Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts

Vol. V, No. 39      November 6 - 12, 2005      Quezon City, Philippines

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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Killing Dissent

A total of 120 political activists and supporters of progressive party lists and people’s organizations have been killed from January to October 26.  For the sake of human rights, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her mean killing machine must be prevented from inflicting more harm on the Filipino people.

BY THE Alliance for the Advance of People’s Rights
Posted by Bulatlat

Karapatan, an alliance of human rights organizations, reports that a total of 120 political activists and supporters of progressive party lists and people’s organizations have been killed from January to October 26,2005. 

From September to Oct. 15, an activist was killed every week. Karapatan cites October 25-26 however as the worse. “It is enraging, alarming and deplorable that five persons were killed in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan within 24 hours,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan Public Information Officer. 

Three of those summarily executed belonged to militant organizations.  Initial reports that reached Karapatan indicate that Ricardo Ramos, CATLU president was killed at around 9:30 p.m. of Oct. 25. Francisco Rivera of Bayan Muna-Pampanga was shot dead with his two companions, Dr. Angel David and Von John Maniti in the morning of Oct. 26 or some 12 hours after Ramos was shot dead. At 5:30 p.m. the same day, Pedy De Leon of the transport group Piston and Anakpawis-Bulacan was likewise shot dead. 

Eighteen (18) persons were killed in Central Luzon (12 Sept- 26 Oct), 12 of them were members of progressive party lists and people’s organizations, the other six (6) were their supporters and sympathizers.

The assailants have yet to be identified but families of the victims have strong suspicions that the military is behind the killing, especially since there has been a rise in extra-judicial killings of members and supporters of militant organizations after Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr. was transferred from Eastern Visayas where a similar pattern occurred.

“We cannot blame the next of kin of the victims for believing that the military, especially Gen. Palparan, could be behind the killings. The general’s reputation precedes him, and that is not because of militant organizations’ propaganda against him but because of documented cases of rights violations wherever he went,” Cervantes said. 

Cervantes asked, “Are we to believe the generals’ alibi that the rise in killings of civilians branded by the AFP as being `enemies of the state’ in areas where he was assigned is only a coincidence?”

Cervantes challenged Gen. Generoso Senga, who said that Palparan’s complicity in the killings of activists is yet to be investigated, “to prove to the families of the victims that the AFP is not abetting human rights violations by putting Gen. Palparan under preventive suspension and subject him to an investigation.”   

Human rights groups picketed the office of the Department of National Defense (DND), October 28, Friday morning, to press Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz to act judiciously and help put a stop to the killings.

“If Mrs. Arroyo continues to cling to power, more lives could be at stake.  For the sake of human rights, Mrs. Arroyo and her mean killing machine must be prevented from inflicting more harm on the Filipino people.” Cervantes concluded. Posted by Bulatlat

List of political activists killed from September 1 to October 26, 2005,
based on initial reports from KARAPATAN regional officers.

Name

Age

Affiliation

Date of Incident

Place of Incident

Suspected Perpetrators

Atty. Norman Bocar

57

BAYAN-Eastern Visayas

September 1, 2005

Borongan, Samar

Unidentified armed men on board a motorcycle

Renier Cusio

33

UMAGPAS-KMP

Sept 12 (abducted)

Sept 16 (found dead)

Guimba, Nueva Ecija

5 elements of the 71st Infantry Battalion Philippine Army under Lt. Viterbo and a certain Paul Serrano

Leodegario Punzal

41

Anakpawis Party List

September 13, 2005

Norzagaray, Bulacan

Elements of the 56th IBPA

Diosdado Fortuna

50

Union of Filipino Employees, Nestle workers' union

September 22, 2005

Calamba, Laguna

still unidentified assailants

Victoria P. Samonte

51

KMU-CARAGA

September 30, 2005

Bislig City

Unidentified man

Armando Javier

36

Anakpawis Party List

October 2, 2005

Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija

Elements of the 71st IBPA

Priscilla "Celia" Esteban

56

Bayan Muna

Oct. 2 (abducted)
Oct 5 (found dead and mutilated)

Guimba, Nueva Ecija

Elements of the 71st IBPA under command of Col. Cayetano and Lt. Madrid of the Charlie Company

Rolando Mariano

53

TARELCO Employees Union

October 7, 2005

Gerona, Tarlac

Unidentified assailants

Ponciano Silva

54

Anakpawis Party List

October 11, 2005

Unisan, Quezon

Unidentified motorcycle-riding men

Florante Collantes

54

Bayan Muna

October 15, 2005

Tarlac

Unidentified motorcycle-riding man

Bienvenido Capuno

 

Central Luzon Aeta Association

October 20, 2005

Porac, Pampanga

Elements of 24th   Infantry Battalion

Tito Macabitas

 

Bayan Muna

October 20, 2005

San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Unidentified men

Bgy. Capt. Rodante Bautista

 

Bayan Muna

October 24, 2005

La Purisima, La Paz, Tarlac

(verifying information)

Ricardo Ramos

 

CATLU

October 25, 2005

Brgy. Mapalacsiao, Tarlac

(verifying information)

Francisco Rivera

 

Bayan Muna- Pampanga

October 26, 2005

Angeles City, Pampanga

Armed men on board a van and a back-up vehicle

Federico de Leon

53

Anakpawis Party List BTODA

October 26, 2005

Malolos, Bulacan

1 woman and 1 man who boarded his tricycle and another unidentified perpetrator on board the tricycle tailing his vehicle.

 

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