“The purpose and message of the warning is also clear, particularly to the organizations they belong to and to Bicolanos in general, that Marcos administration is ready to suppress free organizing, legitimate criticism, and just resistance."

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – “Malapit ka na.” (Your end is near.)

This was the message received by two activists in the Bicol region.

Bartolome “Bart” Rayco on August 28. In the morning of that day, he found this note along with two bullets bound with a black ribbon at the entrance of their family’s small carinderia in Legazpi City.

Rayco is the vice president and Legal Aid Chairperson of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Albay Chapter. He is also a member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and former vice-chairperson for Luzon.

The following day, August 29, transport leader Ramon Rescovilla also found a bullet tied with a black ribbon in the passenger seat of a parked blue truck in front of his house in Daraga, with a note “Ramon Riscovilla, MALAPIT KA NA!”. He is the chairperson of the Bicol-wide transport group Concerned Operators and Drivers for Reforms (CONDOR) and national vice-chairperson of transport group Piston.

According to human rights group Karapatan, the threats are “desperate acts of those who only know killing” and appear to have been carried out and written by the same person, using the same pen.

“The purpose and message of the warning is also clear, particularly to the organizations they belong to and to Bicolanos in general, that Marcos administration is ready to suppress free organizing, legitimate criticism, and just resistance,” Karapatan Bicol stated.

Rayco and Rescovilla are prominent activists in the region denouncing graft and corruption under the Marcos administration.

“This cowardly act of intimidation is not merely an attack on one individual but a direct assault on the collective struggle for transparency, accountability, and justice in Albay and the entire Bicol Region,” Albay Movement Against Corruption (AMAC) stated.

“The only investment of the people to expose the rotten state is their voice. It is never a crime to oppose the corruption in flood control, the relentless increase in the prices of gasoline and basic commodities, the very low wages of workers in Bicol, and the lack of farmlands for the farmers,” Karapatan Bicol said.

They added, “The real criminals are those who loot the public treasury, protect foreign mines, and continue to destroy the livelihood and hope of the Filipino people to change our miserable situation.”

Despite having received death threats, Rayco and Rescovilla have continued with their work as leaders in the region.

“Obviously, this is work-related harassment. Although, of course we will not be deterred. We will not stop working for justice,” Rayco said.

Defending Transport Sector: Ramon Rescovilla of Condor Piston Bicol is a former political prisoner that recently received a death threat. (Photo by Reynard Magtoto/Bulatlat)

Prior to the incident, Rescovilla told Bulatlat that he was visited four times last year by the elements of the Civil Military 93rd Civil Military Operations (CMO) Company of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He was reportedly offered a monthly salary of P20,000 ($320.32) in exchange for stopping his involvement as a transport leader.

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. Rayco had served as Rescovilla’s counsel in the latter case.

“In a democratic society, bullets, threats, surveillance, intimidation, or violence should not be used to respond to the grievances of the people. The use of this type of intimidation is not only a threat against an individual. It is also a threat to the freedom of all workers to organize, express themselves, stand up, and fight for their rights,” Condor Piston Bicol stated.

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.

“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,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

In a statement, the CHR Bicol said it will remain vigilant in protecting the rights and security of lawyers, human rights defenders, and other individuals who work to advance human rights and access to justice.

“We stand firmly against threats, harassment, intimidation, and violence that seek to silence those who uphold the rule of law and defend the rights of others,” the commission said.

Rights Lawyer: Atty. Bart Rayco attended the 2nd General Assembly of Defend Bicol Stop the Attacks Network in July 2026. (Photo by Reynard Magtoto/Bulatlat)

The CHR Bicol called on the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other concerned authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigation.

Meanwhile, IBP Albay Chapter expressed its solidarity with Rayco.

The group challenged the law enforcement agencies to fulfill the commitment they gave during the October 17, 2025 Dialogue on the Security Risks and Safety of the Bench and the Bar to protect lawyers and judges. (AMU, RVO)

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