PROGRESSIVE students condemned the killing of a human rights activist and former political detainee who documented abuse cases in Negros Island.

Using the  #JusticeForZara #StopTheKillings and #JusticeForKaRandy, youth groups and student organizations echoed the call to bring justice to the deaths of the slain activists.

Zara Alvarez was gunned down Monday night by a man wearing a face mask and cap while walking on her way home at Eroreco Subdivision, Barangay Mandalagan in the same province.

The killer of the 39-year-old Alvarez remains at large as of posting time.

Her death came just a week after Anakpawis chair Randy Echanis was slain in Novaliches.

Both Echanis and Alvarez were among the 600 people tagged as terrorists by the Department of Justice in 2018 in a proscription petition at a regional trial court in Manila before it was amended a year after.

The Philippine Normal University Social Science Club condemned Alvarez’s killing and paid tribute to the former teacher and human rights defender while calling for an end to the culture of abuse in the country.

“Hinding-hindi natin hahayaang mamayani ang kawalan ng hustisya at pang-aalipusta, gaya ng nararanasan ng lahat sa gitna ng pandemya at kawalan ng konkretong plano ng administrasyon sa pagharap sa krisis ng edukasyon, kalusugan, at kabuhayan.” said the club.

For the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, the death of Alvarez should be blamed to the current administration, which it said prioritized attacking activists and peace advocates and not dealing with the current Covid19 pandemic.

“The Duterte administration obviously continues to deem the killings of activists and peace advocates as a priority. With or without the current pandemic, the lives of those who fight for the oppressed will always be at risk,” the CEGP said.

The Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan PUP also joined the fray and said President Duterte is the one to blame for Alvarez’s death.

“Layunin ng gobyerno ang maghasik ng takot at pababain ang morale ng mga Filipino, ngunit nakita ng mamamayan kung paano inilaan nina Manang Zara, Ka Randy, at ng lahat ng martir ng rebolusyon, ang kanilang buhay para sa batayang karapatang pantao.” the SAMASA PUP said.

The said organizations also lambasted the highly controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which they branded as the leeway for the killings.

Meanwhile, militant groups held a global day of action to call for justice for both Alvarez and Echanis at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Diliman, Quezon City.