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Police arrest organizer of indigenous peoples and peasants in Palawan

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Karapatan-Southern Tagalog reported the illegal arrest of an organizer of indigenous people and farmers by police forces in Taytay, Palawan on October 1. The victim, identified as Sefriano Liabres, a member of the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Katutubo ng Mindoro (SAMAKAMI), was receiving medical treatment when he was taken.

Karapatan-Southern Tagalog condemned what it called the illegal arrest and filing of fabricated charges against Liabres. According to the group, police from Region IV-B (MIMAROPA) accused Liabres of being a high-ranking leader of the people’s army on the Mindoro island. “Based on gathered information, the police plans to take him to Mindoro,” Karapatan-Southern Tagalog stated.

The group SAMAKAMI is an organization in Mindoro that advocates for the rights of indigenous people and farmers. “Since then, SAMAKAMI members have continuously experienced…endless red-tagging, abductions, and killings of its members and leaders,” the group added.

According to Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, even Liabres who was receiving medical treatment was not spared from political persecution and repression. “More concerning are the successive new cases of forced abduction of organizers and leaders under Marcos Jr. Terrorist labeling and fabricated charges are slapped against those who are abducted like Sefriano, who is a rural peasant leader-organizer,” Karapatan-Southern Tagalog stated.

The group called for the dismissal of the case and the immediate release of Liabres. The police who arrested him should also be held accountable.

According to Ang Bayan’s records, nearly 60,000 people have been victims of human rights violations in Mindoro by armed state forces under the Marcos regime.

AB: Police arrest organizer of indigenous peoples and peasants in Palawan