Bacolod City – Human Rights group Karapatan Negros Island said that the Philippine Army cannot fool the people with their “crocodile tears” over Zara Alvarez’s murder on the night of August 17, 2020
3rd Infantry Brigade Commander Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, in a report from one of the leading newspaper outlet in Bacolod, “condemned the recent killing of human rights activist Zara Alvarez in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City” and that “they will fully support the ongoing investigation” and they welcome any information that can enlighten them on the incident.”
Clarizza Singson, Secretary General of Karapatan Negros Island, said in a statement released today, “While we grieve the death of one of the nation’s brave and selfless daughter, we condemn the coward and cold-blooded murder perpetrated by no other than the state agents themselves.”
“Coward as you are, you have the nerve to point your bloodstained finger to other groups in the death of so many activists and progressive organization’s leaders and members. It is you and your blood thirsty agents are the ones who continuously vilify, demonize and harass our dear friend and colleague Zara. For so many years now, no other group was recorded to have threat, hurt, arrest and kill Zara and other activists, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police were the only group that had done those things against us. We are reminded of the SEMPO 1 and 2, series of killings under Memo 32 and E.O.70”, Singson fiercely added.
Singson vowed that the people will “never cower in fear and we will continue to seek justice whatever it takes.”
Zara Alvarez was a research and advocacy officer of Negros Island Health Integrated Program (NIHIP). She was also imprisoned for almost 2 years but her case got dismissed this year. She was also included in a proscription case of the Department of Justice filed in 2018 among those who were tagged as a “terrorists” and had experienced several death threats and harassment by the Duterte administration. One of which was the posters circulated bearing her face on a graduation picture along side with other progressive leaders who were tagged as NPA in Negros. Two of those died, Atty. Benjamin Ramos and former Escalante Councilor Toto Patigas, which until now their murder remains unsolved by the police.
Paghimutad 