Silenced, Unheard Cries

Activism is one of the driving forces of society to bring about change, and shake the spirits of citizens to fight for their rights, and advocate for justice and accountability from the people in power. However, if even the smallest cries of the people are being shunned, how can society communicate their needs and stand up against the injustices that they have been constantly facing?

This is a memory etched deep within the souls of the Filipino people as they commemorate the EDSA People Power, and revive the collective force of the society. The march on the streets does not just signify the cries for change, but also to seek for a republic that is people-centric, and not autocratic. The Philippines has a long history of colonialism, and dictatorship that has once put people to the sides— neglected, ignored, and oppressed. But if you think that the journey to change is over, your assumptions are far from the truth—the battle is far from won.

Silenced Silent 

During the mob for the 39th EDSA People Power Commemoration, an activist from Antolon, Caramoan, Camarines Sur, who has joined the walkout for the first time, calls for justice and protection against red-tagging, and harassment that her family has been experiencing. They are being coerced to shut their mouths and quietly comply with the oppression and unequal treatment they have been experiencing. 

In an exclusive interview, she revealed that her husband—a simple farmer—was being red-tagged, accused of being a communist, and labeled as a member of the New People's Army. “Dahil sa pananakot ini yong duda ninda na NPA daa,  Ngunyan, dae na nakauli an sakuyang agom”, the interviewee said. Their family has been subjected to threats, coercion for an arrest, and forced confessions. 

Her husband, and fifteen year-old child have faced forced interrogations, and intimidation related to these accusations. “Maski po ngani [an] aki ko na [mayo pang]  kamuang-muang pig imbestigar ninda. Kinse anyos pa sana, [mayo] pa man [itong] isip na ano [patungkol sa NPA], kun anu-ano pigsasabi [na pananakot].” she said in the interview. Due to the escalating situation, and eagerness of the government to silence them, her husband has been unreachable since August of 2024.

How is it that those deemed voiceless by society become the very targets of silencing by those in power?

Echoes of the Silent Voice

She calls for justice towards the marginalized sectors, particularly the poor, where rights stand as hypothetical instead of a structured reality. Militarization is one of the key issues she emphasized, and asserted that citizens should have their equal rights to resist social injustices, while also receiving protection rather than being oppressed and stripped of their rights.

Her story is not an isolated one, rather a piece of the many seeds of fear that injustices sow upon our society. Countless civilians face threats, unlawfully accused, and even killed. The government, which should uphold people’s rights, now knows nothing but to water the oppressions’ growth.

Hands Off, Ears Open

Although change is nothing but a blurry vision, the movement that citizens stand for is clearer than daylight: End the violence inflicted by the military and law enforcement—abolish NTF-ELCAC! For being a critic of the administration is not an act of antagonizing the government, rather a pathway towards an improved system, and a country where justice is not just a privilege of the powerful. 

No one wants to be forced to live in constant fear of being silenced or wrongly accused. The Anti-Red-Tagging Monitoring Project by the Ateneo Human Rights Center reported a total of 456 red-tagging incidents that are validated online and offline across the Philippines as of June 2024 through an online dashboard. Region V, which includes the Bicol Region, particularly the province of Camarines Sur slammed the highest number of incidents totalling to 41. While these online dashboards may not capture every red-tagging case, they offer a validated snapshot of occurrences within a specific time period, and it shows that these are not hypothetical incidents. Rather, they are the tragic truths of our society that we need to be awakened about. 

Though fear still lingers, the resolve is stronger. People should refuse to be silenced, and hope that their voice will bring about the change the country so desperately needs. Instead of viewing this as a march for communism, the government should see the spark within every potential it has for social reforms, and the big change all has fought for throughout the years. 

Will our cries be heard, or will we just continue to cry in chokehold silence?