Shoot Them Dead

On the dawn of April 30, 2020, unidentified men shot activist Jory Porquia in his home in Arevalo, Iloilo City. Porquia had been a passionate fighter for people's rights since his days as leader of the League of Filipino Students during the 1970's Martial Law. He was also an environmentalist.

Days before his violent death, Porquia was part of an initiative to provide feeding programs to people who have been direly affected of the Enhanced Community Quarantine imposed on Iloilo City due to COVID-19. The local PNP attempted to stop this program, and prevented members of progressive groups from entering communities to give the much needed donations.

Earlier this month, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised address, "My orders to the police and military... If there is trouble and there's an occasion that they fight back and your lives are in danger, shoot them dead."

Here is my tribute poem to activist Jory Porquia, first featured on Panay Today.

Shoot Them Dead

(For Jory Porquia)

Nine gunshots roared

In the break of dawn

To silence a man

Who heeded the call

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Of guts that roared

In hunger. The sun

First sees the pool

Of red by the sea,

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Whose waves came

Crashing and thrashing

Making viral tantrums

Like a toddler.

Brrrt Brrrt Brrrt

When will they ever

Learn that bullets can

Not quarantine the voices

Of the raging people?

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty

Fighter. Mountain tears

Will flow in rivers

You’ve protected so.

Bang!

Rest in power, mighty

Fighter. You have led

The way for us to find

That power lives in us.

Bang!