This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 39, Nov. 5, 2006
The Philippine Army issued on Saturday,
November 4, shoot-to-kill order on Maximo Ayunga, village council member in
Barangay Culong, Guimba, Nueva Ecija and chairperson of the Alyansa ng
Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon-Nueva Ecija chapter (AMGL-NE or Alliance of Peasants
in Central Luzon).
In a statement released to media, Pastora
Betty Perido, secretary-general of Karapatan-NE (Alliance for the Advancement of
People’s Rights-Nueva Ecija chapter), said that the order was issued by 2nd
Lt. Reynaldo Sabangan during a meeting with residents in the morning of November
4 at the village hall of Culong. Sabangan is the commanding officer of the army
unit stationed in Barangay (village) Culong.
Aside from Maximo, Alfredo, his father,
and Hilario, his brother, are also included in the shoot-to-kill order being in
a list of 15 persons whom the military claims were involved in a plan to attack
the barracks in the village.
Ayunga and members of his family as well
as other residents of Barangay Culong have been forced to leave their homes and
seek refuge elsewhere for fear of military attack, Karapatan-NE said.
Ayunga, 41, is active in protests against
the extra-judicial killing of civilians and other gross human rights violations
allegedly committed by the military in Nueva Ecija and the rest of Central
Luzon, Karapatan-NE said
Last September, his house was set on fire
allegedly by military agents.
“The military is blatantly using the
counter-insurgency campaign as a pretext to harass and kill civilians, including
elected government officials,” Perido said.
“Without basis whatsoever, the military
came out with a list of 15 persons and have now arrogated unto themselves
absolute power over the lives of their supposed suspects who are legitimate
residents,” Perido said. Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Posted
3:25 p.m., Nov. 5, 2006