Two Karapatan Sorsogon staff, Ryan Hubilla and Nelly Bagasala, were brazenly gunned down in broad daylight on 15 June 2019 in Sorsogon. This morning, former Bayan spokesperson, Neptali Morada, was also boldly shot on his way to work in Naga City. These are the recent alarming attacks in a spate of condemnable violence and hostility directed towards members of activist groups particularly in areas where there is increased military presence. We note that the Karapatan members were previously subjected to alleged periodic surveillance by government security forces.

Regardless of their affiliation, as Filipinos and human beings, the victims’ rights especially their primordial right to life must be protected by the government. We cannot stress enough that swift justice need to be pursued to stop the normalization of violence in our society. The killings have been continuing and escalating but there is seemingly no proactive actions being done to protect human rights activists from another brash attack.

May these incidents propel the expedient passage of the Human Rights Defenders (HRD) Protection Bill when the 18th Congress opens to ensure prosecution of those that commit violations against HRDs. CHR-Region V has deployed a quick response team to probe and monitor the resolution of these injustices.