As activists’ arrest continues: Law center tells Duterte to stop ‘state terrorism’

The Public Interest Law Center (PILC) on Saturday (Dec. 12) called on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to stop its “state terrorism” following the spate of arrests of activists.

“State forces’ aggressive repression follows Pres. Duterte’s shamelessly false accusations linking progressive organizations and individuals to the New People’s Army and their red-tagging by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and other government officials,” PILC said in a statement.

Among the arrests made, PILC cited that on International Human Rights Day last Dec. 10 the government arrested Manila Today edtor Lady Ann Salem and six unionists, namely, Dennise Velasco, Mark Ryan Cruz, Romina Astudillo, Jaymie Gregorio, Jr., Rodrigo Esparago, and Joel Demate.

The group said the seven activists were arrested on trumped up charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives after evidence were plated in their respective homes.

“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. Emboldened with the Anti-Terror Law, the Duterte government is now going full-blast in terrorizing the people to crush legitimate dissent,” PILC stated.

“We join the numerous demand to stop criminalizing advocacies and valid protests against the government’s anti-people policies. Release the political detainees!” declared the group.

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