Human rights alliance Karapatan raised the alarm about the series of death threats by suspected State forces to intimidate rights workers and activists defending people’s rights in Negros Occidental. Among the human rights activists targeted were Felipe Levy Gelle, Jr., Deputy Secretary-General of September 21 Movement, Kimpert Alipoon and Rodrigo Wayang, Jr. of Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Group Inc. (PDG) and an unknown student activist. Both Gelle, Jr. and Alipoon have received photos of coffins and a message asking them to choose the ones they want the soldiers to use for them. On May 1 2019, Gelle, Jr. and his colleague Dharyll Albañez, were also charged with allegedly trumped-up cases after they reported to authorities the presence of a suspected military agent during a protest action organized by social organizations during labour day. PDG has been involved in the anti-mining campaign to prevent Colet Mines from operating and causing destruction to the hinterland forests of Sipalay in Negros Occidental and their founder human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos was killed in November 2018.