2021 Calabarzon raids
DateMarch 7, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-03-07)
LocationLaguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Rizal provinces, Philippines
Also known asBloody Sunday, COPLAN ASVAL
MotiveSuspected ties of targets to the Communist rebellion; to serve search warrants due to targets suspected to possess illegal firearms and explosives.
TargetActivists from different organizations including:
  • Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
  • Kilusang Mayo Uno
  • Karapatan
  • Confederation for the Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees
  • Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan
  • San Isidro Kasiglahan, Kapatiran, at Damayan para sa Kabuhayan, Katarungan, at Kapayapaan
ParticipantsLaw enforcement operations by
Deaths9
Arrests6

The 2021 Calabarzon raids, also referred to as Bloody Sunday and COPLAN ASVAL,[a][2][3] were a series of operations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army in Calabarzon, Philippines, on March 7, 2021, that resulted in the killing of nine activists and the arrest of six individuals.[4] The victims were left-wing activists and environmentalists, including six who were killed in Rizal, two in Batangas, and one in Cavite.[5][6]

Police alleged that weapons and grenades were found during the operations and that the activists were killed for resisting arrest, claims that were met with skepticism by human rights organizations and Vice President Leni Robredo, who described the killings as a "massacre."[4][6] The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the raids, saying it was "appalled by the apparently arbitrary killing" of the activists.[7] A spokesperson for the office said at a press briefing: "We are deeply worried that these latest killings indicate an escalation in violence, intimidation, harassment and 'red-tagging' of human rights defenders,"[8]

Background

Two days before the crackdown, President Rodrigo Duterte said at a televised public event where he directed the police and the military to "finish off" and kill all members of the communist rebel group New People's Army advising them to "don't mind human rights". Numerous media outlets have linked the Bloody Sunday killings to this speech.[9][10][11] The national government under President Duterte has accused the targeted activists of belonging to organizations affiliated with the Communist insurgency.[12]

This took place within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and the various COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines, which had the effect of increasing the government's influence on the day-to-day lives of Filipinos.[13]

Duterte is facing complaints filed before the International Criminal Court for an anti-drug campaign that has killed thousands of victims, most of whom were from poor families.[14]

The International Trade Union Confederation listed the Philippines among the 10 worst countries for workers, citing the high number of trade unionists murdered in 2021.[15]

Arrests and killings

On March 7, police and military conducted simultaneous operations against a reported total of 24 individuals, most around the hours of 4:00 in the morning. Police served search warrants issued by Judges Jose Lorenzo Dela Rosa and Jason Zapanta from two branches of the Manila regional trial court.[16] The operations were conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the Special Action Force and the 202nd Brigade of the Philippine Army.[2]

The following are those who were arrested:

An investigation by rights group Karapatan Southern Tagalog identified the following people as having been arrested or killed as a result of COPLAN ASVAL.[19] The following are the names of those that were killed:

In addition, the police raided the homes of Lino Baez, coordinator for BAYAN Batangas, and Rizal peasant leaders Moises Braganza and a certain "Dodong Bagsik", and reportedly confiscated firearms and explosives; but the individuals were not home at the time.[citation needed]

Investigation

The Administrative Order 35 Task Force, a body under the Department of Justice, which looks into cases of extrajudicial killings, has been tasked to investigate the Bloody Sunday killings.[14]

In July 2021, four months after the incident, forensic reports showed that the activists were deliberately killed,[25] calling into question earlier reports that the victims had been killed while resisting arrest.[26]

In January 2022, the National Bureau of Investigation filed murder complaints against 17 police officers over the killing of Ariel Evangelista and Ana Lemita–Evangelista in their home in Nasugbu, Batangas.[27] Department of Justice prosecutors, in its December 5, 2022 resolution[28] released in March 2023, dismissed the complaints, citing lack of evidence.[29] A motion seeking for reversal of the ruling was filed in May; however, in a resolution dated May 29 but released in July, DOJ denied the appeal for lack of merit, thus affirming the earlier ruling.[28][30]

Meanwhile, in January 2023, the DOJ likewise dismissed complaints against the same individuals in connection with the death of Manny Asuncion.[31]

