By Jun Gomez | 09:37 AM March 18, 2020
A youth activist was shot dead by an unidentified motor-riding in tandem at Purok 4, Barangay Dela Paz in Cortes town, on Tuesday, March 17.
The victim was identified as Marlon Maldos, 25, a resident of Barangay Cantumocad in Loon town and the artistic director of the Bol-anong Artista nga may Diwang Dagohoy (Bansiwag).
According to the investigation of Cortes Police Station, Maldos was one of the backriders of a motorcycle when the incident occurred.
Based on the accounts of witnesses, they were traveling along the national highway when a motorcycle approached them and suddenly shot Maldos.
When Maldos fell to the ground, his companion on board the motorcyle also shot him, which resulted to his immediate death.
The suspects immediately left the area.
At least 7 spent shells were recovered at the crime scene.
The Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (Humabol) condemned the killing of Maldos, the 9th activist and the youngest to become a victim of alleged ‘extrajudicial killing’ in Bohol.
In a statement, Humabol said that “Maldos and his family has been the subject of constant red-tagging, vilification and harassment by members of the 47th Infantry Batallion.”
“He has been unfairly and baselessly linked to the revolutionary underground movement even if he was plainly out in the open, participating in rallies calling for genuine land reform and organizing theater arts workshops especially after Bansiwag’s Creative Director, Alvin Fortaliza’s detention on trumped-up charges. Despite threats and difficulties, Marlon carried on with his cultural task, temporarily assuming the responsibilities left by Alvin,” a portion of the statement reads.
Humabol demands for the swift justice on Marlon’s death.
“We demand that these senseless killings be solved and perpetrators be brought to face the court of law and punished accordingly,” the statement further reads.
A month ago, farmer Pelagio Compoc, also gunned down.
