Makabayan solons condemn killing of activist Zara Alvarez

Lawmakers from the House Makabayan Bloc on Tuesday condemned the killing of activist and human rights advocate Zara Alvarez in Bacolod City.

In a statement, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate expressed rage over Alvarez's murder, especially as it came just after another activist and peace consultant, Randy Echanis, was buried.

"Tumitindi na talaga at walang tigil na ang atake sa oposisyon at mga kritiko ng kasalukuyang administrasyon. The killing spree of the enemies of genuine democracy are now going on a rampage," he said.

Alvarez, 39, was shot dead Monday night in Bacolod City. She was a teacher, a single mother, and a former campaign and education director and a current paralegal of human rights group Karapatan, the organization said.

Zarate said Alvarez, along with Echanis, was among the more than 600 people that the Department of Justice wanted to tag as terrorists in a proscription it filed back in 2018.

"This list has been trimmed down to only two after it was heavily denounced. But it seems that the said list has become a hit list of sorts as many of those named are now either arrested on trumped-up charges or worse, ended up being assassinated," he said.

"We demand a stop to this murderous rampage and terror, even as we seek j justice for Zara and other victims of extra-judicial killings and we will not stop until it is served," he added.

For her part, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat said Alvarez's killing shows the true colors of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020—that is, to silence critics of the government, activists and human rights defenders.

"Nakalangoy na sila sa dugo ng mga aktibistang pinapatay nila, panagutin ang pumaslang kay Zara Alvarez. Katarungan para kay Zara Alvarez at sa lahat ng mga biktima ng extra judicial killing," she said.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro also condemned what she described as an "act of cowardice and brutality" against Alvarez, who chose to spend her life working for the cause of teachers.

"To those behind her murder: You resorted to the tactics of cowards against one who had no weapon other than her fiery passion for teachers and the masses. Like our history has proven, against fascists, the time for reckoning always comes," she said.

The Kabataan party-list and Gabriela Women's Party, represented by Sarah Elago and Arlene Brosas respectfully, likewise called for justice of Alvarez's death.

Bacolod City Police Station 3 chief Police Captain Richard Fajarito said they are looking at Alvarez's link to leftist groups as one of the motives behind her killing.

The DOJ, meanwhile, said it "may consider" investigating Alvarez's killing. — BM, GMA News