Anti-pollution Leader Abducted in Bulacan

BY ABNER BOLOS
Gitnang Luson News Service
Posted by Bulatlat, 10:30 a.m., July 26, 2006

Less than six hours after President Arroyo praised an Army general for “fighting the enemies” in Central Luzon, another progressive leader was abducted in Bulacan province by suspected soldiers.

Four armed men in military uniform abducted Ernesto Santiago, 46, from his home in sitio Tulikan, brgy. Dulong Malabon, Pulilan town, Bulacan at 11 p.m., a few hours after President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address on July 24.

The victim is a leader of the Koalisyon Laban sa Polusyon, (Coalition Against Pollution) a local organization protesting some factories’ alleged dumping of toxic waste in the irrigation system, affecting the rice farms in several villages in the towns of Pulilan and Calumpit (41 and 48 kms. north of Metro Manila).

The victim’s wife Juliana said the armed men barged into their home as they were sleeping with their two children.  Two of the abductors entered their room, pointed their guns and ordered them to lie face down.  The armed men told her husband to get up, then took him with them. 

Jennifer Santiago, 22, daughter of the victim who lives in an adjacent house, said she saw armed men wearing ski masks outside her parents’ house poking the barrels of their guns to peep through the curtains. She said she heard the abductors’ vehicle drove away.

The group is being assisted by the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulakan (AMB), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

AMB spokesperson Ricardo Diaz said the victim is the 27^th person abducted in Bulacan since January 2006.

In her SONA, Arroyo condemned the political killings and praised Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commander of the 7^th Infantry Division which covers Central Luzon.  Palparan has been blamed by activists and families of victims for the killings and abductions by suspected soldiers under his command in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, and Eastern Visayas regions.

 “Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa bukang-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan, ” (In the provinces covered by the 7^th Division, Jovito Palparan is fighting the enemies.  He will not back down until the communities have been freed from the night of terror and brought into the dawn of justice and freedom) Arroyo said in her SONA. Gitnang Luson News Service/ Posted by Bulatlat