Leni condemns Calabarzon ‘massacres,’ calls out ‘murderous regime’

In what could be her strongest statement yet against the Duterte administration, Vice President Leni Robredo condemned what she called the "massacre" of nine activists in Calabarzon, exhorting the people not to be afraid in standing up against a "murderous regime." 

"There is no other way to describe this: It was a massacre. And it came just two days after the President himself ordered state forces to 'ignore human rights,' kill communist rebels, and 'finish them off,' in his rant before the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict," Robredo said.

The Vice President added: "Indeed, these are difficult and dangerous times. So keep reaching out to your mates, check on your friends, and always take care. . . They have to face each of us if they want to stop us from telling the truth: The Filipino people deserve better than this murderous regime."

At least nine activists were killed while six others were arrested in simultaneous police operations in Calabarzon on Sunday, the Police Regional Office 4A had said.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Monday denied that the people killed and arrested in police-military operations in Calabarzon on Sunday were "communist-terrorists" as claimed by security forces.

Robredo called for a "clean, independent" investigation into the killings "to ensure those responsible are held accountable and justice is brought forward."

"Let's strongly condemn the killings in Calabarzon, as we condemn the suppression of so many innocent lives under this administration. Our plea, justice," she said.

"At a time when the number of people dying, starving and suffering due to the pandemic continues to increase, this is the painful truth: The killing of Filipinos continues," she added.—LDF, GMA News