By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO and RONALYN V. OLEA
One military unit claimed that councilman Ely M. Oguis, 60, was killed in an encounter between soldiers and NPA guerrillas; another military spokesman said he was a NPA tax collector who was killed by his comrades for not remitting his collections; while another said he was killed by the NPA for not paying taxes. But one thing is for sure, he was last seen drinking with a fellow councilman and two soldiers the night before he was killed.
A Public Service Advertisement for INDIEpendensya Film Festival: Asserting the Nation’s Real Independence, held at the University of the Philippines Diliman from Sept 17-19, 2012
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Earlier, Gilbert Paborada was warned by a representative of a palm oil plantation “to stop opposing or he would regret what might happen to his life.”
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Genesis Ambason, 23 years old, a member of Banwaon tribe and the secretary general of Tagdumahan, the Lumad organization in San Luis, Agusan del Sur was just resting on their way to a nearby village when fired upon by soldiers. His body was later found bearing signs of torture.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Ponciano ” Poncing” Infante, president of the local transport group Pasada-Angeles City and the Pandan-Angeles Drivers Operators Association, was killed by two men riding a motorcycle last September 3. George San Mateo of Piston said Infante is the fourth transport leader killed this year.
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
At the wake of Totong Mabinsi, six soldiers came. “They talked to me, and one of them admitted that they killed Totong by mistake,” Manuel, the victim’s brother, said.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
One of the victims, Merlyn Diones Bermas, exposed the the February 12, 2012 massacre involving members of the Philippine Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
The Aquino government has not taken any action to address the impunity in extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations under Arroyo, thus, resulting in the continuing increase in human rights violations, which have taken the same pattern as during the dark days of the previous administration.
Sidebar: Martial law victims slam Aquino’s inaction on indemnification bill
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Asked about his message for President Benigno Aquino III, Antonius Geertman, brother of Willem, said, “As the representative of the Filipino people, he should listen to what his people want and that is justice. He owes it to his people.”
Video: Killings unabated under Aquino
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“They [members of the international community] know that the Philippine government has not lived up to its commitment to completely eliminate extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.” – Fr. Jonash Joyohoy of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-head of delegation of the Philippine UPR Watch