Kilusan Para Sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) is an alliance of progressive groups and individuals in the Philippines that adhere to national democracy as a political line. It motivates, organises and mobilises people against imperialism in order to effect genuine change in the society. Its core task is mass organising but also engages in advocacy work through mass campaigns on current issues that cut across economic class and sectors.

"My organisation has been in the forefront of the struggle for the rights and welfare of the poor in this region. As the government pursues its development projects in Central Luzon marginalising the poor and militarising the whole region, we persevere with our campaigns to assert the rights of the people. What follows is the spate of extra-judicial killings, abductions and torture targeting all the members of militant organisations. In our organisation alone since 2005, there were 10 killed, 3 missing and hundreds harassed, the majority of them women.

I have been continuously intimidated with attempts on my life. At the height of the extrajudicial killings in Central Luzon from 2005 up to now I have been in the forefront in criticising the government on the political killings, in organising human rights organisations and human rights campaigns drawing even more the ire of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In June 2006 the AFP published a letter on their website addressed to three leaders including me. It stated that the communists had an ally in me and said I have no right to accuse the government and the AFP. They warned that “Ms Broquil’s world is getting smaller and the law closer to her”.

On July 9, 2007 at the KPD Leaders’ Assembly in Abucay, Bataan, Central Luzon where I was the main speaker, 4 armed men riding on 2 motorcycles barged into the place. When our Marshall checked them, one of the men drew a gun and threatened to shoot him saying that they are looking for someone and he should back off. We called the police but to no avail. In the absence of police assistance, we secured all our leaders and left in an organised manner. Incidentally, it is here in Abucay where two of our leaders, Kathy Alcantara and Audie Lucero, were killed in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

In September 13, 2007, whilst waiting for a French journalist outside a restaurant in San Fernando City, Pampanga, Central Luzon, unidentified armed men on a motorcycle approached me. I spotted his pistol and immediately found a safer area. The policemen in the vicinity did not even check him. Later I learned that the Philippine Army’s Military Intelligence Group (MIG) had been in the area at that time.

In October 28, 2007 the 24th Infantry Battalion Philippine Army arrested one of our members in Dinalupihan, Bataan, Central Luzon. During the interrogation, Lt Edgar Villanueva and Cpl Florante Valenzuela asked our member if he knew the activity of KPD, and said they had been looking for me for a long time.

In the evening of January 9, 2008 while I was visiting my children in our house in Olongapo City suspicious vehicles were roving in the area while one was stationed in front of my house for four hours waiting for someone to come out. Alarmed, I locked my doors and stayed put. The following morning when the street was cleared I left my house. A few hours later a suspicious man, who was identified as a member of the army’s network, stationed himself just across from my house where he closely observed the movements in my house.

As a mother and human rights defender I find it hard to adapt to this situation. The continuing harassment and threats on my life have deeply affected me. These threats have separated me from my children. This pain breaks my heart. But I can not stop working as a human rights defender. I have no regret and will never regret fighting for the people’s rights. Human rights defenders should go beyond fear, instead treat them as a challenge."