Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday called the deaths of at least nine activists in separate police raids in Southern Luzon a "massacre," saying the "Filipino people deserve better than this murderous regime."
Robredo raised the alarm on what rights groups called a "Bloody Sunday" and called for justice through an independent investigation.
"There is no other way to describe this: It was a massacre," she said in a statement.
"Ang panawagan natin, katarungan. Nananawagan tayo na magkaroon ng malinis at independent na imbestigasyon para masigurong mapapanagot ang dapat mapanagot, at uusad ang hustisya," she said.
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The March 7 raids happened two days after President Rodrigo Duterte told police and military to "kill communists right away" and "ignore human rights."
Robredo condemned the killings and urged the public to exercise caution and check on friends.
"Indeed, these are difficult and dangerous times. Kaya patuloy na mag-reach out sa mga kasama, check on your friends, at palaging mag-iingat. Hindi ito ang panahon para magpatinag sa takot na pilit nilang ipinaparamdam sa atin," she said.
Several human rights organizations have called on the government to investigate the incidents.
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