YOUTH Party-list Kabataan expressed worry over the recent spate of killings and shooting incident in Iloilo and have told youth organizations to question government’s inaction and tolerance of impunity.
Kabataan cited the consecutive killings of drug surrenderees that transpired last week. A village captain was also gunned down by police agents after allegedly resisting officers in a drug buy-bust operation at Sara, Iloilo.
Since August 2018, there are already seven casualties in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in the region.
From July 2016, a total of 67 individuals believed to be involved in illegal drugs have already been killed in Western Visayas.
“A climate of impunity is apparent. It echoes the general climate of prevalent killings in the country” said JC Alejandro, spokesperson of Kabataan Party list Western Visayas.
The party cited the 20,000 killings recorded under President Duterte’s war on drugs. Kabataan also said that there are 27 farmers killed in the country.
“President Duterte and his armed mercenaries are inculcating fear through violence against the poor. We have to demand accountability and due process,” said Alejandro.
“If the government is perpetuating this senseless killings and impunity, we ought to seek not just policy reforms but the removal of Duterte from office,” Alejandro continued.
Kabataan called on youth and student organizations to conduct forums, gatherings, and public discussions on the state of the country under President Duterte.
“We have to mobilize against impunity and collectively work to stop this senseless violence perpetuated by the Duterte government,” said Alejandro.
Kabataan further urged the public to pressure government officials to pursue due process, respect of human rights and dignity, and the protection of public welfare.
The group pledged massive rallies on Sept. 21 to protest the killings perpetuated in the name of President Duterte’s war on drugs. The protests will coincide with the commemoration of martial law declaration of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.