Karapatan-Cagayan Valley condemned what it considers the illegal arrest of farmer organizer Stalin Valencia. A combined Philippine National Police (PNP) and 5th ID force arrested Valencia on November 15 in San Mateo, Isabela. Police said he faces multiple criminal charges, including frustrated murder, murder, and arson in Cagayan Valley.

According to Karapatan-CV, more than 20 plainclothes police and military personnel “suddenly abducted” Valencia. His location was not immediately disclosed to his family or to human rights groups.

This prompted the the group to call on the AFP and PNP to respect the rights of Valencia’s relatives to see and speak with him. It said Valencia must be allowed to a lawyer of his own choosing.

Aside from the charges he faces, the 5th ID also accuses him of being a Communist Party of the Philippines senior official and a former leader of the New People’s Army Regional Command in Cagayan Valley.

With his arrest, Valencia will join more than 700 political prisoners currently languishing across the country.