On the 6th of November 2018, 54-year-old human rights lawyer, Benjamin Ramos, was gunned down by unknown assailants in the region of Nergros Occidental in The Philippines.
Ramos was secretary-general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers- Negros Island, whose work included the representation of a number of political prisoners, and activists that fought for justice against the state.
Ramos was similarly an active peasant advocate and had founded the farmers’ organization Paghiliusa Development Group.
At the time of his death, Ramos was the 24th practicing lawyer that had been killed since August 2016 under the Duterte’s regime, that has proven to be hostile to actors defending human rights and human rights activists.
Rights group Karapatan believe that Ramos’ death is connected to government militia that operates within the region on behalf of exploitative landlords.