Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) national vice-chairperson Joseph Canlas has passed away at 7 AM this morning during confinement in the intensive care unit of Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital.
Canlas was previously rushed to the hospital on May 8, Saturday, after family and relatives reported breathing difficulties and speech stuttering problems on Saturday afternoon. Canlas has diabetes mellitus type 2 and pneumonia and suffered acute respiratory failure, requiring his need to be intubated.
Free Joseph Canlas and Pol Viuya Network lamented that Canlas’ alarming health condition is brought about by the anxieties of his illegal detention alongside the inhumane condition within the jail cell.
Since his illegal arrest last March 30, Canlas was placed under quarantine in CIDG Region 3 and was barred from being visited by his family. He was then put in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) quarantine facility with over 100 detainees.
Canlas was unjustly arrested last March 30 alongside Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Gitnang Luzon chairperson Pol Viuya.
AMGL condemns the trumped-up charges filed against Canlas, and recounts that the evidence was planted ammunitions, explosives, and firearms. Canlas’ lawyers are eyeing to take legal action against Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Pampanga and BJMP Angeles for criminal neglect.
“We could only blame the Duterte government for Canlas’ untimely death,” KMP strongly asserts.
Under a de-facto martial rule amid deteriorating national conditions, militant progressive leaders and individuals are directly attacked and executed by the state. Canlas is one of the many victims of the state’s “tanim-ebidensya” strategy as well as the unconstitutional Anti-Terror Law—the Duterte’s administration’s legalized weapon in cracking down on dissent and instigating intimidation and killings on the Filipino masses.
Featured Image courtesy of Bulatlat.
