De Lima urges Duterte to revoke deployment of more troops in Samar, Negros, Bicol

Senator Leila de Lima on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to revoke Memorandum No. 32 which orders the deployment of additional troops in Samar, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Bicol region.

In a press release, De Lima claimed that MO 32 increased the number of killings.

“Mula nang ilabas ni Mr. Duterte ang kautusang ito, sa halip na mabawasan ay dumami pa ang kaso ng patayan at karahasan sa mga nasabing lugar kung saan nadagdagan ang bilang ng militar,” De Lima said.

The deployment of more troops to several provinces aims to suppress "lawless violence" in the areas, according to the Palace.

De Lima claimed that most of the victims of these killings were human rights advocates and peasants.

Recently, De Lima again filed her Human Rights Defenders' Protection Bill in the 18th Congress to protect human rights advocates against harassment and violence, especially from state forces. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News