KARAPATAN sounded the alarm over recent death threats against a human rights lawyer and a transport sector leader in Bicol, condemning the threats as “desperate acts of those who only know killing” and calling for an immediate investigation into the perpetrators.
Atty. Bartolome “Bart” Rayco, a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and former vice-chairperson for Luzon, received a death threat on the morning of August 28, 2026. At the entrance of their family’s small carinderia, two bullets bound with a black ribbon were found, accompanied by a message that read: “Atty. Bart Rayco MALAPIT KA NA!!”
The following day, Ramon Rescovilla, chairperson of the Bicol-wide transport group Concerned Operators and Drivers for Reforms (CONDOR) and national vice-chairperson of PISTON, also found a bullet tied with a black ribbon in the passenger seat of a parked truck in front of his house. A note bearing the words “Ramon Rescovilla, MALAPIT KA NA!” was attached to the bullet.
The threats appear to have been carried out and written by the same person, using the same pen. Both involved bullets tied with black ribbons and bore the identical warning, “MALAPIT KA NA.”
“KARAPATAN will not dismiss these as mere acts of intimidation. A bullet left at someone’s home or place of work is a clear and chilling message that their lives are being deliberately placed in danger, that they are being watched and monitored,” KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
Rescovilla was arrested in September 2020 and spent four years behind bars on trumped-up charges of murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. He had posted bail for the murder charge as early as 2023. In December 2025, he walked free when the illegal possession case was dismissed. Atty. Rayco had served as Rescovilla’s counsel in the latter case.
“We should take these death threats seriously. A human rights lawyer who represented a targeted transport leader is now being threatened in the same manner as his former client. We should not allow Atty. Rayco and Rescovilla to be put in harm’s way. We have seen far too many instances where threats were followed by actual killings,” Palabay said.
Palabay cited the cases of Negros human rights lawyer Atty. Ben Ramos and KARAPATAN paralegal Zara Alvarez, who both received repeated death threats before they were killed. Ramos was killed in November 2018, while Alvarez was gunned down in August 2020.
KARAPATAN called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to immediately investigate the threats against Rayco and Rescovilla, identify the perpetrators, and take steps to ensure their safety.
“The manner in which these threats were carried out bears the hallmarks of intimidation tactics previously employed by state forces against human rights defenders and activists. Who else would have the motive, resources, and capacity to carry out such acts of intimidation if not state agents or those acting on their behalf?” Palabay said. “The Marcos Jr. government cannot wash its hands of these threats. We demand an end to the continuing attacks against human rights defenders and accountability for those who put their lives in danger.”
KARAPATAN also called on organizations and communities to ensure the safety of Rayco, Rescovilla, and their families. “Those who send bullets as warnings are counting on fear and impunity. We should not allow them to prevail or use these threats to silence the victims, their colleagues, or the communities they serve,” Palabay said.
As the country observes National Heroes Day, KARAPATAN further called on communities to remain vigilant in protecting their rights and defending those who stand up for them.
“Our heroes in the past also faced threats, persecution, and death for standing up for the rights of the people. They endured because they believed that the rights and freedom of our people were worth fighting for. Today, human rights defenders continue that tradition of courage. They, too, face threats because they choose to stand with their communities. We must not allow their courage to be met with fascism and state terror. Let us continue to stand with them and fight for our rights,” Palabay ended.