Two activists from the Bicol region were killed before President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth State of the Nation Address (SONA) – they were shot while allegedly making protest graffiti.
Jemar Palero, 22, and Marlon Naperi, 38, were killed Monday after police saw them finishing “Duterte Ibagsak” graffiti on the Banao Bridge, according to a report by Defend Bicol Stop The Attacks Network, Monday night. This happened a few hours before Digong’s SONA.
Palero is a member of the Albay Farmers’ Organization (OMA), while Naperi is with the human rights group Albay People’s Organization (APO). They are both residents of Guinobatan, Albay.
“The unarmed civilians are now being branded as ‘nanlaban’ by police forces, an old narrative of the police being used in tokhang operations,” said Defend Bicol Stop The Attacks Network last night.
“Defend Bicol Stop The Attacks Network condemns, in the strongest term, this brazen attack on human rights. Dissent may take on many form, but to kill innocent unarmed civilians in the dead of the night for painting the people’s call is purely fascist and brutal.”
2 activists allegedly killed by Albay cops hours before SONA
Philstar.com is still taking the side of Brig. Gen. Ronnie Olay, Philippine National Police spokesperson, regarding the issue and allegations against the police, but still has not responded to the interview so far.
The incident happened just after Digong said in his last SONA that “he loves the Bicolanos” while explaining their infrastructure projects there.
“We also completed the Junction Lanao-Pagadian-Zamboanga City Road, which will provide easier access to farms and easily transport their agricultural products at low cost and in great quantities to industries and economic zones located in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay. The Sorsogon City in Bicol, inuna namin ‘yan kasi mahal ko ang mga Bicolano,” Duterte said yesterday.
Digong has previously threatened legal activists such as human rights advocates amid his bloody “war on drugs,” which is why he is being prosecuted for “crimes against humanity” at the International Criminal Court.
Duterte has also previously linked legal national-democratic groups to the rebel Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). Such red-tagging practices have resulted in death several times in the Philippines.
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