A HUMAN rights activist was shot dead by a still unidentified suspect in Bacolod City on Monday night.
Police identified the victim as Zara Alvarez, 30, a resident of Cadiz City and a former campaign and education director of the leftist human rights group Karapatan in Bacolod City.
Police said Alvarez was shot by the lone suspect at around 7 p.m. on Sta. Maria Street in Ereco Subdivision in Bacolod City. Witnesses heard at least gunshots, police said.
Investigation is still ongoing to establish the identity of the suspect and the motive behind the killing.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the interagency task force created to investigate extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the country may look at the killing.
Guevarra’s comment came as various human rights groups condemned the killing and put the blame on the Duterte administration for allowing a climate of fear and impunity to reign in the country.
Alvarez’s death came after another militant leader, Randall Echanis, was killed inside his apartment in Quezon City Monday last week. Also killed was his companion, Louie Tagapia.
Police are eyeing robbery or personal grudge as motive in the killing of Echanis and Tagapia.
Karapatan said Alvarez is the 13th human rights worker from the group to be slain during the Duterte administration.
“When will the killings stop?” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.
“We just buried a peace advocate (Echanis) yesterday and we’re not even through with mourning his death and we now have to grapple with the killing of one of our colleagues,” Palabay added.
Palbay described Alvarez as a “fierce and dedicated human rights defender,” adding Alvarez’s death “is a tremendous loss for all of us and those who worked with her in advancing and defending people’s rights and we strongly call for justice.” — With Ashzel Hachero
