Elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) attempted but failed to assassinate Lejun de la Cruz, a former communist guerilla, human rights activist, and nominee of the Magsasaka party-list in the coming May election. This was announced by Magsasaka Party in a statement that it posted on its Facebook page on February 2, 2025.
“Dela Cruz was illegally abducted on that day, beaten, and held in police custody under questionable circumstances,” said the party statement. Magsasaka General Secretary General Du said he was on his way home from a friend’s house in Cainta, Rizal, when he was approached by an unidentified man asking about real estate. “Sensing imminent danger, he started his vehicle – only to be met with a hail of gunfire from the unidentified gunmen,” said Du.
Magsasaka Party demanded immediate accountability for the officers involved and a full investigation into the incident’s circumstances.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) denied claims made by de la Cruz that policemen abducted him. According to the PNP, de la Cruz was arrested while attempting to evade an arrest warrant for murder. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said dela Cruz hit a policeman with his vehicle while trying to escape from arresting law enforcers. “When the arrest warrant was being served, he pulled out his gun and boarded his vehicle which led to a car chase,” she said. “Dela Cruz was unarmed,” explained Magsasaka’s Legal Counsel General Du, “the claim that he was firing a weapon is completely false.”
The incident adds “to a growing pattern of state-sponsored repression and silencing of those fighting for justice, accountability, and human rights,” said a statement of Amnesty International Philippines. “Amnesty calls for a prompt investigation of the alleged irregularities in PNP’s conduct of operations, including the potential unlawful use of force against dela Cruz,” said Amnesty International Philippines Acting Director Jepie Papa.
Photo © Raffy Lerma