Anakbayan Toronto condemns the brutal murder of 72-year old Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, Chairperson of the Anakpawis party-list and peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). He is the 4th NDF political consultant to be killed, after Sotero Llamas, Randy Malayao, and Julius Giron.
Ka Randy was murdered on August 10th by armed men in his rented home in Novaliches, Quezon City. He was undergoing a medical treatment and was unarmed at the time. We demand justice for Ka Randy and all victims of extrajudicial killings by the US-Duterte’s tyrannical regime.
Ka Randy’s advocacy for the Philippine peasantry and toiling people remained at the forefront of his work, whether it was as national secretary-general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, as chairperson of Anakpawis Partylist, or as one of the consultants in the peace negotiations. He championed land reform and land rights, exposing the true nature of Philippine society which is the semi-colonial and semi-feudal.
As a youth activist in the 1960s and 1970s, Ka Randy headed the Kabataan Makbayan chapter in the heart of Pandacan, Manila to organize slum dwellers and jeepney drivers. He stressed the importance of students to organize and join the struggles of the toiling masses beyond the school walls.
We as revolutionary Filipino youth have a lot to learn from the lives of those like Ka Randy. We will uphold his memory and continue to serve the toiling masses and people of the Philippines!
#JusticeForRandyEchanis
#OustDuterte
#StopTheKillings
#ResumePeaceTalks
Anakbayan Toronto 