People at the venue reported the individuals as they were suspiciously taking photos and videos of participants and organizers of the activity from morning to afternoon.
The Isabela State University-Echague administration cancelled the September 21 screening of Noni Abao’s Cinemalaya award-winning documentary, “Bloom Where You Are Planted,” on the eve of the event.
In a statement published on the film’s official Facebook page, the organizers said that despite getting the approval, the administration led by Dr. Artemio Marti Jr. blocked the screening.
School officials claimed that “the activity could be connected to a political gathering of recruiters and anti-government activities in line with the significant date of Martial Law Commemoration,” and warned that a post-screening rally might ensue.
“With this, we see this as a form of censorship of the film,” the Bloom Where You Are Planted team stressed in their post.
Bloom Where You Are Planted depicts the ongoing struggles of human rights defenders and peasant advocates in Cagayan Valley, focusing on the lives of community development worker Agnes Mesina, peasant activist and writer Amanda Echanis, and late peace consultant Randy Malayao.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Cagayan Valley (CEGP) chapter alerted the public on September 20 regarding the presence of suspected intelligence agents at the film’s screening venue in Santiago City.
According to the post, people at the venue reported the individuals as they were suspiciously taking photos and videos of participants and organizers of the activity from morning to afternoon. “They also questioned the building’s security guard about the details of the event, including who organized it, what activities took place, and who attended,” CEGP said.
An organizer got video footage of a suspected intelligence officer taking pictures. When confronted and asked to delete the photos, the individual immediately fled.
CEGP said that such surveillance is a tactic under a de facto martial law where the freedoms are restricted. “This incident caused alarm among the audience and organizers of the film showing, especially given documented cases of military surveillance and harassment targeting activists, community members, and rights defenders in Cagayan Valley. “
“The entirety of the film was made for the people to see how the continuing attacks on Cagayan Valley activists are happening. It is saddening that the university administration seems to be on the side of the oppressors of student organizations,” the filmmakers said. (AMU, DAA)
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