MANILA, Philippines — (Updated 11:21 a.m.) Peasant and labor organizations reported Tuesday that two of their leaders who have been previously red-tagged, or accused of being members of the communist rebellion, have been arrested in separate operations. Police arrested Florentino Viuya, Kilusang Mayo Uno vice chairperson for Central Luzon and national council member, and Joseph Canlas, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas vice chairperson, in separate raids Tuesday morning, the two groups said. Related Stories Three weeks after bloody Calabarzon raids, labor leader shot dead in LagunaKMU said Canlas was arrested by virtue of a “fake warrant of arrest” in Barangay Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac, while KMP said Canlas was arrested at a peasant community in Sapang Maisac, Mexico Pampanga. "NPA ka na po ba agad kapag nagtatanggol ka sa karapatan sa lupa ng magsasaka? KMU chairman Elmer Labog said in a statement that the attacks on their leaders are "worsening by the minute."

Source: Philippine Star March 30, 2021 02:26 UTC