Law enforcement authorities arrested two individuals – a trade union organizer and a communications officer of a radio-television group – on Thursday, which coincided with the celebration of International Human Rights Day, informed sources said.
They identified the trade union organizer as Dennise Velasco, 43, who was arrested at his Lagro home in Quezon City early Thursday, on the strength of search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert, the same judge whose search warrants resulted in the arrests of several activists in Manila and Negros last year, according to labor group Defend Jobs Philippines, which condemned Velasco’s arrest.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said the other individual arrested by authorities was Lady Ann Salem, identified as editor of Manila Today and the communications officer of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television.
She eventually turned up at a facility of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the PNP.
The militant groups gathered in Manila to denounce alleged state-sponsored human rights violations and red-tagging of progressive personalities and organizations, during the International Human Rights Day.
Police said they seized guns, ammunition, and a grenade during the operation at Velasco’s residence.
Defend Jobs Philippines slammed the arrest of Velasco, 43, who was arrested at around 2:00 a.m., in time for International Human Rights Day 2020.
Based on initial reports, troops from the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detention Group – National Capital Region conducted the raid at his residence.
“We slam the planting of fake evidence such as firearms and explosives on Velasco’s possession as evidence,” Defend Jobs said.
The arrest of Velasco follows the reported surveillance of Defend Jobs’ head office in Quezon City on the night of December 3.
“We cry foul over Velasco’s arrest being done in time of human rights day,” the group said.
Velasco has been active in the campaigns against contractualization and various labor disputes including the workers’ struggles in PLDT, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Regent Foods Corporation, Super 8, Pepsi, among others.
Recently, Velasco played a crucial role as one of the lead initiators in our disaster relief efforts for the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in various areas in Metro Manila.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Velasco as this is a clear harassment against labor rights advocates amid the crackdown being executed by the Duterte government against its critics, progressive groups and human rights defenders,” the groups said.