HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Wounded Pastor Still Hunted by Assassins in Hospitals

Another UCCP pastor who is also a Bayan (New Patriotic Alliance) leader in the Ilocos Region survived an assassin's attack but unidentified men are trailing him probably to finish him off. 

BY KIM QUITASOL
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) leader in the Ilocos Region who survived an assassin's attack remains threatened even as his doctor has pronounced him out of danger. Colleagues of Bayan-Ilocos chair Rev. Billy Austin, who is also a pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), fear for his safety as unidentified men continue to hunt him.

Austin could have been the 17th victim of political killings from the UCCP had he not survived a murder plot last Nov. 9 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Bishop Mar Inong of the  North Luzon Jurisdiction said. Data from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) show that out of the 783 victims of political killings from January 2001 to November 2006, 25 are church workers – 16 of them from the UCCP.

Austin said he felt well despite gunshot wounds on both legs, but threats to his life make his blood pressure rise, making doctors worried. He was initially treated at the Lahoz Hospital in Vigan City but a few days later, he was transferred to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) in La Trinidad where he stayed for a few more days. 

Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) disclosed that two “suspicious” men who refused to identify themselves have been asking for his BeGH room. He added that even while he was at the Lahoz Clinic unidentified men tried to enter his hospital room.

Austin’s experience was similar to that of other victims of political killings like Albert Terredaño, a human rights advocate killed in November 2005 in Bangued, Abra, said CHRA vice chair Beverly Longid. She said that before Terredaño died at the hospital, he identified a man who visited him as the trigger man.

To finish job

“It is as if the gunmen make sure their targets are killed that they follow victims to the hospital to finish the job if the target survives the first blow,” Longid said.

Longid further said Austin’s case is part of the Arroyo regime’s war against the Left. She said Austin’s case should not be seen as an isolated incident because it is clearly part of the government’s Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL or Operation Plan Freedom Watch).

She added that the police should not quickly point to the victim’s colleagues as suspects without thorough and impartial investigation.

Meanwhile, the UCCP community is enraged by the continuing harassment and attack on church workers.

“Why are pastors who are vocal critics of the government being harassed and killed” Inong said. “The church is already angry because pastors are being killed senselessly, especially those who are serving the poor and oppressed.”

UCCP general secretary Bp. Eliezer Pascua thinks Austin survived the attack because the Lord has plans for him. He added that the Lord allowed Austin to live for him to testify and shed light about the killings.

Pascua demanded the government protect victims like Austin. He condemned police and military pronouncements that Austin’s attacker could be a member of the UCCP or his colleagues.

Rod Tajon of the Ilocos human Rights Advocates (IHRA) reiterated that prior to the Nov. 9 incident, Austin had been subjected to heavy surveillance. Even Ilocos local officials who are openly supporting the party-list groups Bayan Muna (People First) and Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) been receiving death threats, he added.

But Austin is unfazed by the attack. “I am not doing anything wrong, that is why I continue to do my job, what my faith mandates me – to serve God’s people,” he said. Austin implored the Arroyo government to stop repression and end the killings.

The Vigan and Benguet police assigned officers to secure Austin. The police still do not have suspects but said investigations are still underway. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat

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