by Walden Bello, Amnesty International Philippines’ Most Distinguished Defender of Human Rights Awardee (2023)
I vehemently condemn the brutal killing of former journalist and human rights advocate Ali Macalintal, who was shot dead in General Santos City on Monday, June 23.
As reported by Karapatan and Bahaghari, Ali was Karapatan’s deputy secretary general for Soccsksargen and a member of activist groups like Bayan Muna and BAYAN. She has long been a victim of the police state, having been wrongly arrested for a bomb attack in 2002, for which she endured torture while in detention for eight years. Last year, she reported experiencing harassment and being under surveillance by local State forces.
Macalintal’s brave work put her in the crosshairs of many powerful entities. She stood for indigenous communities as they were under assault and was part of a fact-finding mission in Sultan Kudarat during the height of Duterte’s Martial Law in Mindanao. She was also a transwoman in a deeply transphobic society.
This atrocity is but one incident in a long list of killings of former members of the press and human rights advocates. I call for a swift investigation and justice for Ali Macalintal. If we cannot guarantee the safety of those who fight for our rights, none of us are truly safe.
