By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — Writer, blogger and legislative staff Maureen Hermitanio did not expect that she would be put under surveillance by state agents.

In four separate incidents between Oct. 24 and Nov. 3, two men visited Hermitanio’s residence in San Mateo, Rizal. They insisted to talk to her for “background investigation” allegedly ordered by Congress Sergeant-At-Arms Ret. Brig.Gen Horacio Lactao. They initially presented themselves as members of the San Mateo Police but they refused to give any identification nor leave documents on the background check order.

Hermitanio works as a legislative staff of Anakpawis Representative Joel Maglunsod.

On Nov. 5, Hermitanio, together with Maglunsod’s chief political affairs officer Lualhati Roque and Anakpawis staff Ofelia Beltran-Balleta, confronted the police agent who was identified as PO1 Bonifacio Dela Cruz. He named his companion as PO2 Ireneo Descaya. Dela Cruz said they were just following orders from San Mateo police chief intelligence officer Michael Angeles.

Hermitanio and her colleagues got a copy of a “confidential” memorandum from Angeles. The memorandum dated July 22 was issued by the regional director of the Philippine National Police Calabarzon regarding the conduct of background investigation (CBI) order.

References to the memorandum include a letter request from Lactao dated July 1 addressed to the PNP, a memorandum from a certain TDI dated July 3, and an action slip from the Office of Chief PNP dated July 1, 2009 as part of the preparation for the opening of Congress’3rd regular session and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’ State of the Nation Address last July.

The order, a copy of which was sent to Bulatlat, directs the recipient to conduct a background check on several legislative staff to “determine their morality, integrity, discretion, character, reputation, affiliation to any threat group, derogatory information and/or criminal records.”

Based on a list in their possession, the policemen are also looking for several other congressional staff members of party-list organizations. Included in the order were Tony C. Rom, Agnes Marcell C. Lorenzana, Teresa C. Del Rosario, all residents of Rizal province.

Maglunsod attempted several times to personally confirm the “CBI order” with Lactao but the latter was on leave, according to Legislative Security Bureau personnel. “We need to know if there is indeed an order from Sgt-At-Arms Lactao for the conduct of background investigation on Hermitanio and other congressional staff of other partylist House members or district representatives,“ he said.

Maglunsod filed House Resolution 1481 on Nov. 9 calling on the House of Representatives to investigate the case. The legislator also called on Lactao and House Speaker Prospero Nograles to answer and address the issue.

“It is crucial and imperative to know if Congress is giving out personal information like name, address and other details of its employees and congressional staff to non-civilian entities like the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and if the HOR is in coordination with such institutions regarding surveillance activities on House Members, as well as congressional staff and employees,” Maglunsod said.

“The House leadership must look into this matter with due diligence as it is the duty of Congress to protect and look after the welfare and security of all its employees,” he said.

Political Repression

In an interview, Hermitanio considered the incidents as plain harassment not only against her person but also against Anakpawis. She said that there were many instances of surveillance against Anakpawis regional and provincial coordinators.

Maglunsod noted the suspicious timing of the surveillance activity with barely a few weeks before the deadline of the filing of candidacy for the 2010 national elections.

“We strongly condemn this case of harassment and invasion of privacy against Ms. Hermitanio and Anakpawis Partylist,”Maglunsod said.

Hermitanio also worked as a legislative staff and researcher of Rep. Rafael Mariano and as public information officer of the late Rep. Crispin Beltran. An advocate of labor rights, she is also a former consultant of the Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment (COCLE).

Activist, Writer

Hermitanio writes for numerous publications, including Bulatlat, PinoyWeekly, yehey.com and onephilippines.ph. She is the current editor of the politics section of thepoc.net. Her topics include politics, technology, lifestyle, labor rights and human interest.

During her college days, Hermitanio served as editor in chief of Catalyst, official student publication of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and she was the secretary general of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), an alliance of tertiary student publications.

Before working as legislative staff of Anakpawis, Hermitanio served as public information officer of Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement). (Bulatlat.com)

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