Andronico Del Rosario
It seems dissent is still not welcome in the Duterte administration no matter what you do outside of it.
At 9:02 pm on December 15, 2020, a tweet from journalist Nonoy Espina would be shared by Kabataan partylist Rep. Sarah Elago.
The content: city health officer and concurrent IATF head of Guihulngan, Negros Oriental Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan was murdered along with her husband.
JUSTICE! https://t.co/efcto0V2Av
— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) December 15, 2020
The tweet largely went unnoticed at first, until news agencies started picking up on it. This tweet from GMA News and Public Affairs journo Atom Araullo, while not expressing any disdain, pretty much sums up what happened.
Red-tagged doctor, who headed the local IATF, and her husband were shot in broad daylight. Reports indicate 15 spent caliber 45 rounds recovered from the scene. Fifteen. Photos from @karapatan https://t.co/645tESuvRh pic.twitter.com/bBd4GRr2ie
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) December 16, 2020
Araullo’s post has been liked at least 19,000, retweeted almost 7,500 times, and quoted nearly 2,300 times, all showing disdain for the assailants who are allegedly part of an anti-communist vigilante group called Kawsa Guihulnganon Batok Kumunista or KAGUBAK.
The assailants, who killed Dr. Sancelan and her husband, rode a motorcycle and spent 15 shots from a .45-caliber handgun to murder the two in broad daylight.
In the photos shared by progressive group Karapatan, the victims were part of a hitlist of KAGUBAK, where Dr. Sancelan was falsely accused as per JB Regalado, the spokesman of the Leonardo Panaligan Command of NPA-Central Negros.
Others on the list were Atty. Anthony Trinidad and Heidie Malalay. Both were killed within the past few years allegedly by same group.
Netizens were obviously fuming at the events that transpired in Negros Oriental, mostly expressing disgust at the Duterte administration’s seemingly incessant red-tagging of critics.
https://twitter.com/xokaaaaaay/status/1339135885099507714
Shame on all elected and appointed government officials who bank on their popularity to make ‘red-tagging’ appear as their version of ‘truth-tagging.’ Blood is in your hands. Shame on all of you. https://t.co/IuWW0VYm4r
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) December 16, 2020
If the pandemic won’t kill us, this red-tagging culture initiated by Duterte will. Well, he did promise a bloody government ~ the only promise he able to keep. And his rabid DDS are enjoying every drop of blood shed. https://t.co/ncKmgfNvQQ
— 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐲 (@krizzy_kalerqui) December 16, 2020
Elago, who was one of the first to share the news, called for justice for the victims.
JUSTICE FOR DR. MARY ROSE SANCELAN AND EDWIN SANCELAN! https://t.co/IraU8oq9Dk
— Sarah Elago (@sarahelago) December 16, 2020
A netizen even recounted the scenes she saw after hearing gunshots.
https://twitter.com/__guide___/status/1339137580017672193
Others would pass the blame onto local police who they feel were the most likely to pull off such a travesty.
https://twitter.com/emilypage01/status/1339123562523738118
The events also had netizens asking who is the real terrorist: the New People’s Army or the Philippine government?
red-tagging and violence everywhere. Who’s bringing terror now? Who’s the real terrorist now? https://t.co/0hFAPqORZ5
— ruu (@ro2_kk) December 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/leomerlan/status/1339096766893813760
It also brought to light how a lot of the President’s supporters, who call themselves DDS can go out and live normal lives, but those tagged as reds have to constantly worry about their safety.
https://twitter.com/bernardvgarcia/status/1339093316520931330
With Malacañang or the Philippine National Police yet to issue a statement, those seeking justice for Dr. Sancelan and her husband may have to go elsewhere to get what they need.
