There are signs of torture and use of multiple weapons in the murder of peasant advocate Randall Echanis, an autopsy report revealed.
Another activist was shot dead in Bacolod on Monday night, raising alarm from groups that the “killing spree” against defenders continue despite the pandemic.
Activists and rights defenders went around the city on Monday to remove posters that tagged them as “human rights violators” and “berdugo” (butchers), which they deemed is a threat to silence their advocacy with the Anti-Terror Act in effect.
A Mindanao-based peace group condemned the Quezon City police for “snatching” the body of murdered peasant leader Randall Echanis from his grieving family.
The Philippines is the second deadliest country for environmental defenders, according to the latest Global Witness report.