2 pro-farmer party-list members shot dead in Sorsogon
Amid the election gun-ban, two unidentified men gunned down husband and wife farmers Silvestre Fortades Jr. and Rose Marie Galias on January 15 in Barcelona, Sorsogon, says human rights organization Karapatan Sorsogon. Fortades and Galias were members of Sorsogon’s chapter of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Party-list.
The incident happened as the two were selling agricultural goods in Brgy. San Vicente. The perpetrators rode a motorcycle, shot the couple dead, and escaped the scene.
Anakpawis Party-list and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) (KMP) condemned the crime and now tallies the number of politically-motivated farmer killings at 347.
“KMP condemns this latest brutality inflicted against farmers; especially for it occurring under a nationwide gun ban and so near the elections,” the latter said in a statement. “The Duterte regime's impunity with state-sponsored peasant killings have turned farmers into usual targets. This incident has pushed the number of peasant victims of political killings under the current regime to 347.”
Moreover, the two were also members of Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Sorsogon (Sorsogon Farmers’ Association) (SAMASOR), a local farmer organization calling for peasant rights and genuine agrarian reform.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) (BAYAN) Camarines Sur, a multisectoral alliance from one of Sorsogon’s nearby provinces, pointed out how the Duterte administration would resort to violence to people despite the ongoing health crisis..
“Kahit sa gitna ng lumalalang krisis pangkalusugan dulot ng palpak na pagtugon ng rehimeng Duterte sa pandemya, matinding pasismo ang kinakaharap ng mga progresibo at ordinaryong mamamayan sa Kabikulan (Even in the middle of an intensifying health crisis brought upon by the failed pandemic response of the Duterte regime, the progressive and ordinary citizens of Bicol region continue to face the wrath of their fascism),” BAYAN Camarines Sur said.
Mark Ernest Famatigan is a news writer who focuses on Philippine politics. He is an advocate for press freedom and regularly follows developments in the Philippine economy. The views expressed are his own.
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