16/10/2025
Statement | Truth prevails, the Abra de Ilog Philippine National Police (PNP) will never fool the people
The Abra de Ilog Philippine National Police (PNP) recent post on mass reporting the social media pages of Southern Tagalog Exposure and Peoples Rising for Climate Justice is a clear attempt to censor the truth in the struggle of the Mangyan-Iraya for their land and rights in Sitio Malatabako, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.
It is only evident through this desperate act of the PNP that they are the one causing distress and terror in the community. In Southern Tagalog Exposure's coverage in Sitio Malatabako, the PNP themselves are the ones who are torturing, illegally arresting, and working hand-in-hand with the private goons of the Pieceland Corporation. The photos clearly show that state forces are fully armed with guns, sowing fear in the communities.
During the Learning and Solidarity Mission these past days, the community and delegates continue to experience various forms of harassment and intimidation at the hands of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). We have reported instances in which surveillance drones and unidentified men were seen following community members and delegates. The distress that state forces are causing only instill fear to the community in holding these kinds of activities.
In the face of these violent acts, the Mangyan-Iraya community continues to persevere to fight for their land and rights. The community also filed complaints in the Commission on Human Rights regarding the harassment they faced from the Abra de Ilog PNP and goons of the Pieceland Corporation.
These experiences by the community only prove that what our newsroom covers is not mere 'fake news'. Rather, as an alternative media outfit, we are working to expose the harsh realities that the corrupt system continues to perpetuate on marginalized communities.
Southern Tagalog Exposure vehemently condemns these attacks from the Abra de Ilog PNP and their attempts to censor the truth. We also call on the wider community of journalists and alternative press workers to fight against the state-sanctioned attacks on press freedom. In the face of this outright harassment, our newsroom firmly asserts that there will be justice in truth and the voices of the people will prevail.