BY AARON RECUENCO * RAYMUND ANTONIO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered a thorough investigation on the killing of a female human rights activist in Bacolod City on Monday night.
Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, director of the Western Visayas regional police, said his instruction is to determine the real motive behind the attack on Sarah Rebuton Alvarez who was gunned down on her way home at Ereco Subdivision in Bacolod City at around 7 p.m.
The 39-year-old Alvarez was a paralegal of militant human rights group Karapatan-Negros Island and likewise a research and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program.
In a statement, Karapatan said Alvarez was a teacher and single parent.
“She was the 13th human rights worker from Karapatan killed under the Duterte administration,” the statement read.
Pamuspusan said the Police Station 3 received a report about the shooting from the barangay councilor.
“According to the local residents, they heard six gunshots and when they went out, they discovered the victim. She died on the spot,” said Pamuspusan, quoting a report from local investigators.
The death of Alvarez occurred the very day peace consultant and agricultural reform advocate Randy Echanis was buried.
Echanis was stabbed to death inside his rented apartment in Quezon City.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said Alvarez had been receiving threats before she was gunned down.
Alvarez and Echanis were among the 600 people included in the list that the government wanted to be declared as terrorists in 2018. Alvarez was also charged and detained for two years.
Alvarez was among the red-tagged activists in Negros Island. In 2018, her name and photos appeared on poster on the streets of Negros, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos said.
She worked as Karapatan’s paralegal and iresearch and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program. She was also part of Bayan Negros.
Progressive groups condoled with the family and loved ones left behind by Alvarez. They demand justice for the slain activist.
