Labor leader and Fuji Electric worker shot dead in Laguna

Labor leader Dandy Miguel. Photo: Kilusang Mayo Uno/FB
Labor leader Dandy Miguel. Photo: Kilusang Mayo Uno/FB

A leader of a red-tagged labor group was shot dead yesterday in the village of Canlubang in Calamba, Laguna.

Dandy Miguel, the vice-chairperson of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan, was shot about eight times by unknown gunmen at 8:45pm shortly after he ended his shift at Fuji Electric. The 35-year-old Miguel’s body was positively identified by his wife.

He died wearing a red shirt that said “Fight for salary, rights, and jobs!”

Read: Parlade strikes again, says Colmenares, Makabayan lawmakers are communists

Miguel was also the president of Fuji Electric’s labor union. He told Rappler early this month that he feared for his safety, in light of the killings of several activists all over the Calabarzon region.

Several weeks ago, at least nine activists were killed by the police and military in a series of raids, which has been dubbed “Bloody Sunday” by human rights groups. The raids were allegedly orchestrated by Major General Antonio Parlade Jr., a staunch anti-communist who has become known for red-tagging countless personalities, from celebrities to activists.

Red-tagging is the practice of accusing an individual or organization of supporting the communist party. The United Nations Human Rights Council has called out the Duterte administration for constantly red-tagging critics, activists, and journalists, saying that it leaves “a chilling effect on the legitimate work of human rights defenders in the country.”

Meanwhile, the human rights organization Karapatan has condemned Miguel’s killing. “The crackdown that is happening is just a manifestation that the current [Duterte] regime continues its fascism in the region to silence the voice of the people,” the group said in Filipino.

 

 



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on