LUCENA CITY, Philippines—The killing of an activist’s brother in Batangas could be related to the recent dropping of criminal charges against 27 leftwing leaders in Southern Tagalog, an official of a militant fishermen’s group said Friday.

According to Fernando Hicap, national chairman of the fishermen’s alliance Pamalakaya said the victim, Felipe Bautista, was the brother of Agaton Bautista, Anakpawis party list coordinator in Batangas who was recently cleared of arson and rebellion charges in connection with the burning of a Globe cell site in Lemery, Batangas, last year.

“The failure of the national security syndicate in Malacañang to persecute Bautista and 26 other activists could have prompted the military to organize another extrajudicial killing activity to compensate for the legal setback by liquidating the brother of Agaton Bautista,” Hicap claimed in a statement.

A police report said the victim was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men in Calaca town Thursday night.

Hicap claimed that sometime in February 2009, police and military operatives had been persistent in asking Felipe Bautista about the whereabouts and activities of his brother Agaton.

Hicap said Agaton Bautista is the coordinator of peasant group Samahan ng mga Magbubukid ng Batangas, an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan.

Hicap noted that a few days ago, Batangas assistant provincial prosecutor Esmeralda Andaya junked the arson and rebellion cases filed against Pamalakaya-Southern Tagalog secretary general Isabelo Alicaya and 26 other militant leaders in the province that included Agaton Bautista.

“It was a triumph of the people’s persistent quest for truth and justice over the sinister agenda of the ruling national security syndicate in Malacañang,” Hicap said.