More Negros Oriental-based activists on liquidation list – Karapatan

August 23, 2020

Human rights group Karapatan on Saturday said it received information that some of its members in Negros Oriental are also target of liquidation following the killing of Zara Alvarez.

In a statement, Karapatan said it received a text message identifying the members who are target of assassination.

According to the 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; 8) Iver; 9) Rey and Filipe Jelle.”

Alvarez was killed on August 17 in Bacolod City after unidentified suspects shot her while she was on her way home.

Karapatan said “Ernesto Longhinos” and Ereneo Longino, spokesperson and deputy secretary general of Bayan - Negros, are presumed to be the same and their group in Negros received reports that for three days already, an individual on board a motorcycle was seen in front of Longino’s residence in Bacolod City and is asking about Longino’s whereabouts.

The group said “Clarissa Dagatan” is presumed to be Clarizza Singson, Karapatan - Negros secretary general and the most recent threats were the comments posted on Facebook minutes after Zara Alvarez was killed, saying that Clarizza would 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); “Rey” is presumed to be Rey Alburo, spokesperson of Karapatan – Negros; “Filipe Jelle” is presumed to be Felipe Gelle of the September 21 Movement in Negros, a member organisation of Karapatan. His name and that of Clarizza Singson were mentioned in the text messages they received after Escalante City councilor Bernardino Patigas was killed.

“Alyas Tatay Ogie” and “Aldrin” are presumed to be colleagues of Lozande in NFSW, whose nicknames are similar while “Iver” is presumed to be former political prisoner Iver Larit of Kadamay - Negros.

Karapatan considers these human rights defenders under extreme risk following the killing of Zara Alvarez and the numerous cases of extrajudicial killings in Negros.

The group said all names mentioned have been receiving threats in the past years.

“These killings are a handiwork of those who in the past have relentlessly vilified and threatened these individuals conducting human rights work and advocacy in Negros,” Karapatan said. Ella Dionisio/DMS