‘Government stole construction worker’s life’

The government didn’t just steal taxes. It stole Eric Saber’s life.

MANILA – Various labor and human rights groups denounced the killing of Eric Saber, the construction worker who was shot by the police on Sept. 21. 

According to the witnesses, Saber was going home from work and just got off from LRT-2 Recto Station. He was crossing the street to ride a jeepney when he was shot from behind, reportedly  by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) during the riot. 

Read: Stray bullet victim in Mendiola protest was a bystander, says witness

An update from Karapatan on Oct. 1 said that forensic pathologist Dr. Racquel Fortun, who conducted an autopsy on Saber, has issued a medical certificate confirming his cause of death. The certificate stated that the perforating gunshot wound to the neck is the underlying cause of Saber’s death.

For the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights – Philippines (CTUHRP), the police response was an overkill, as if the police forces were paranoid. 

CTUHRP said that these human rights violations clearly do not conform with policing principles of legality, necessity and proportionality.

“The initial actions of the youth protestors can still be considered tolerable and clearly did not pose a threat to public order and safety.”

Read: Groups demand probe on ‘cover-up and police brutality’

On Sept. 29, the rights and workers groups held a mass for Saber in San Roque Chapel.

Upon their visit, Kilusang Mayo Uno learned from his family how good Saber was as a brother. They added that  like other Filipinos, he worked in his early years to help support his family. And until the last day of his life, he worked with dignity, putting up with the fatigue of work and low wages for his loved ones.

KMU said that they see Saber among millions of other Filipino workers: in the workers who work faithfully, in the workers whose wages are barely enough to support the needs of the family, in the workers who are robbed by the government and deprived of a decent living.

“The government didn’t just steal taxes. It stole Eric Saber’s life. And we cannot allow Eric, and all victims of state violence, to be deprived of justice,” the group said in a statement. 

Karapatan meanwhile said that “The September 21 protests laid bare the fascist character of the Marcos Jr. regime — corrupt, plundering, and violently suppressing dissent.”

The groups demanded an investigation of the Philippine National Police’s handling of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable. 

They added, “free all victims of illegal arrest, and deliver justice for all victims of state violence.” (AMU, RVO) 

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