This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 14, May 15, 2006
BY ABNER BOLOS
Gitnang Luson News
Service / Bulatlat
Posted 4:15 p.m.
May 15, 2006
San Fernando City—In a killing
that bore the trademark of what militant groups call “death squads,” Manuel
Nardo, 40, Bayan Muna (People First) coordinator in barangay (village) Quebiawan,
San Fernando City, Pampanga died Sunday night.
Joy Caluco, 18, an eyewitness and a
close friend of the victim’s family told GLNS he saw two men on board a
motorcycle with no license plates talking casually with the victim before one of
the assailants shot him in the back of the head and several times in the body at
about 9:30 pm, May 13.
“Magka-akbay pa sila habang
nagkukuwentuhan. Ilang
minuto lang at naunang lumakad si Mang Manuel paakyat sa mababang pader nang
barilin siya sa likod noong kausap niya,” (They even had their arms around each
other’s shoulders while talking. After a few minutes Mang Manuel walked ahead to
climb the low wall when the person he was talking to shot him in the back of the
head and several times in the body), Caluco said.
She said the assailants even called
the victim’s name to entice him to go out of the video store before they killed
him.
Roman Polintan, Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan-Central Luzon (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) said the killing bore
the trademark of the notorious death squads that have killed scores of leaders
and members of organizations in the region since last year.
Polintan said Nardo is the 26th
Bayan member assassinated this year and the 97th victim either of
killing or involuntary disappearance in Central Luzon since 2005.
Last year, 52 members or leaders of
Bayan in the region were killed and seven were abducted and remained missing.
Since January of this year, 26 have been killed while 13 were abducted, Polintan
said.
The victim’s wife, Blessie, 44,
said her husband had no personal enemies and his death may be part of the attack
against militant organizations.
Other witnesses said it was
drizzling on that night and there were no people in Nardo’s store except his
family and a few neighbours. Nardo was shot
in front of the video store about 100 meters from the Macarthur highway. The
store is located along the road leading to the San Miguel Corporation compound. Witnesses said
the assailants calmly boarded their motorcycle and left in the direction of the
highway. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.