Justice for Zara Alvarez! Scrap MO 32! End Duterte’s Killing Spree of Rights Defenders and Activists!

Malaya Movement Statement on the Killing of Zara Alvarez

The Malaya Movement condemns the cowardly murder of Zara Alvarez, human rights worker from KARAPATAN–Negros Island, and the ongoing harassment and killings of human rights defenders and progressive activists by the Duterte regime’s policy of terror, Memorandum Order 32 (M.O. 32). Barely a week after the brutal torture and assassination of peasant leader, “Ka Randy” Echanis, Zara Alvarez was gunned down and killed on her way home Monday evening in Bacolod City, Negros. 

Zara—39 years old, a single mother, and former political prisoner—has been a tireless advocate for the rights of the most oppressed for many years. She was among the 600 names listed in a failed red-tagging scheme of the Duterte regime back in 2018, and had been receiving death threats since the beginning of 2019. Zara was most recently a research and advocacy officer for the Negros Island Health Integerated Program and a paralegal for KARAPATAN–Negros Island. She is the 13th human rights worker murdered under Duterte.

On November 22, 2018, Duterte issued Memorandum Order 32, unleashing a wave of bloody terror throughout the Bicol region and the islands of Samar and Negros. Since 100 individuals, mostly farm workers, labor leaders, lawyers, progressive teachers, students, and activists have been murdered in Negros Island alone. While initial reports on Zara’s assailant indicate a long gunman, Duterte’s bloody fingerprints are imprinted on her murder as well as all who have been killed since he issued M.O. 32, which gave the Philippine military, police, and local government units their marching orders to carry out a killing spree against leaders of the nation’s growing dissent and disgust. 

A mere two hours after reports of Zara’s murder, the Secretary-General of KARAPATAN–Negros Island, Clarizza Singson, received the following death threat as a comment on one of her Facebook posts: “wag ka mag alala, susunod kna” (Don’t worry; you’re next). Duterte’s M.O. 32, and now the Anti-Terror Law,  has further emboldened his most bloodthirsty mercenaries to wipe out people who are simply fighting for basic reforms.

We must pull together, strengthen our movement, and save democracy from Duterte’s clutches, especially in this time of Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law that is rapidly shrinking the democratic space of the constitutionally-guaranteed right to protest injustice!

The Malaya Movement demands justice for the murders of Zara Alvarez, Atty. Ben Ramos, and the massacred peasant farmers collectively known as the Negros 14, the Negros 4, and the Sagay 9 who were all direct victims of Duterte’s M.O. 32 killing spree! Again, we say, “Scrap M.O. 32, and all Martial Law era policies like E.O. 70 and Duterte’s Anti-Terror Law.”  We also continue to demand justice for Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, Carlito Badion, Jory Porquia, and the many brave Filipinos slain as a result of Duterte’s assassination policy on activist leaders!

#JusticeForZaraAlvarez

#JusticeForKaRandyEchanis

#JusticeForCarlitoBadion

#JusticeForJoryPorquia

#ScrapMO32 and #ScrapEO70

#JunkTheTerrorLaw

#OustDuterteNow