LEGAZPI CITY—Two human rights defenders were killed on Saturday (June 14) in what appeared to be the latest in a spate of attacks targeting leaders and members of human rights groups in the Philippines. Casilihan condemned the killing and demanded justice for the two human rights workers. The killing of Bagasala and Hubilla, said Casilihan, was but another attack on human rights defenders which he blamed on a military campaign to silence and harass members of progressive groups. In Sorsogon province alone, at least 60 members of militant groups, including human rights defenders, have already been killed since 2016, according to Casilihan. Casilihan said last April, Bagasala and Hubilla had reported being cased by government agents as they gathered testimony from human rights victims in Sorsogon province.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 15, 2019 08:36 UTC