An organization of lawyers has expressed alarm over the spate of arrests against activists over alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
“We are alarmed with the spate of arrests of activists and even journalists through the use of fabricated charges such as illegal possession of firearms and explosives,” a statement from the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) said.
“Emboldened with the Anti-Terror law, the Duterte government is now going full-blast in terrorizing the people to crush legitimate dissent,” it lamented.
Because of this, the PILC called on the government to stop what the group called “State terrorism.”
“We join the numerous demand to stop criminalizing advocacies and valid protests against the government’s anti-people policies,” the group said.
“Release the political detainees!” demanded PILC.
As part of the government’s crackdown against activists, PILC said that last Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, six trade union organizers and a journalist were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
They were Manila Today editor Lady Ann Salem and unionists Dennise Velasco, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio Jr., Rodrigo Esparago, and Joel Demate.
The PILC noted the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) had tagged Manila Today as being affiliated with communist groups.
“As union organizers, the six unionists unlawfully arrested push for better working conditions and take up labor issues,” it added.