Kadamay leader reported killed day after House panels OK anti-terror bill

MANILA, Philippines (Update 1, 2:44 p.m.) — Secretary-general Carlito "Ka Karlets" Badion of urban poor group Kadamay was reported dead on Saturday, just a day after two committees of the House of Representatives approved a counterpart bill to the Senate’s controversial proposed “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.”

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Initial reports said that the 52-year-old activist was killed days prior with his body found late Thursday afternoon near a highway in Ormoc City, Leyte.

Kadamay said that Badion had previously been red-tagged or accused of subversive activity, receiving death threats prior to his murder by suspected state elements.

“Si Karletz ay pinaslang ng mga elemento ng Armed Forces of the Philippines. Wala siyang kasalanan kundi ang mag-alay ng buong panahon para sa maralita at inaapi ng bulok na sistemang panlipunan. Mariing kinukundena ng Kadamay ang karumal-dumal na krimen na ito at muling nagpapakita ng brutal na katangian ng administrasyon.” the group said in a Saturday statement.

They denounced the killing of their colleague in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and said that the passage of anti-terror legislation in Congress would only heighten similar rights violations in the future.

“Sa buong bansa, talamak ang harassment, panloloko, pananakot, pananakit, pang-aaresto kasama ng gawa-gawang kaso at ang pagpatay sa mga organisador. Hindi naging ligtas si Karletz sa mga berdugo, at tiyak sa bagong panukalang patakaran, sinuman sa atin, lahat ng karaniwang tao ay hindi rin ligtas.Kahit pa sa panahon ng pandemya, nagpapatuloy ang kawalang hustisya at pamamaslang sa mga aktibista't kritiko,” Kadamay said.

“Ang paghihigpit ng mga pulis at sundalo, kasama ng Anti-Terror bill ang magiging sanhi ng mas marami pang pamamaslang. Hindi una si Karletz, at siguradong hindi rin siya ang huling magiging biktima ng rehimeng ito.”

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Multi-sectoral groups condemned the slay of Badion and will join Kadamay in candle-lighting protests later this afternoon outside their respective homes.

Philstar.com has attempted to reach the Philippine National Police for comment and is awaiting their response as of writing.