Days after renowned health worker and human rights defender Zara Alvarez was gunned down in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, threats and surveillance of other civic rights organizations’ leaders in Negros Island followed, a death threat against Clarizza Singson (Sec-Gen of Karapatan Negros Island) and surveillance on Ereneo Longinos (Deupty Sec-Gen of Bayan Negros)

This evening, an unknown entity by the number of +639636172043 sent the following message to Karaptan – Southern Tagalog and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL): “I am a concerned citizen. The subjects for liquidation in Negros are

1) Zara Alvarez; 2) Ernesto Longhinos; 3) Clarissa Dagatan; 4) John Milthon Lozande; 5) alyas Tatay Ogie; 6) Rolando Rilyo; 7) Aldrin; 😎 Iver; 9) Rey and Filipe Jelle.”

Human rights and health worker Zara Alvarez was killed on August 17, 2020 in Bacolod City.

“Ernesto Longhinos” and Ereneo Longino, spokesperson and deputy secretary general of Bayan – Negros, are presumed to be one and the same. Today, Karapatan – Negros received reports that for 3 days already, an individual onboard a motorcycle was seen in front of Longino’s residence in Bacolod City. Last night, the said individual asked about Longino’s whereabouts.

“Clarissa Dagatan” is presumed to be Clarizza Singson, Karapatan – Negros secretary general. Clarizza has received threats in the past years. The most recent of threats is the comment posted on Facebook minutes after Zara Alvarez was killed, saying that Clarizza will be “next.”

“John Milthon Lozande” is presumed to be John Milton Lozande, Secretary General of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) and of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA). Lozande has received prior threats and was among those arrested and detained during the November 2019 raids in offices of people’s organizations in Negros.

“Rey” is presumed to be Rey Alburo, spokesperson of Karapatan – Negros, who had been receiving threats since April 2019, when human rights worker and Escalante City councilor Bernardino Patigas was killed.

“Filipe Jelle” is presumed to be Felipe Gelle of the September 21 Movement in Negros, a member organisation of Karapatan. Gelle worked with Atty. Benjamin Ramos, who was killed in November 2019. Since then, he faced threats and trumped up charges in Negros due to his human rights work. His name and that of Clarizza Singson were mentioned in the text messages they received after Patigas was killed.

“Alyas Tatay Ogie” and “Aldrin” are presumed to be colleagues of Lozande in NFSW, whose nicknames are similar. Tatay Ogie has been facing threats since April 2019. “Iver” is presumed to be former political prisoner Iver Larit of Kadamay – Negros.

Karpatan Alliance Philippines considers the aforementioned human rights defenders under extreme risk following the numerous extrajudicial killings in Negros, and call unto the Filipino and international community to #DefendTheDefenders; pressing for justice and accountability on the killing of Zara Alvarez, Randy Echasis, and all extrajudicial killings.

Ever since 2018, the island of Negros has seen over 90 killings of farmers, community leaders, politicians, lawyers, academe, and human rights defenders, 76 political prisoners, and 16 incidents of state-sanctioned violence against non-armed citizenry. Meanwhile, human rights groups estimate that over 30,000 people have been killed extrajudicially, including outside of official police work, ever since the start of the Duterte administration.