NDFP peace consultant killed in QC

A peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) was killed in Quezon City on

Monday, August 10.

Randall “Randy” Echanis, 72, chairman of Anakpawis and deputy secretary-general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was stabbed dead inside his apartment in Novaliches, Quezon City on Monday.

“Our anger is beyond words. This is a culture of extrajudicial killings with impunity under the Duterte regime. This is a declaratory act that national leaders of legal-democratic movement are now targeted to be killed by the Duterte regime,” former Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao

said in a statement sent to The ManilaTimes.

Echanis was killed along with a neighbor identified as Louie Tagapia, 48. The former had multiple stab wounds, while the latter sustained a head wound. His hands were also tied.

Casilao said Echanis spearheaded nationwide campaigns for genuine agrarian reform, including free land distribution to Filipino farmers.

Echanis was a long-time NDFP consultant and a member of its Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms.

He actively participated during the 2016 to 2017 peace talks with the Duterte administration that tackled Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director BGen. Ronnie Montejo, however, said one of the two victims was not Echanis.

Montejo said the victim was Manuel Santiago as indicated by the identification card recovered by investigators.

A witness, Rheyvan Dy, a neighbor of the victims, said he was roused from sleep by the loud noise and when he peeped through the window, he saw five men coming out from the victim’s apartment.

NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison condemned Echanis’

killing, pinning blame on the Duterte administration.

“Randall was a peaceful social activist. He had long dedicated himself to his social advocacy and had made tremendous sacrifices for many decades,” he said. “Even after the termination of the peace negotiations by Duterte, Randall was supposed to enjoy the protection of the safety and immunity provisions just like all the other negotiators, consultants and staff of the GRP and NDFP in the peace negotiations.”

President Rodrigo Duterte suspended peace negotiations with the NDF and the Communist Party of the Philippines, saying the groups were not sincere in talking peace.