Urgent Alert
November 13, 2026
On November 13, the Lakbayan ng Timog Katagalugan, or the People’s Caravan of Southern Tagalog, reported incidents of intimidation, surveillance, and attempts of the Philippine National Police to stop their march against Trump ahead of his November 17 visit to Manila.
The Lakbayan is a grassroots mobilization of hundreds of residents from the Southern Tagalog region opposing Trump’s agenda to advance the US-led Pax Silica project, which will displace Ayta indigenous people and farmers to create a US-led production hub for critical minerals, AI, and war materials. The Lakbayan formally began on November 12 through a protest action and program in Los Baños, Laguna, before marching towards Manila.
Throughout their march, Lakbayan delegates have faced delays and constant hounding from the police, who have attempted to prevent them from continuing at several locations. After an overnight stay in Santa Rosa, Laguna, delegates have reported severed brake lines and a pump belt on two vehicles used by the delegation. In addition, the Lakbayan found nails thrown across the road that punctured the tires of their vehicles.
Despite the threats and the harassment, the Lakbayan continues to march on towards Manila, where they will merge with another kampuhan contingent in Liwasang Bonifacio and will participate in back-to-back national protests against Trump on November 17 to 18. The total distance of the multi-day march will be 70 kilometers.
“ICHRP condemns the harassment of the Lakbayan in the strongest terms,” said ICHRP Chairperson, Rev. Sadie Stone. “It is right that the Lakbayan has asserted their rights and continued to march despite the many attempts of the PNP to stop it. It is the right of the people to assembly freely, without harassment, and uplift their demands for land, livelihood, and national sovereignty.”
ICHRP is increasingly concerned that Philippine state forces respect the people’s right to assemble and exercise their rights as Filipinos prepare for several days of protest against Trump’s visit during the ASEAN Summit, especially as the Philippine Police have deployed over 20,000 personnel to Metro Manila ahead of the Summit.
We call on the international community to lend their support to the Lakbayan, the upcoming people’s protests, and the rights of the Filipino people to fight back against Trump’s agenda to use the Philippines for plunder and war.