Response

Reactions

Local and international groups condemned the series of arrests and killings.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers called on the Philippine Supreme Court to review the "administrative order that allows executive and vice executive judges to issue search warrants". According to the group, judges must "carefully look into the applications for warrants, especially if the police's narrative is unbelievable," citing in particular the circumstances surrounding Lanzanas' arrest.[32]

Vice President Leni Robredo similarly condemned the killings, stating:[33]

There is no other way to describe this: It was a massacre. And it came just two days after the President himself ordered state forces to "ignore human rights," kill communist rebels, and "finish them off," in his rant before the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Senator Risa Hontiveros condemned the killings saying it was due to "this administration's high level of disrespect for basic human rights."[34] Senator Leila de Lima slammed Duterte for his "kill, kill, kill" policy. Senator Francis Pangilinan said that the Philippine National Police should use the P289 million worth of body cameras purchased in 2018 to prevent killings like the one in Calabarzon.[34] Representatives Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat, Arlene Brosas, France Castro, Sarah Elago, Edcel Lagman, and Kit Belmonte called for the House of Representatives' human rights committee to investigate the deadly raids.[35]

Amnesty International stated that it was "deeply alarmed" at how police operations were being used against activists.[36] Human Rights Watch called the series of killings a part of the Philippine government's "dirty war", and urged the UN to deploy a "rapid response unit" to investigate the killings.[37]

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was similarly "appalled at the apparently arbitrary killing of nine activists."[38] The European Union delegation to the Philippines said that it welcomed the Philippine Government's eventual announcement that it would launch an investigation, but also reminded the government that it had made a commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council "to ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses."[39]

The Philippine National Police defended its actions, stating that the operations were legitimate. PNP Chief Debold Sinas stated that the existence of search warrants proves their legitimacy,[40] while PNP spokesperson Ildebrandi Usana claimed that the victims were "members of the New People's Army hiding behind the façade of being activists."[12]

Reforms

Following complaints of abuse, the Supreme Court issued on June 29, 2021, Administrative Matter No. 21-06-08-SC that curbs the power of local courts to issue search warrants outside their judicial regions. It also requires law enforcers to record their implementation of court-issued warrants on video or risk facing sanctions.[41]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Case Operation Plan ASVAL"[1]

