News in Pictures: Groups to Noynoy: Stop the Killings, Junk Counter-Insurgency Policies

By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com

Members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) marched to Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge Monday calling on President Benigno S. Aquino III to end extrajudicial killings of activists.

Five people were killed 19 days after Aquino took office; three of the victims were teachers. On July 12, Josephine Estacio a teacher in Tenejero Elementary School in Balanga, Bataan was gunned down while alighting from the tricycle in front of the school. On July 9, Mark Francisco member of Act Teachers Party-list in Masbate was gunned down by two unidentified men and Dexter Legazpi, a public school teacher was also killed three days before Francisco was gunned down.  Two other leaders from Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Bayan Muna were also killed. On July 5, Fernando Baldomero councilor and provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna-Aklan was gunned down. KMP leader Pascual Guevarra was also shot by a lone gunman in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

Rep. Antonio Tinio of Act Teachers Party-list said the killings had been possible because of impunity.

Former Bayan Muna Representative and Makabayan coalition president Satur Ocampo also joined different organizations in marching the streets of Espana to call for the end of extrajudicial killing and prosecute the perpetrators of human rights violations since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s regime.

“I will always be part of the struggle in the streets to call for justice and prosecution of the perpetrators of human rights violations,” Ocampo told the protesters.

He also added that Aquino should put an end to counter insurgency policies that have killed 1,205 activists and more than 200 victims of enforced disappearances. (Photos by Angelica de Lara / bulatlat.com)