This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 8, March 26-April 1, 2006
Human rights watch
Land Dispute Led to Zambales
Killing - Anakpawis
A land dispute over a
quarrying operation may have led to the March 20 ambush here that nearly killed
Zambales Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) coordinator Amante Abelon and caused the
death of his 35-year old wife, Agnes, and five-year old son, Ervy John.
by A. Mangampo Ociones San Marcelino, Zambales
(153 kms. north of Manila)– A land
dispute over a quarrying operation may have led to the March 20 ambush here that
nearly killed party-list Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) coordinator for Zambales
Amante Abelon and caused the death of his wife and five-year old son. Abelon’s wife, Agnes, 35,
and their son Ervy John, 5, were killed in Sitio (sub-village) Mawaw, Barangay
(village) San Pablo, Castillejos, Zambales after being shot in the head. Abelon, 42, a village
councilor in nearby San Rafael, San Marcelino town and vice chairperson of the
Zambales chapter of the militant peasant group Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang
Luson (AMGL, Peasant Alliance in Central Luzon) was on board a motorcycle along
with his wife and son when waylaid by still unidentified assailants. Local police authorities
said Abelon recognized one of the assailants as an army agent. But military
officials quickly brushed aside the allegation and told media to wait and “let
the police do their job.” Amante’s father, Severino
Abelon, incumbent councilor and former vice mayor of San Marcelino told a fact
finding mission led by KARAPATAN-Central Luzon March 21 that his son was popular
and was involved in helping farmers with land problems throughout the province. Quarry A community organizer who
requested anonymity told the fact-finding mission team that Abelon is presently
helping some farmers who were allegedly victims of land grabbing and who were
displaced from their farms by a quarrying operation in Sitio Mamaw, Barangay San
Pablo Castillejos town. The quarry sits on a
250-ha. land that was covered by lahar and sand deposits from the 1991 Mt.
Pinatubo eruption. It started in 2005 and is
operated jointly by former San Marcelino mayor Joker Rodriguez and Manuel
Arquero. The land used to be very
productive since it lies along the Sto. Tomas River. Lahar In 1993, San Antonio Farms
(SAF), an agricultural company owned by a certain Laurel leased the land from
the farmers for five years. SAF conducted a survey to
ascertain individual ownerships and boundaries before the land was cleared and
planted with sugar cane. Three years later, armed
men strafed the bunkhouses of the company, residents said. Abandoned The farmers once again
prepared to scrape the lahar off their farms and make it productive. In 2005, with the SAF gone,
representatives of Arquero and Rodriguez arrived and claimed the land as theirs,
brandishing a very old title under the name of Ceferino Rodriguez. Ceferino Rodriguez was
purported to be a very rich man who owned the entire Philippines — a claim
described by the farmers as “preposterous.” “E, maliit pa ako
nagsasaka na kami diyan, paano naging kanya ang lupa?”
(From the time we were still small we were already tilling the land, how can
they claim that the land is theirs?) a close friend of Abelon and a batchmate at
West Luzon Agricultural College (WLAC), who also asked not to be named, told
GLNS. Fear Relatives and friends
believe the quarry issue is the most probable cause of Abelon’s ambush, a claim
supported by Anakpawis members here. But all refused to be named
because of fear. “Gusto kasi nila masolo
ang pera sa quarry,”
(They want to keep the quarry profits to themselves.)
a close relative said. In the morning of March 20,
Abelon and his family went to the Zambales Electric Cooperative (ZAMECO) office
in San Marcelino to a report a busted electric connection, the fact finding
mission learned. Riding their motorcycle,
the family later passed by the Castillejos Public Market to buy a few household
items before proceeding to Bgy. San Rafael in San Marcelino town. They were waylaid at around
noon, a hundred meters away from the secondary dike in Sitio Mawaw in the same
village where the quarry is located. Running for his
life When they heard the first
volley of shots, eyewitnesses interviewed by the fact finding mission said they
ran and took shelter in a nearby hut. The same eyewitnesses said
they saw Abel running for his life while at least one armed man in a white shirt
repeatedly fired at him. While running, Abel was reportedly able to call his
employer and asked for help. His wounded body was found
some 70 meters away from his motorcycle and was first brought to the San
Marcelino Emergency Hospital. Parked Witnesses further claimed a
dark colored sports utility vehicle was seen some ten meters away from where
Agnes and Ervy John were found dead. The lifeless body of Agnes
was found embracing her son, as if trying to cover him from danger, witnesses
said. The two victims were found dead with a single bullet wound each on their
heads. Nine bullets were removed
from Abelon’s body. He is now under heavy guard at an undisclosed hospital.
Gitnang Luson News Service/Posted by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Gitnang Luson News Service
Posted by Bulatlat
“Maraming naiinggit o nagagalit sa pagtulong niya at ito marahil ang dahilan
ng kanyang pagkamatay,” (Many are envious or angry because my son was
helping people and this may have led to his death), the elder Abelon told GLNS.
After their farms were covered by lahar, the farmers tried to make a living
through small-scale quarrying.
After the strafing, the farmhands hired by SAF fled to Pampanga and the land was
abandoned.
The motorcycle was found parked by the roadside some 10 meters away from the
victims. Witnesses said the victims may have not been immediately attacked.
Abelon may have recognized the assailants and had parked his motorcycle before
they were fired upon, witnesses said.