HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Missing
Negros
Labor Leader in Order of Battle
The family of Perseus Geagoni, missing
organizer of the Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), now strongly
believes that the Army was responsible for his disappearance. His name is
in the military’s list of “rebels” or “enemies of the state,” it has
recently been found.
BY KARL G. OMBION AND RYAN B. LACHICA
Bulatlat
BACOLOD CITY -- The
family of Perseus Geagoni, missing organizer of the Negros Federation of
Sugar Workers (NFSW), now strongly believes that the Army was responsible
for his disappearance.
Geagoni has been
missing since Dec. 5 last year. He was last seen leaving his home at
Talisay City to go to the NFSW office at Bacolod City but never came back
since then. The NFSW since then had been accusing the Army’s 303rd
Infantry Battalion of being responsible for his disappearance.
Just recently, the
office of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Rafael Mariano was furnished a
copy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s 2005 order of battle.
The document was said to have been acquired from military personnel.
Geagoni’s name was on
the roster of those considered “rebels” or “enemies of the state.”
Babeth, Geagoni’s
sister, said this only strengthens their suspicion that the Army was
behind the disappearance of Perseus. “The list is a full-size basis that
it is the Army that took away Perseus,” she said.
Nieva, Geagoni’s
wife, appealed to his suspected captors to just surface her husband even
if he is dead. “The children are still hoping he’d come back home,” she
said.
Meanwhile, several
militant groups in Bacolod City denounce what they described as a
“systematic campaign” of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which
they say is backed by the administration.
Fred Caña,
secretary-general of Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s
Rights)-Negros, said that the order of battle is a “death sentence” to all
those included in it. “The military, through the list, would be given
license to summarily execute anyone that was written in it,” he said.
He further said that
the order of battle is unconstitutional. “Granting that the list contains
the names of the alleged members of the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the
Philippines-New People’s Army), they too have the right to due process and
defend themselves,” he said. “This is not due process.” said Caña. He
further added that this only proves that there is military rule at
present.
Felipe Gelle,
secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic
Alliance)-Negros, meanwhile described the list as fabricated. “Even names
of legitimate media (practitioners) and common farmers were included in
the list,” he said.
Among those who were
in the order of battle were Richard Sarrosa, chairman of the Kilusang
Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Peasant Movement)-Negros, and
Julius Mariveles, a local journalist.
Sarrosa said the army
included his name probably because of his active participation in opposing
harassment related to land issues. “This is their way to stop and silence
us, those who are fighting against repression,” he said.
He further added that
his life now would be in danger. “Maathag kag klaro nga ang kabuhi ko ara
na sa ila mga kamot” (It’s evident and clear that my life now is in the
Army’s hands), he said. Bulatlat
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