Karapatan Demands Disclosure of Mangyan Organizer's Whereabouts After Arrest

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Human rights group Karapatan Southern Tagalog on Friday (July 31) strongly urged authorities to disclose the whereabouts of Mangyan-Buhid community organizer Binay Serrano. Serrano has reportedly been out of contact with her family and lawyers for over 36 hours following her arrest in Cabuyao, Laguna. In a statement, Karapatan alleged that Serrano was a victim of an "unjust arrest" and demanded that authorities provide information regarding her safety and health condition. The group stated that Serrano was acting in accordance with legal procedures at the time of her arrest and was not involved in any criminal activity. This incident highlights growing concerns over the government's crackdown on indigenous rights defenders in the Philippines. Activists advocating for land rights and environmental protection are often labeled as national security threats and become targets. Serrano's arrest suggests a potential human rights violation amidst these circumstances. Karapatan is calling for Serrano's immediate release and the assurance of her safety. They are also advocating for increased transparency in similar cases and an end to the unjust detention of human rights advocates. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo