By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Four of the 57 activists arrested by authorities following simultaneous raids in Bacolod City last month were released over the past three days after posting bail amounting to P540,000.
National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) Secretary-General John Milton Lozande was released on Monday, NFSW paralegal officer Danilo Tabura and BPO Industry Employees Network Philippines (BIEN) organizer Anne Krueger were freed the following day, and NFSW staff member Roberto Lachica posted bail yesterday.
Meanwhile, Noli Rosales, Romulo and Margie Bitoon, Albert and Karena dela Cerna, and Proseso dela Cruz and Cheryl Catalogo, who face illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges, remain in jail as their charges are non-bailable.
Supporters contributed to the bail by raising $10,630 (or around P539,000).
The military claimed the 57, including 10 minors, were undergoing firearms and explosive training at the offices in question, which were occupied by various progressive groups.
Last week, 32 of those arrested were released, including 21 workers laid off from Vallacar Transit Inc., operator of the Ceres Bus liner; along with 11 members of the cultural group Teatro Obrero.
Karapatan-Negros has since condemned the arrests and accused the military of planting evidence.
Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of Karapatan-Negros, blamed the recent incidents on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming it proves they are “desperate in silencing the vocal critics of his fascist and tyrannical rule, anti-poor and anti-people policies.”
“We will not be cowed and silenced, instead we will stand and fight back!” she added./DGB, WDJ