The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) strongly condemns the killings of Rose Marie Galias and Silvestre Fortades Jr. at around 7am on January 15, 2022, in Barcelona, Sorsogon. The couple were both members of Anakpawis, a progressive partylist which represents the interests of peasants and workers in Congress. They were selling agricultural produce at their store when they were approached and shot dead by four unidentified men riding on two motorcycles.

The killings of Rose Marie Galias and Silvestre Fortades Jr. took place in the context of the Duterte administration’s brutal war of suppression against progressive activists and organizations of peasants, workers, Indigenous Peoples, human rights defenders, and others. Only two days before on January 13, dozens of fisherfolk were violently dispersed by police in Maragondon, Cavite.

As documented in the three reports of Investigate PH, the human rights of peasants have been repeatedly violated through stalling of land reform, liberalization of rice and other imported agricultural goods, red-tagging of peasant organizations, intimidation and arrest of peasant activists, and extra-judicial killings.

ICHRP calls for justice for Rose Marie Galias and Silvestre Fortades Jr., and justice for all victims of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines.

Justice for Rose Marie Galias and Silvestre Fortades Jr.!

Stop the Killings!