References

  1. ^ "Sunday's COPLAN ASVAL in CALABARZON legitimate- Sinas". Manila Bulletin.
  2. ^ a b "Siyam, patay; anim, arestado sa serye ng raid laban sa makakaliwang grupo sa CALABARZON". Radio Mindanao Network. March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Villanueva, Raymund B. (March 8, 2021). "ASVAL is Southern Tagalog bloodbath's name". kodao.org. Kodao. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Robles, Alan (March 10, 2021). "'Bloody Sunday' killings show Duterte's brutal presidency isn't letting up". South China Morning Post. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  5. ^ Stancil, Kenny (March 8, 2021). "'Bloody Sunday': Left Activists, Labor Leaders Executed in Philippines After Duterte Says 'Finish Off' the Communists". Common Dreams. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "'Murderous regime': Robredo slams 'Bloody Sunday' killings of activists in Calabarzon". ABS-CBN News. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "Philippines: UN rights office appalled over simultaneous killings of 'red-tagged' activists". UN News. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  8. ^ Gavilan, Jodesz (March 9, 2021). "UN rights office condemns 'arbitrary' Calabarzon killings". Rappler. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Rosauro, Ryan D.; Salaverria, Leila B. (March 7, 2021). "Ushering in local projects, Duterte gives 'kill' order vs communist rebels". Inquirer. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Dancel, Raul (March 7, 2021). "'Bloody Sunday': At least 9 killed in raids against civil rights groups across the Philippines". The Straits Times. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  11. ^ "Bloody Sunday for Leftists in Philippines". Asia Sentinel. March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Cahiles, Gerg (May 11, 2021). "PNP claims 'Bloody Sunday' victims were NPA members; activist groups reject tag". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  13. ^ See, Aie Balagtas (March 15, 2021). "Inside One of the World's Longest COVID-19 Lockdowns". Time. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023. William Hartung, the director of the arms and security program at the Washington D.C.-based Center for International Policy, says the approach is eerily similar to Duterte's much criticized war on drugs, with its emphasis on armed enforcement and punitive measures. "The regime has more tools now to crack down on people than when it started," he tells TIME. "Now, they've got a crisis that allows them to tighten its grip on power."
  14. ^ a b Patag, Kristine Joy (March 8, 2021). "DOJ-led task force on extrajudicial killings to investigate 'Bloody Sunday' raids". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Bloody Sunday victims remembered as PH activists push for workers' rights, welfare". Bulatlat. September 15, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Navallo, Mike (March 8, 2021). "'Weaponized' search warrants in 'Bloody Sunday' killings put pressure on Supreme Court to act to prevent bloodshed". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Tarinay, Rein (March 9, 2021). "Nimfa Lanzanas, a woman with a big heart". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  18. ^ @FerdinandGaite (March 11, 2021). "We have filed House Resolution No. 1644 to urge the House Committee on Human Rights to condemn and investigate the 'Bloody Sunday' police operations in Calabarzon. #DefendSouthernTagalog #STBloodySunday #StopTheAttacks" (Tweet). Retrieved March 12, 2021 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Ayroso, Dee (March 7, 2021). "Bloody Sunday | 5 activists dead, mass arrests in Southern Tagalog". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Umali, Justin (March 11, 2021). "Manny Asuncion: A worker who embraced the bigger fight for social justice". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  21. ^ Maru, Davinci (March 9, 2021). "No service of warrant: Labor leader brought into room and killed, lawyer claims". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  22. ^ Talabong, Rambo (March 7, 2021). "Bloody Sunday: 9 dead, 6 arrested in Calabarzon crackdown on activists". Rappler. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  23. ^ Saludes, Mark (March 24, 2021). "Church people stand by slain tribal leader in northern Philippines". Catholic News in Asia | LiCAS.news | Licas News. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  24. ^ Villanueva, Raymund (March 9, 2021). "4 other victims of #BloodySunday killings identified". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  25. ^ Navallo, Mike (July 9, 2021). "'Binaril para patayin': Autopsy sa mga napaslang sa 'Bloody Sunday' idinetalye". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  26. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (July 7, 2021). "Expert: 'Bloody Sunday' victims shot in the chest, full homicide probe needed". Philstar. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  27. ^ Navallo, Mike (January 14, 2022). "NBI files murder complaint at DOJ vs 17 policemen tagged in 'Bloody Sunday' killings of fisherfolk leaders". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Navallo, Mike (July 22, 2023). "DOJ prosecutors stand by junking of murder raps vs. 17 cops tagged in Bloody Sunday". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  29. ^ Servallos, Neil Jayson (April 1, 2023). "DOJ clears 17 cops in 'Bloody Sunday' raid". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  30. ^ Galvez, Daphne (July 22, 2023). "DOJ affirms ruling clearing cops in 'Bloody Sunday' raid". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  31. ^ Torres-Tupas, Tetch (January 18, 2023). "Murder raps vs. 17 cops in 'Bloody Sunday' raids dismissed". Inquirer.net. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  32. ^ Umil, Anne Marxze (March 8, 2021). "After Bloody Sunday, lawyers' group asks SC to act on the 'pattern of defective search warrants'". Bulatlat. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  33. ^ "Leni condemns Calabarzon 'massacres,' calls out 'murderous regime'". GMA News Online. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Colcol, Erwin (March 8, 2021). "Senators seek probe into 'bloody Sunday' killings in Calabarzon". GMA News. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  35. ^ Gregorio, Xave (March 11, 2021). "Opposition lawmakers urge House to condemn, investigate 'Bloody Sunday' raids". Philstar. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  36. ^ Deiparine, Christian (March 8, 2021). "Amnesty renews call for UN rights probe after 'Bloody Sunday' raids". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  37. ^ "Philippines: Killings Highlight Need for International Action". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  38. ^ "UN expresses alarm over CALABARZON activists' deaths". cnn. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  39. ^ "After Calabarzon slays, EU recalls Philippines' vow to make rights violators liable". GMA News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  40. ^ Recuenco, Aaron (March 8, 2021). "Sunday's COPLAN ASVAL in CALABARZON legitimate- Sinas". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  41. ^ Ramos, Marlon (July 11, 2021). "SC acts on 'death warrants,' curbs Metro Manila court powers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
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