ni sila, mga kriminal ni sila kay naa gud sa wanted poster.”
Gabriela Youth – Davao Chairperson Alyssa Ancheta, one of those named in the wanted list posts, questioned the criminalization of activists who campaign for women’s rights and social welfare.
“Mali ba ang pakigbisog para sa katungod sa katawhan?. Mali ba nga ipanawagan ang nagtaas nga presyo sa mga palaliton ug ang pagsaka sa kaso sa VAWC?” Ancheta expressed.
Ancheta further stressed that the incident affected not only activists but also their families and communities, heightening fear among those targeted.
“Dili lang ni siya mukatay sa amoa, mukatay pud ni siya sa among pamilya, sa among kauban, ug sa among mga kaigsuonan nga naga-worry sa among safety. Kinahanglan namo mag-double time sa pag-amping ug pagtan-aw sa among seguridad.”.
Karapatan-SMR Deputy Secretary-General Grecian Asoy raised concern that the circulation of the posts endangered activists and human rights defenders, citing past instances of red-tagging and wanted posters against human rights workers.
“Threat to life gyud siya. Based sa atoang history, daghan na kaayo’g human rights workers nga nakasinati og red-tagging ug gibutang sa wanted posters. Freedom of expression ug freedom of association ang gihikawan pinaagi ani nga mga post.”
Further, Anakbayan-SMR Chairperson Fauzhea Guiani described the posts as harassment and intimidation against youth activists and slammed the claims that student activism leads to insurgency.
“Ang pagpagawas sa PNP Cateel og peke nga wanted list dili lamang simpleng sayop o ‘oops’ moment. Kini usa ka klarong porma sa harassment ug intimidasyon… Dili krimen ang pag-organisa. Dili terorismo ang pagpangayo og hustisya, edukasyon, trabaho, ug demokratikong katungod sa katawhan,” Guiani emphasized.
PNP Cateel later issued a public apology, saying the “wrong photos” were posted on their Facebook page and clarifying that the individuals identified in the posts “currently have no warrants.”
In response to the public post, Karapatan announced that it will file a formal complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to hold the PNP Cateel accountable for its baseless red-tagging of activists and organizers.