Ilocos Peasant Leader Charged Anew with Homicide
Militant peasant groups condemn charges as part of harassment

A peasant leader in the Ilocos Region stands to face trial for homicide. The admission to the crime by the victim’s sister-in-law did not save him from being charged with homicide. It was the second time that trumped-up charges of homicide were filed against peasant leader Avelino Dacanay, said a militant peasant group. 

BY ROD TAJON
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION ( 269 kms. north of Manila) A peasant leader in the Ilocos Region stands to face trial for homicide. The admission to the crime by the victim’s sister-in-law did not save him from being charged with homicide.

Police investigators in Aringay town, this province, filed a homicide case against Avelino Dacanay, chairperson of Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation), a local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine Peasant Movement) and Marites Lucena for the Feb. 13 killing of Alano Lucena. Police accused Dacanay of killing Lucena after he was allegedly identified by the victim’s brother.

Witnesses said that the victim Alano Lucena had a fight with his brother, Narciso. Alano was allegedly about to stab Narciso when a commotion ensued and a shot was fired.

Dacanay, a veterinarian, said he was on his way home after operating on a cow in Sta. Cecilla, Aringay in La Union when he heard a shot. He immediately went to the crime scene and found Lucena dead. He reported the incident to the Aringay Police Station and assisted the police in their investigation, he said.

Charlie Juloya, Dacanay's counsel, said the homicide case filed against his client is already at the Aringay fiscal’s office. He added that his client has filed a counter-affidavit.

Juloya added that Marites already admitted to killing Alano.

Dacanay was earlier detained for 36 hours at the Aringay police station. He tested negative for powder burns, Juloya said.

The suspect Maritess surrendered at noontime on Feb. 14 and Dacanay was subsequently released.

However, Aringay police insisted on charging Dacanay with homicide.

Meanwhile, militant peasant groups in Ilocos condemned the arrest and detention of Dacanay. Zaldy Alfiler, STOP Exploitation secretary-general, said Dacanay has been an exemplary leader to the peasant movement and does not have any criminal record to speak of.

“How could he kill anyone when he condemns such inhumane acts?” Alfiler said.

Alfiler also said that this is the second time Dacanay was accused of murder.

In 2000, Dacanay along with the late Romy Sanchez and other mass leaders were accused by the military of killing Fr. Conrado Balweg. The cases against Dacanay and other leaders, however, were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Dacanay was then among the executive officers of STOP Exploitation.

 “This incident shows that mass leaders asserting the people’s rights for genuine land reform and just economic conditions are charged with common crimes,” Alfiler added.   

Alfiler challenged the Arroyo government, along with its security forces, to respect and uphold the rights of the people.

“In the six years of her presidency, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has unmistakably violated the rights of the people by its use of state terror and undeclared martial rule in the guise of the war on terror,” she said.  She cited the counterinsurgency program of the government, Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch), as part of the government’s terror campaign.

Alfiler also said political dissenters are being persecuted to stop them from exposing the pitfalls of the government.

 “The government should be reminded that they should respect the civil and political rights of the people,” Alfiler said. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat

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