HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Wife of Slain Lawyer Cries Out for Justice

A year has passed since the political killing of Atty. Felidito Dacut, human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna (People First) Eastern Visayas regional coordinator, and nothing has happened with the investigations.  “I want the culprits brought to justice so that I can tell my daughter who really killed my husband,” said Amelia Dacut, his wife.

BY JOHANN HEIN B. ARPON
Bulatlat

Tacloban City – A year after her husband’s death, Amelia Dacut still cries for justice.

Amelia’s husband, Felidito, a lawyer and Bayan Muna (People First)-Eastern Visayas regional coordinator, was gunned down on March 14, 2005 in Tacloban city by motorcycle-riding men suspected to be with the military.   The murder remains unresolved.

 “I want the culprits brought to justice so that I can tell my daughter who really killed my husband,” said Amelia.  In a mass and protest march held on his first year death anniversary on March 14, Amelia called on witnesses to come out and help in the resolution of the case.  She also called on other wives, husbands and surviving kin of victims to work together for justice.

Dacut was also a newly-elected member of the Board of Directors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Leyte Chapter.  After a year on the case, both the Task Force Dacut of the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which conducted a separate investigation, still face a blank wall.

The death of Dacut was just one of the 23 unsolved cases of political killings during the stint of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan as commanding officer of the 8^th Infantry Division based in the Eastern Visayas Region from February to August of 2005.

Dacut’s family, friends and colleagues from the progressive organizations once again went to the streets to demand justice for his death.   A mass was held in  remembrance of the martyred lawyer-leader at the Redemptorist Church, with Fr. William Lepatan, SVD as celebrant.

After the mass, the protesters marched towards the site where Dacut was shot, in front of People's Center at Arellano and Real streets, where they then offered a wreath and prayers in front of a poster of Dacut.

Lou Molon, regional project coordinator of Bayan Muna said, “The people who have Atty. Dacut killed are afraid of him. Afraid because he was consistent in his defense of the poor and was passionate in condemning government policies that burdens the poor to include heightened militarization in the barrios.”

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) spokesperson Floro Acbo called on the Eastern Visayas citizenry to, “remember the legacy of Atty. Dacut and take inspiration from his unselfish service to the people” by working for President Arroyo’s ouster and serving the oppressed.

He added: “Our call is justice for all victims of state fascism. After Mrs. Arroyo is ousted, she and her generals must be held accountable for the death of many of our martyrs.”

Tim Arevalo, staff of the regional human rights group KATUNGOD-KARAPATAN, lambasted the Arroyo government for its silence on the many political killings in the region and throughout the country.

“Mrs. Arroyo should be held accountable for its iron hand policy of dealing with critics of her governance and the subsequent punishment also of Gen. Palparan who until now is being cuddled by Mrs. Arroyo in spite of its track record of human rights violations against helpless civilians”, remarked Arevalo.

BAYAN vowed to have more and bigger mobilizations that will call for an end to state fascism and the eventual downfall of the Arroyo regime.

Nestor Nirza, Director of the Commission on Popular struggle of Bayan-Eastern Visayas said that, “Mrs. Arroyo’s downfall in inevitable. Her legitimacy is being questioned, her government known for corruption and betrayal of national interest and patrimony, and on her hands are the blood of hundreds of victims of state terrorism.”

“And just like the death of Atty. Dacut and many of our colleagues have not deterred us in our struggle, so shall we not be cowed by the worse than the Marcosian rule of Mrs. Arroyo,” said Nirza. Bulatlat

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