Two human rights campaigners killed in the Philippines by gunmen on two motorcycles

Two campaigners investigating alleged human rights abuses have been shot dead in the Philippines, authorities said on Wednesday, deepening concerns that a “climate of impunity” is threatening rights activists.

The pair, who were looking into accusations of land-grabbing by a mayor on the central island of Negros, were riding a motorcycle when gunmen on two other motorcycles overtook them and opened fire on Tuesday, police said.

Elisa Badayos, an officer for national rights organisation Karapatan, and Eleuterio Moises, a member of a local peasant group, were both killed and another member of their investigating team was wounded, they added.

The group was examining cases of peasants apparently being forced off their farms, said Karapatan’s media officer Geri Cerillo.

“Private goons (armed men) were harassing the residents. There were land-grabbing attempts of the politicians there,” she said.

Police and the government’s independent Commission on Human Rights said they would open a probe into the killings.