This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 9, April 2-8, 2006
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
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 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 © 2006 Bulatlat
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Missing
Negros Labor Leader in Order of Battle
Bulatlat