2 activists tagged as communist rebels arrested in Iloilo town
Two elderly women activists were arrested in Iloilo during a joint police and military operation, with one, aged 64, identified by authorities as a communist rebel with an arrest warrant for rebellion from 2012.
Two elderly women activists were arrested in Iloilo on April 2, 2026, during a joint police and military operation. One of the women, aged 64, was identified by authorities as a communist rebel with an outstanding arrest warrant for rebellion dating back to 2012. The operation was conducted by combined forces of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines in an unspecified town in Iloilo province. The women were reportedly taken into custody based on the 2012 warrant, though specific charges beyond rebellion have not been detailed in available reports. This incident follows patterns of red-tagging in the Philippines where activists are frequently labeled as members or supporters of communist rebel groups like the New People's Army (NPA). Human rights groups have consistently criticized such operations as tactics to silence dissent and target legitimate activists. The arrests occurred amid ongoing anti-communist campaigns under the current administration, though official statements from police or military regarding this specific operation have not been widely reported in mainstream Philippine media sources as of April 2, 2026. The women's identities and organizational affiliations remain unspecified in current reports, and their current legal status and detention conditions are unknown.
Join the discussion
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below.