Anakbayan condemns killing of two rights advocates in Sorsogon

Anakbayan on Sunday condemned the killing of two members of human rights group Karapatan in Sorsogon, pinning the blame on President Rodrigo Duterte and his "butchers in the Armed Forces and the Police."

“This brutal slaying of human rights defenders is proof that Duterte’s relentless war on the Filipino people continues—especially against those who dare fight for human rights against his bloodthirsty regime,” said Anakbayan spokesperson Alex Danday.

“This is MO 32– the militarization of the countryside, and this is EO 70, the Whole-Of-Nation Approach in gory action," she added.

Memorandum Order No. 32, which covers the Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, and Negros island, reinforces the guidelines for the military and police in the implementation of measures suppressing lawless violence.

Karapatan members Ryan Hubilla and Nelly Bagasala were shot dead last Saturday by motorcycle-riding men at the Seabreeze Homes Subdivision in Barangay Cabid-an.

Hubilla was a Grade 12 student who co-founded Anakbayan Sorsogon and helped organize the youth in the province, the group said.

“Ryan was an outstanding member of Anakbayan Sorsogon. He has volunteered to serve the people of Bicol by joining Karapatan in defending Bicolanos’ rights against state abuses, and for this, he was gunned down in cold blood," Danday said.

"His killing is meant to terrorize the youth into simply accepting Duterte’s fascist reign, to cow Ryan’s peers into silence,” she added.

According to Karapatan, their members, including Hubilla, were tailed by a gray pick-up vehicle and a black motorcycle, both lacking license plates, last April 21 at 10 p.m.

This happened after Karapatan staff escorted Atty. Bart Rayco, NUPL-Albay lawyer, who was visiting his clients who were political prisoners at PNP Cabid-an.

Anakbayan vowed to fight for justice for the death of Hubilla and Bagasala and continue to defend human rights.

"We recognize that the only way to stop the bloodshed is to end the regime that masterminds it all. We will not stop. The more they attack the youth, more and more will become fed-up, rise, and take their place! Each attack strengthens the Filipino people’s rage against Duterte’s regime, the rage that will ensure his downfall!” Danday said.

A mobilization is set on Monday in front of Camp Aguinaldo at 10 a.m. to condemn Hubilla and Bagasala's killing.

Also on Sunday,  detained opposition Senator Leila de Lima denounced the killings of two human rights worker from Karapatan,  who she said, were both reportedly subjected to periodic surveillance by the military and police operatives before their deaths.

De Lima, a known human rights defender, underscored the need to seriously investigate the incident to ensure justice for the victims and their families and find out the involvement of state agents in the crime.

“The deplorable murder of two Karapatan members is nothing but an attack against all fearless warriors who fight for human rights, justice and freedom. Dalawa lamang si Ryan at Nelly sa libu-libong biktima ng karahasan at patayan sa bansa, kung saan madalas na target ang mga nasa laylayan na walang kalaban-laban, at ang mga nagtatanggol sa kanilang karapatan,” she said.

Police are still investigating the attack.

Earlier reports quoted Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, ay saying that the shooting happened around 8:50 a.m. as the victims took off from a tricycle. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News