A labor NGO condemned today the successive cases of harassment suffered by two grassroots organizations of sugar workers and farmers in Batangas and called on the government to investigate the cases, hold those responsible accountable, and stop the harassment.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said that the recent harassment of members and an assembly of the Sugarfolks’ Unity for Genuine Agricultural Reform (SUGAR) – Batangas and the Alyansa ng mga Magsasaka para sa Kumpensasyon (AMK) is unacceptable.

“There is no valid explanation for the harassment by the military and the police of legitimate grassroots organizations of sugar workers and farmers. These cases of harassment should be investigated and stopped and those responsible for them held to account,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

SUGAR–Batangas reported that men introducing themselves as military personnel have been going to its members’ houses, interrogating them about the organization’s activities, and indicating that continued participation in the organization will be dangerous for the members.

One member of SUGAR-Batangas in Calaca town experienced harassment on June 23, while three members were harassed in Balayan town previously this month. In April, shortly before Labor Day, another member in Calaca faced harassment.

“We know that harassments by the military act as warnings, telling their targets that if they do not stop exercising their right to freedom of association and expression, something worse will happen to them. This should not be the case in any democratic society that is supposed to respect these rights,” Deligente added.

On June 4, meanwhile, more than 10 police personnel demanded that the AMK stop an assembly that it was holding in the Covered Court of Barangay Lanatan, Balayan. The gathering was set to discuss the group’s success in demanding the payout of P5,000 government assistance to affected sugar workers and farmers.

Video here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1299349188855248

“Farmers and farmworkers have legitimate grievances for exercising their rights to join organizations, hold assemblies, and express their viewpoints. It is simply unacceptable and illegal for the police to demand that they stop their assembly and other activities,” Deligente added.

In August 2025, AMK and SUGAR-Batangas submitted a list of their members who were bady affected by three successive typhoons that hit the province in July 2025 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) satellite office in Batangas. Despite the organizations’ victory, the DSWD office has failed to release the assistance to the farmers and farmworkers.