LATEST VICTIM Labor leader Dandy Miguel, shown in this undated photo from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog, is the latest victim of assassins in Calabarzon region. The Department of Justice has promised to conduct a “preliminary assessment” of Miguel’s case.
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday called on the government to “cease operations and crackdowns against rights defenders [in] this week of solemnity.”
CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia issued this statement following the murder of a red-tagged union leader in Laguna province on Palm Sunday.
Around 9 p.m. on Sunday, labor leader Dandy Miguel was on his way home, riding his motorcycle on Kapayapaan Road in Calamba City, when he was shot several times by still unidentified men, according to a report by the Calamba City police, which described the attack as a “shooting incident.”
Miguel, 35, a father of two, had just left his workplace at Fuji Electric Philippines headquarters in Carmelray Industrial Park 1. He was president of the union at Fuji Electric and also vice chair of the labor coalition Pamantik-KMU (Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno).
He died, wearing a red protest shirt with words demanding decent salary and protection for workers.
‘Escalating situation’
Miguel’s murder happened on the eve of the imposition of hard lockdown in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna, as the government scrambled to contain the surge in COVID-19 cases a year into the pandemic.
His assassins have not yet been identified, but De Guia called for a halt in the crackdown on rights defenders at least during the Holy Week.
In a statement, she also asked the government “to reflect on the sacredness of life and concretely demonstrate commitment to uphold and protect the dignity and right to life of all.”
“[The] escalating situation of violence and harassment against union leaders and activists… calls for urgent action and tangible measures,” De Guia said, as her agency has dispatched an investigation team to Laguna.
She also called on Congress and the justice and labor departments to “give preferential attention to this prevalent disregard to the right to life, security, and rule of law.”
Preliminary assessment
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday said, “If there’s any indication that Miguel’s death had something to do with his being a labor leader, the AO 35 committee will include his case for investigation.”
Guevarra was referring to Administrative Order No. 35, signed in 2012 by then President Benigno Aquino III, which mandates an interagency committee led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other human rights violations.
“Like what we did in the [killings of] Calabarzon [activists], we’ll do a preliminary assessment first,” the justice secretary said.
He said the committee scheduled a meeting last week, but this was moved to next month after several DOJ employees contracted COVID-19.
Progressive lawmakers expressed fear that the reimposition of a “militarized lockdown” would lead to more attacks and killings.
“We fear that there will be a surge of attacks as the regime’s fascist minions take advantage of the militarized lockdown,” Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said in a statement.
Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, also of Bayan Muna, appealed to the government not to use the lockdown to further commit human rights violations.
Red-baiting
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, in her statement, said: “We warn of intensified attacks during and beyond the Holy Week and the enhanced community quarantine. Threats and Red-tagging once again were scattered in the form of coffins with tarpaulins found in Boy Scout Rotunda and Edsa-Guadalupe Bridge.”
“[We] condemn in no uncertain terms the killing of Dandy Miguel. Killing trade unionists is abhorrent and has no place in a civilized society. Worse, this barbarity is now happening on a regular basis,” said Sonny Matula, president of the Nagkaisa labor coalition.