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

Vol. VI, No. 40      Nov. 12 - 18, 2006      Quezon City, Philippines

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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Within three days in Northern Luzon
Peasant Leader Killed; Pastor Survives Assassination Try

A peasant leader was shot to death in Baggao, Cagayan (500 kms. north of Manila) on November 11, and a Protestant pastor survived an attempt on his life in Vigan City (407 kms. north of Manila) last November 9.

By Emily Vital
Bulatlat

Two more cases of political intimidation have been added to the growing list of human rights violations believed to be perpetrated by government forces. The two incidents took place in northern Luzon within three days.

A peasant leader was killed in Baggao, Cagayan (500 kms. north of Manila) on November 11, and a Protestant pastor survived an attempt on his life in Vigan City (407 kms. north of Manila) last November 9.

Joey Javier, leader of Kagimungan, a local peasant organization affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines), was shot dead in the morning of Nov. 11, by still unidentified assailants in Baggao, Cagayan.

Details of the incident are not yet available at press time.

Two days earlier at around 9:30 p.m, men on board a blue XRM motorcycle fired at Rev. Pastor Billy Austin of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and chairperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN or New Patriotic Alliance)-Ilocos on Del Pilar Street, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

Austin sustained two gunshot wounds, one in each leg. He is now at the Lahoz Clinic & Hospital.

Austin was with Avelino Dacanay, a member of Solidarity of Peasants to End Exploitation (STOP-EX) and three other church workers when the shooting happened. Dacanay and the three others were unharmed but were traumatized.

Based on a fact sheet from Karapatan-Ilocos, Austin’s group just concluded a day’s session of an Ecumenical Human Rights Training at the United Methodist Church in Florentino St., same city. They were walking toward the Bayan office when they were shot at. 

Karapatan-Ilocos reported that the motorcycle and a van tailed Austin’s group from the United Methodist Church. Three men and a woman were observed aboard the van. 

Austin who was walking ahead of the group noticed the man behind the driver of the motorcycle raise his gun, aim at them and started to fire continuously.   

The Methodist pastor tried to run away from the direct line of fire. After Austin noticed that he was hit, he dropped to the ground.  The assassin continued firing at Austin while speeding away. 

The sound of the gun shots was muffled.  Witnesses said that a caliber .45 with a silencer could have used for the assassination attempt. Bulatlat

 

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© 2006 Bulatlat  Alipato Media Center

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