2 human-rights leaders slain in Sorsogon

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MANILA, Philippines – Two human-rights leaders from the group Karapatan were shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Sorsogon on Saturday, Bayan Muna representatives said.

Bayan Muna identified the victims as Ryan Hubilla and Nely Bagasala, both are community leaders and volunteers for Bayan Muna party-list when it campaigned for the 2019 May midterm elections.

The group said Hubilla and Bagasala were shot while riding a tricycle in the corner of Phase 2, Seabreeze Homes Subdivision Barangay Cabid-an, less than a kilometer away from Sorsogon City Police Office.

Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares condemned the killings, saying it could be a modus operandi against activists.

“This is highly condemnable and shows the same modus operandi of state forces in other extra judicial killings against activists,” Colmenares said in a statement.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said that the incident should be investigated to hunt and apprehend the perpetrators.

“We demand anew that this case should immediately be investigated and the perpetrators should be brought to account for their crimes,” Zarate said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)