This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 49, Jan. 19, 2007

 Samar Prof Shot Dead in Front of Students

BY BULATLAT
 Posted January 19, 2007, 6:40 p.m.
UPDATED January 20, 2007, 1:45 a.m.

Prof. Jose Ma. Cui, a history and communication arts professor at the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), was shot dead by four bonnet clad and motorcycle riding men while conducting mid-term examinations for his class inside the Engineering Bldg. of the UEP in Catbalogan, Northern Samar around 3:35 - 3:45 p.m. today, Jan. 19.

He sustained a gunshot wound on the forehead and another on the chest. He died on the spot.

Cui was also former secretary general of the human rights group Katungod-Eastern Visayas, the regional chapter of the human rights alliance Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights) and founding member of the partylist group Bayan Muna in Northern Samar.

 

He was also the provincial chair of Courage (Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees) and the chairperson of the University of Eastern Philippines Employees Association (UEPEA) at the time of his death.

 

In an emailed statement to Bulatlat, Katungod-EV said Cui's " involvement in human rights issues, employees welfare and anti-corruption stand could have made him a target of the "neutralization" campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its Operational Plan (Oplan) Batay Laya 2."

 

Before his death, Katungod-EV said Cui was a victim of the AFP's smear campaign in 2004. He was charged with libel by Col. Manuelito Usi, former commanding officer of the 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the AFP. Katungod-EV also said Cui was listed No. 2 in the military's Order of Battle (OB).

 

Cui is the 820th victim of extra-judicial killing since the time of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, Karapatan said.

 

The slain professor is survived by his wife and three children. He was 53. Bulatlat

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

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