human rights watch

Military Eyed In Anakpawis Leader’s Murder

After hearing gunshots and cries for help, witnesses, who requested anonymity, saw Isaias Manano Jr, secretary-general of Anakpawis-Mindoro Oriental, wounded yet still alive, lying in a fetal position on the ground and crying for help. The assailant approached him and fired another shot.

By LISA C. ITO
Bulatlat.com

First to be murdered was Edilberto Napoles, coordinator of Bayan Muna (People First) another progressive party vying for a party list seat in Congress.  He was shot dead by suspected military agents on May 28, 2002.  Three recent killings happened in February this year.  On Feb. 13,  Leyma Fortu, Bayan Muna District Coordinator in Mindoro Oriental and lawyer Juvy Magsino, candidate for mayor of Naujan town, were killed in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental.  A few days later, on Feb. 18, Edrian Allegria, coordinator of Anakpawis for Sta. Cruz town, was also murdered.   

Manano is also the 40^th member of people’s organizations who was killed by military and police elements since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was installed by people power in 2001. 

Murder

At around 8 p.m. April 28, Manano and Anakpawis-Mindoro Oriental Vice-Chair Guillermo Coz left the party’s headquarters to visit mayoral candidate Bodjie Ignacio at the latter’s residence in Block 4, Brgy. Pachoca subdivision, Calapan City. By the time they left Ignacio’s house at around 9 p.m., the neighborhood’s unlit streets were deserted.  The two walked toward the main highway hoping that they can chance upon a passing tricycle for their ride home.

They had not yet walked far when Coz noticed a suspicious-looking man following them. He described the person as heavily-built, sporting a short haircut, wearing a black t-shirt, shorts, rubber slippers and carrying a pack bag slung over his right shoulder.

After seeing the man reach for something inside his bag, Coz and Manano quickened their pace. The man quickly caught up with them, following them by as close as three meters behind.  

Upon reaching Block 1 of Brgy. Pachoca, the two decided to part ways to evade the man.  Manano crossed the street while Coz continued walking. Suddenly, Coz heard a gunfire and Manano’s cry of pain.

When he turned to look, Coz saw Manano fall to the ground and the assailant aiming at him from a kneeling position. Coz dodged and ran for safety while shouting for help.

During the fact-finding mission conducted last April 29 by Tanggol Karapatan (Defend Human Rights), a human rights organization in Southern Tagalog, witnesses from Pachoca reported that they saw Manano, wounded yet still alive, lying in a fetal position on the ground and crying for help. The assailant reportedly approached him and fired another shot.

Shortly thereafter, another resident saw a man running toward a narrow side street near the crime scene.  Residents of the area reported having heard at least five gun shots that night.

According to the fact finding mission report, Manano died on the spot from two gunshot wounds. The first bullet, of a still-undetermined caliber, hit Manano in the back near the spinal column and exited through his stomach. The other bullet entered the right side of Manano’s temple and exited below his left ear.   

Christine Dela Cruz, spokesperson of Tanggol Karapatan, concluded that Manano’s killing was premeditated and planned.

AFP involvement in killing 

Dela Cruz said that Karapatan-ST is eyeing the possible involvement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the 204^th Infantry Brigade commanded by Col. Fernando Mesa, in the killing.   

According to Tanggol Karapatan, Manano was also active in the campaign against massive deployment of AFP soldiers and the widespread human rights violations in Mindoro Oriental. Because of this and his involvement in Anakpawis, he earned the ire of the military.

In 2002, a resident of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, who refused to be identified, reported that a certain Sgt. Nilo Cagaanan told him “Wag kang maniniwala kina Isaias at Irein, referring to Irein Cuasay  former spokesperson of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog.” (Do not believe in what Isaias and Irein are saying) “Yang dalawang yan ay magsisimba ring may bulak sa ilong.” (The two of them will be going to church with cotton balls inside their noses, referring to corpses)

Manano was also among the 61 members of a fact finding mission team that was illegally detained by the 58^th IB of the 204^th Infantry Brigade and the Roxas Philippine National Police (PNP) in Roxas, Mindoro Oriental last April 16.  After their arrest, the military was reportedly inquiring about Manano’s identity from residents of Naujan. 

“In view of these documented circumstances and precedents, we have strong reason to assert that the military is involved in this case,” De La Cruz said.  

Open targets for harassment, black propaganda 

Karapatan acting spokesperson Dorris Caurio added that the killing is a direct result of Presidential Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales’ claims that six progressive parties, including Anakpawis, are “communist fronts”. Caurio added that such unfounded labeling has “in effect, made members and officers of legitimate peoples’ organizations open targets for harassment by military elements.” 

According to the findings of the fact finding mission team investigating the death of Manano, the government’s red-baiting campaign has intensified in Mindoro Oriental before and even after the murders of the five members of progressive political parties.  Sack cloth streamers were hung from trees along the streets beside the provincial capitol in Mindoro Oriental.  The streamers bore unfounded accusations and black propaganda against the progressive parties such as “Mapalinlang na paglahok ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa halalan, tutulan! Huwag iboto” (Oppose the deceitful participation of the CPP-NPA-NDF in the elections! Do not vote for them!)  and “Mga anino ng CPP-NPA: Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak ng Bayan, Anakpawis, Migrante…Wag iboto.!” (Do not vote for the fronts of the CPP-NPA:  Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anak ng Bayan (Sons and Daughters of the People), Anakpawis, Migrante, referring to five progressive political parties).  Bulatlat.com

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