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Human rights activist killed in Bacolod City

Philippines | National

Human rights activist killed in Bacolod City

By Raymund Antonio

A Negros-based activist was shot dead on Monday night in Mandalagan, Bacolod City, a human rights group confirmed.

Zara Alvarez (Photo from Karapatan)

The victim was Zara Alvarez, a former campaign and education director and paralegal of Karapatan on Negros Island.

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said they were in “deep grief and indignation” over the killing of Alvarez.

“Today, we laid to rest Ka Randy Echanis, one of those who helped establish Karapatan and staunch peacebuilder and land rights defender. Tonight, we learned of the sad news that our former campaign and education director and paralegal in Negros, Zara Alvarez, was killed in Bacolod City,” she said.

Zara, 39, was imprisoned for nearly two years and after her release, she continued to work as Karapatan’s paralegal and as research and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program, Palabay added.

A police report said the victim was killed by a unidentified gunman at Eroreco Subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.

Palabay said Alvarez was among those tagged as “terrorists” in a proscription case of the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed in 2018.

Karapatan conveyed its condolences to family and friends of the slain human rights activist.

“We will honor Zara’s legacy as a passionate, selfless and dedicated human rights worker, by continuing the struggle for the realization of people’s rights,” Palabay said.

The group vowed to pursue justice for Alvarez and other victims of extrajudicial killings.

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