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Baguio militants light candles, condemn Central Luzon killings

BAGUIO CITY (Oct. 28) — Militant organizations here held a candle lighting rally at Kilometer 0 on October 26 to condemn the murder of five activists in Central Luzon. The groups blamed the killings on elements of the Philippine Army (PA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the command of Major General Jovito Palparan.

In less than 24 hours, Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union (CATLU) President Ricardo Ramos, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) leader Francisco Rivera together with his friends Dr. Angel Dayrit and Nemecio Maniti, and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) member Federico de Leon were gunned down by still unidentified assailants.

A few days after Ramos was gunned down, the Philippine National Police invited Army Sergeants Roderick “Joshua” de la Cruz and Romeo Castillo, Jr. for questioning. De la Cruz and Castillo were seen asking around for Ramos shortly before he was killed.

PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Luzon told a national daily that there were still no reasons to place the said soldiers under arrest.

Central Luzon police director Alejandro Lanipid said Ramos was shot twice in the head 400 meters from his house in Barangay Mapalacsiao, Tarlac around 9 P.M. on October 25.

Rivera, Dayrit and Maniti were sprayed with bullets after their morning jog on October 26 in Angeles City. On the same day at around 5:00 P.M. De Leon was shot dead while driving his tricycle in Malolos, Bulacan.

According to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the killings brought to 19 the number of activists killed in Central Luzon since September 2.

Palparan

Relatives of the said victims believe that AFP elements are behind the death of their loved ones.

Ramos’ relatives and supporters rushed to the nearby military detachment convinced that the army has something to do with the killing. However, army personnel posted in the said detachments fled not long after the shooting.

Rivera’s wife said on national television news that her husband was probably killed by elements of the AFP.

Since February, military detachments under the 7th Infantry Division were installed in all 11 barangays inside Hacienda Luisita.

Militant leaders linked the killings in Central Luzon to Palparan, chief of the 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Leaders claim that the pattern of killings was similar to that of the killings of militant leaders in Eastern Visayas and Southern Tagalog where Palparan was previously assigned.

Palparan, who was assigned in Central Luzon in September, denied involvement in the said murders. He was reassigned twice after human rights advocates, local officials and law makers charged him with grave human rights violations. Militants call Palparan “the Butcher” due to his record of human rights violations.

In a press statement, KMU Chair Elmer Labog said that Palparan lied when he claimed that he is just new in Central Luzon. He said Palparan already has a bloody record in Pampanga when he was assigned as AFP provincial commander from 1987 to 1993.

Labog said Palparan is responsible for the deaths of union leaders Raul Quiroz and Simplicio Aninon, Atty. Ram Cura, Dr. Pat Santiago, Archie Simbulan and youth activists Badjo Conrado and Corazon Lintag.

GMA also responsible

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Cordillera in a statement said Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) as the commander in chief of the AFP should be held accountable for the deaths of Ramos and the four others. The statement further stated that GMA promotes and gives incentives to military officers involved in the killing and harassment of militant leaders and members of progressive organizations instead of prosecuting and giving them sanctions.

Leonida Tundagui of KMU-Cordillera said GMA is also notorious for her anti-worker and anti-people policies and programs.

She added that Ramos’ death adds up to the November 16 massacre at Hacienda Luisita, where at least seven striking workers died when AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) elements dispersed and opened fire on the picket line.

CATLU staged a strike against Hacienda Luisita simultaneous with the United Luisita Worker’s Union (ULWU) to demand higher wages and humane working conditions in November last year.

Bayan Muna National Vice-Chair Manny Loste said that the killing and harassment of militant leaders and members aim to suppress the growing mass movement.

He added that the death of militant leaders will not silence a people seeking truth, justice and freedom. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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