ILOILO CITY — Veteran activist Jory Porquia was gunned down early Thursday morning in Arevalo district of this city.
Porquia, the Iloilo City coordinator of left-wing Bayan Muna party-list, was shot dead outside a house where he temporarily stayed in Santo Niño Norte village past 5 a.m.
Based on initial investigation by Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), the activist who was in his 60s succumbed to several gunshot wounds.
“It is premature to say the motives at this point in time since investigation is still ongoing,” said Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson.
But for Bayan Muna in Panay Island, Porquia was assassinated as part of “political killings aimed at terrorizing activists critical of Duterte’s administration.”
The activist group claimed that ICPO personnel have been harassing Porquia, who led a feeding program in Molo district last week as part of relief operations for those affected by the community quarantine due to the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Sangrines clarified that the incident last week was more of technical reminder for those involved in the feeding program to practice social distancing and observing other anti-COVID-19 measures.
“We uphold the law and respect their rights,” Sangrines said.
Porquia has been a local fixture in the protest scene since martial law days. (Tara Yap)
