Human Rights Group Chair in Eastern Samar, Assassinated
By Johann Hein B. Arpon
Bulatlat
Posted 10:15 a.m., Nov. 6, 2006
A death squad in
Eastern Samar claimed another victim with the brutal murder of Rodrigo
Catayong, PhD., 55 years old, chairperson of KARAPATAN-Eastern Samar
yesterday morning just in front of the McArthur, E. Samar Catholic church.
He was on his way to church with his wife Marcela, 54 years old.
The 5-man liquidation
team on board two motorcycles shot Catayong eight times at close range
hitting him in the face, at the chest, neck, and back killing him
instantly.
Dr. Catayong
according to fellow human rights advocates was a “known peace-loving
citizen, an advocate of human rights and civil liberties in the province
of Eastern Samar.” He served as their KARAPATAN chairperson in the
province since he was elected in 2001.
Around two months
ago, a “liquidation list” containing the names of 31 personalities,
including Dr. Catayong, was distributed all over the province. The said
list was signed by a certain Ka Hector of the Samar-Leyte Anti-Communist
Movement (SLACM). SLACM claimed that those in the list targeted for
liquidation are members/sympathizers of the NPA (New People’s Army) and
accused them of having “done sins against the people.” It said the order
for liquidation was approved by the Committee
Central ng Pilipinas Hukbong Tagahatol ng Bayan, Leysam Anti-Communist
Movement.
It was
during the visit of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo in Tacloban City that
the “liquidation list” was divulged by Agustin Docena (a
member of the Eastern Samar Coalition of NGOs and POs). Others in the
list are the mayor of Borongan, one public grade school teacher, three (3)
professors from the Eastern Samar State University including Dr. Catayong,
several leaders of progressive party-lists, a policeman and a local media
man. They were listed as members of the leftist groups such as Bayan Muna
(People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela.
Human
rights and people’s organizations in the province said SLACM is the
handiwork of and is connected to the Civil Relations Service of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (CRS-AFP). They noted that SLACM and the
military have conducted joint
rallies and activities in the region.
“Thus, culpability
can be exacted from the hierarchy of the 8th Infantry Division
of the Philippine Army, now headed by Major General Rodrigo Maclang who
extends both administrative and operational control over the 8th
CRS-AFP Civil Affairs Unit”, said Alex Lagunzad, secretary-general of
KARAPATAN-Eastern Visayas.
Mr. Lagunzad called on “on the all
peace-loving Filipinos, Samarnons and people of Eastern Visayas to oppose
and condemn the killing of Dr. Catayong and all other state-sponsored
human rights violations.”
Dr. Catayong is the 90th victim of
political killing in Eastern Visayas since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed
the presidency in 2001. Bulatlat
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