Froilan Reyes was the village captain of Barangay San Antonio in Kalayaan town in Laguna province, the Philippines.

On the afternoon of Thursday, 18 June, 2020. Reyes was driving along the national highway in Barangay Longos, at around 1PM, when two men on a motorbike pulled up alongside him and opened fire, hitting him several times.

Reyes was transferred to the Pagsanjan Medical Clinic where he died later from his injuries. Several other killings similar to Reyes’ case have been reported since the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The escalation of attacks on community leaders and human rights defenders has been linked to the increase in police and military activity following the signing into law of the Anti Terrorism Bill.

Under this law individuals would be branded as “terrorists” based on vague criteria following which unconstitutional penalties would be imposed.