MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday called on the government to “cease operations and crackdowns against rights defenders [in] this week of solemnity.”CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia issued this statement following the murder of a red-tagged union leader in Laguna province on Palm Sunday. He was president of the union at Fuji Electric and also vice chair of the labor coalition Pamantik-KMU (Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-Kilusang Mayo Uno). His assassins have not yet been identified, but De Guia called for a halt in the crackdown on rights defenders at least during the Holy Week. Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, also of Bayan Muna, appealed to the government not to use the lockdown to further commit human rights violations. Worse, this barbarity is now happening on a regular basis,” said Sonny Matula, president of the Nagkaisa labor coalition.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 29, 2021 20:48 UTC