Robredo urges ‘clean, independent’ probe into killing of 9 Calabarzon activists

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo called on Monday for a “clean and independent” probe to give justice for what she called the “massacre” of nine activists and the arrest of six others in a series of raids in Calabarzon on Sunday.

“We strongly condemn the killings in Calabarzon as we have condemned the taking away of so many innocent lives under this administration. Our call is for justice,” Robredo said in a statement, which is partly in Filipino.

READ: Robredo’s statement on Facebook

“We are calling for a clean and independent investigation to ensure that those responsible will be held responsible and that justice will be served,” she added.

She noted that the killings came two days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered state forces to kill communist rebels and “don’t mind human rights.”

“At this time when there’s an increasing number of those dying, starving, and suffering because of the pandemic, this is the painful truth: The killing of Filipinos continues. It has been almost five years that the poor are being killed in the name of a drug war,” Robredo said.

She encouraged people to unite, saying:

“This is not the time to give in to the fear that we are being forced to feel. On the contrary, the call is only growing stronger for us to show that we are ready to unite and link arms to protect each other; that we are ready to stand up and speak not only for our family and the people we know but for others who believe in good governance, freedom, and democracy; that they would need to face each one of us if they would want us to stop telling the truth: The Filipino people deserve better than this murderous regime.”

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