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Echanis killing another attack against Filipino activists, says Amnesty Int’l


The killing of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randy Echanis inside his own home is the latest in a string of attacks on political activists in the Philippines, rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday.

The organization’s Philippines Section Director Butch Olano urged the government to probe the “cold-blooded murder” of Echanis. 

“Killings continue unabated even in the midst of a deadly pandemic… those responsible must be brought to justice,” he said in a statement.

The Department of Justice and Commission on Human Rights earlier launched investigations into the activist’s killing. 

“His death is yet another addition to the intensifying attacks against political activists in the country. Public safety and respect for human life and human rights has been cast aside since the beginning of this administration,” Olano said.

“This legacy of death must end now,” he added.

Amnesty International noted that Echanis was among hundreds of people the government wanted to declare as “terrorists” in 2018.

Another NDFP consultant and peace advocate, Randy Malayao, was likewise slain by still unidentified individuals in January 2019.

In April this year, activist Jory Porquia was also shot dead in Iloilo while a non-government organization said 43 Filipino environmental activists were killed in 2019. 

“Several other individuals who have been ‘red-tagged’ or labeled as communists or terrorists have also been killed since the beginning of the Duterte administration,” Amnesty International said.

The Anakpawis Partylist earlier said Echanis, its former chairperson and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas secretary general, was found dead after five men were seen leaving his house.

Echanis’ remains are also a subject of controversy after his wife Erlinda said they were taken from the funeral parlor by cops. 

Police also arrested the paralegal keeping watch of the peace consultant’s body. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News

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