A year has passed since the extrajudicial killing of peasant-leader and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Bohol chapter (Bayan-Bohol) Chairman Victor Olayvar. And justice is as elusive as ever for Olayvar and five other victims of extrajudicial killings in Bohol province.

BY KAREN PAPELLERO
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 32, September 16-22, 2007

TAGBILARAN CITY – A year has passed since the extrajudicial killing of peasant-leader and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Bohol chapter (Bayan-Bohol) Chairman Victor Olayvar. He was waylaid and shot by three still unidentified motorcycle- riding assassins believed to be military agents last September 7, 2006 at Cantubod, Danao, Bohol.

Incidentally, the killing happened five days after a dialogue was held between militant groups and officers from the 302nd Brigade and the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and officials of the provincial Philippine National Police (PNP). The dialogue was brokered by the Peace and Order Forum led by Gov. Enrico Aumentado and then Tagbilaran Bishop Leo Tumulak.

Olayvar was shot just a kilometer away from the headquarters of the 15th Infantry Battalion in Sta. Fe, Danao, Bohol.

Protest march

Militant groups commemorated the one year anniversary of the extrajudicial killing of Olayvar with a protest march. The protest was also a cry for justice for five other Boholano leaders and activists who fell victim to the cycle of violence and extra-judicial killings allegedly perpetuated by the Arroyo regime through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The most recent victim was peasant-leader and provincial Bayan Muna (People First) secretary-general, Mario “Mayong” Auxilio who was killed last June. The six cases of political killings in Bohol remain unsolved until now.

Bayan–Bohol along with its allied organizations and progressive party-list groups led the street march. They also called for the scrapping of the Human Security Act (HAS), describing it as “a grave threat towards civil liberties.” They also described the recent arrest of National Democratic Front (NDF) chief political consultant, Jose Maria Sison as “pure harassment.”

Residents from fishing communities in Panglao also joined the protest to amplify their opposition to the planned oil exploration in the province. (Bulatlat.com)

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