Police Operation in Calabarzon Left 9 Activists Killed, 6 Arrested
Nine (9) activists were killed while six were arrested in a separate police operation in Calabarzon according to Police Regional Office 4A.
PRO4A public information office chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Chitadel Gaoiran said they conducted a separate issuance of search warrants against communist terrorists in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal.
According to the report of Inquirer, six casualties were recorded in Rizal, two in Batangas, and one in Cavite. Nine others escaped, one in Batangas and six in Rizal.
Explosives and assorted firearms were recovered from the suspects. Gaoiran added that the backgrounds of the suspects are not yet known.
According to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, one of its members was among those killed in the police operation. It was identified as Bayan Cavite coordinator Manny Asuncio.
“The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan condemns in the strongest possible terms the brutal and deadly crackdown on activists in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal early this morning, March 7,” said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes.
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He said they will hold President Rodrigo Duterte and General [NTF-ELCAC spokesperson General Antonio] Parlade directly accountable for the killing and illegal arrest of these unarmed activists, as well as the brazen weaponization of search warrants and planting of evidence that were done to justify such actions.
“We demand that all those arrested be freed and that an independent, credible investigation into the simultaneous raids be done by Congress and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to hold those responsible to account.”
“We likewise demand that the Supreme Court take immediate steps to prevent the further weaponization of search warrants and other judicial instruments to silence activists, political dissenters, and government critics,” it continued.
The victims were identified as C hai and Ariel Evangelista, who were also members of the People’s Association Against the Destruction of Nature and Land. Two SIKKAD-K3 Kadamay Montalban were also killed in the said operation, Makmak Bacasno and Michael “Greg” Ditingao.
Bayan Laguna spokesperson Mags Camoral was arrested from the Town. The house of Bayan Batangas coordinator Lino Baez was also raided, according to Reyes.
A labor leader and a human rights worker were also arrested and the police allegedly planted evidence according to the Bayan Muna party-list. The house of Moises Braganza and certain Dodong “Bagsik” who were both peasant leaders were also raided.
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