MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan on Saturday said it was alarmed by a text message sent to its Southern Tagalog office and to the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) warning about a “liquidation” list with the names of some activists. ADVERTISEMENT“Karapatan considers these human rights defenders under extreme risk following the killing of Zara Alvarez and the numerous cases of extrajudicial killings in Negros,” read the tweet. Also included in the list were Ernesto Longhinos, spokesman of Bayan-Negros; Clarizza Singson, Karapatan- Negros secretary-general; John Lozande, secretary-general of National Federation of Sugar Workers; Rey Alburo, spokesman of Karapatan Negros; and Filipe Jelle of the September 21 Movement in Negros. “These killings are a handiwork of those who in the past have relentlessly vilified and threatened these individuals conducting human rights work and advocacy in Negros,” Karapatan said. A separate probe conducted by the Commission on Human Rights showed that Echanis was tortured before being killed by his assailants.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 22, 2020 15:33 UTC