Bayan Canada Statement

October 2 2023

The brutal murder of JUDE THADDEUS FERNANDEZ, a labour organizer with the Kilusang Mayo Uno trade union centre on September 29, 2023, grimly illustrates the de facto martial law regime of Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte. Ka Jude Fernandez joins the more than 60 victims of extrajudicial killings since Marcos Jr started his term in June 2022. This does not include the 397 people killed in “drug-related violence” during Marcos Jr’s first year in office. Ka Jude is also the 72nd victim of extrajudicial killings from the workers’ sector and the fourth since the International Labor Organization (ILO) conducted a High-Level Tripartite Mission in the Philippines last January 2023. The Philippines is a dangerous place for workers and activists.

Ka Jude’s killing is the latest in the growing list of extra-judicial killings dating back to 2016 under the Rodrigo Duterte administration’s campaign to rid the country of those critical of his policies. Ka Jude, an endeared labour leader and a Martial Law activist, has dedicated his whole life to serving the working class and their aspirations for national democracy.

Pinabulaanan ng fact-finding mission ng KMU, mga organisasyong masa, at institusyon sa karapatang pantao ang ulat ng Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) na si Ka Jude Fernandez ay “nanlaban” kung kayat siya ay pinagbabaril ng mga elemento ng CIDG sa loob ng bahay na kaniyang tinutuluyan. Ang naratibong ito ng militar ay narinig na natin, ng libu-libong beses para bigyang katwiran ang mga pagpaslang, sa estilo ng “tokhang style” ng pagpatay, ng mga aktibista, maralitang taga-lunsod, at mga pinaghihinalaang drug user. Sa pinakahuling ulat, nasa kamay pa ng militar ang bangkay ni Ka Jude at hindi pa ibinibigay sa kaniyang pamilya para magkaroon ng pagluluksa. Pinagkakait pa ng militar sa kaniyang pamilya ang bangkay ni Ka Jude!

Walang hustisya sa mga lider manggagawa na pinaslang, lalo na sa ganitong estilo, tulad nina Manny Asuncion at Dandy Miguel. Walang tigil ang pag-atake ng estado para patahimikin ang mga lider manggagawa at aktibista. Malakas ang pag-iingay ng taumbayan para sa mabilis na pagkilos sa imbestigasyon at pagbalik ng katawan ni Ka Jude sa kaniyang pamilya at kapwa manggagawa.

Ang pagpaslang kay Ka Jude ay hindi isang hiwalay na pangyayari, bagkus ito ay isang taktika ng rehimeng Marcos Jr-Sara Duterte para sugpuin ang anumang porma ng hindi pagsang-ayon, pagtutol, at paggiit ng karapatan sa pagsasalita, pamamahayag at pag-oorganisa ng taumbayan.

The regime of Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte wields the Anti-Terror Law and uses it with cruel impunity by the state – courts, local governments, schools, Congress, and the military. As overseas Filipinos and overseas workers, the long arm of the Anti-Terror law has already reached out to the different communities of the Filipino diaspora. We have seen, experienced, and we have been attacked by the malicious and evil red tagging, harassment, and online bullying from paid hacks of the state, from their media stations, from their “preachers” who only see red.

The people’s progressive organizations under Bayan Canada are more resolute than ever to grow and broaden the mass movement in our host country through arousing, organizing, and mobilizing the marginalized sectors and our allies. We will not be deceived by these tactics, nor will we cower in fear in choosing to stand with our brothers and sisters who are fighting for what is just and right.

We call on all member organizations of BAYAN Canada, our allies, and friends to condemn the brutal murder of Ka Jude Fernandez, to hold the Philippine National Police- CIDG authorities accountable, and to expose the de facto martial law regime of Marcos Jr and Sara Duterte. We also call on all our member organizations to push back and fight back to defend our freedoms. ###