We strongly condemn the unjust arrest of development workers from the Paghida-et sa Kauswagan Development Group, Inc. (PDG) based in Negros, Central Philippines. Fabricated charges were filed against Mr. Federico “Pedring” Salvilla, Ms. Perla Pavillar, and Mr. Daryl Albanez to silence them as staunch genuine agrarian reform and food sovereignty campaigners in the Negros region.
These development workers have long stood alongside Negrense farmers, agricultural workers, and their communities in the fight for land, livelihood, and sustainable agriculture. For over 37 years, PDG has secured 2,000 hectares of land tenure benefiting 4,500 farmer families. They have also supported their struggles against the Consunji-owned palm oil plantation in Candoni town and the destructive open pit mining and tailings spills of Maricalum Mining Corporation in the towns of Cauayan and Sipalay.
Yet their service has been maliciously tied to terrorism, in an attempt to demonize and criminalize development work that is critical against state-backed development aggression, landgrabs, resource plunder, and human rights violations. We view this attack not only as an assault on PDG but as part of a broader crackdown on grassroots organizations striving for a just, equitable, healthy, and sustainable food system, especially genuine agrarian reform in the Philippines. We denounce the Marcos Jr. government for employing the same schemes as its predecessors to silence and immobilize CSOs like PDG through judicial harassment.
We commend local and international efforts to quash the charges against these development workers. The campaign has gained global attention, with PDG invited to the EU delegation in March. While the Commission on Human Rights in Negros Island Region Office has forged unified action points with the development workers, continued support from the Filipino people and international solidarity remains crucial.
We demand the dismissal of these trumped-up charges against Salvilla, Pavillar, and Albanez the end of the political persecution of farmers and development workers. Let us unite against repression and express our solidarity with the rural people and their advocates in Negros.
Ways to support PDG:
- SIGN & SHARE THE STATEMENT: Call for the Immediate Release and Drop the Trumped Charges Against Five Development Workers in Negros Occidental, Philippines – https://defendngoalliance.wixsite.com/defend-ngos-alliance/post/sign-on-statement-to-call-for-the-immediate-release-and-drop-the-trumped-up-charges-against-five-dev
- SHOW SOLIDARITY: Your support—through donations, advocacy, or solidarity—remains crucial as these development workers navigate these challenges. We encourage our members and network to release statements, photos, videos, graphics, or any content that calls for the immediate release of PDG’s staff and the dropping of their trumped-up charges.
Our calls:
Free Pedring Salvilla!
Free Perla Pavillar!
Free Daryl Albanez!
Defend PDG!
Drop the charges against PDG!
Hands off development workers!
Repeal the Anti-Terrorism Law!
Stand with farmers!
Stop the attacks against farmers and land rights defenders!
Asserting land rights is not a crime!
Download the placards here: https://bit.ly/defendpdgcalls
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