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Task Force misleading probe on Pangasinan peasant leader’s slay

BAGUIO CITY (June 24) — Tignay Dagiti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno (Timmawa) criticized Task Force Doton (TFD) for misleading the investigation on Pangasinan Peasant Leader Jose Doton’s murder and absolving the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) administration of its accountability for the escalating political killings.

Timmawa hit TFD Supt. Noli Taliño and Senior Supt. Allan Purisima for saying that Doton was possibly liquidated by the left since he expressed to lie low in his organization. The group said this statement is disrespect to Doton’s wholehearted, honest and firm leadership.

“His dedication and commitment to the organization is priceless. Many groups tried to buy him out and the people but Apo (Doton) refused. He remained sincere to his organizations. The effort to demonize Apo and implicitly charge him of working with the military would not triumph because we know him better for he has been with us ever since,” the Timmawa statement read.

Timmawa asserted that Doton was killed because of his firm stand against the continuous operation of the San Roque Dam and the pending construction of the ARIIP which will destroy more lands and bring more Pangasinense to poverty.

San Nicolas Gold Panning Federation, Inc. Vice-chairperson and Timmawa Finance Officer Nora Luzano refuted Taliño and Purisima’s statements. “Apo (Doton) never intended to lie low from the organization. He persisted despite his old age, health condition and death threats,” she said.

Luzano added that Doton was elected as Timmawa chairperson for the third time in the group’s March 14, 2005 congress. She said Doton even planned to organize the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chapter in Pangasinan to unite all farmers against the continuing anti-people policies of the government.

“Instead of pursuing leads pointing to military involvement in these killings, the President and her Cabinet are trying to divert the issue by injecting the idea of so-called communist purges,” BAYAN-Central Luzon Chair Roman Polintan said. Polintan added that the investigation should be undertaken by disinterested people of proven integrity. He said GMA’s order to solve the spate of killings was prompted by “raging public opinion.”

In a statement, BAYAN-Pangasinan reiterated that Doton’s death is part of the GMA administration’s Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL) aimed to “crush the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) and all its alleged fronts”. “It should be noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released a power point presentation called “Know your Enemy” last year that labeled progressive organizations including church and media groups as CPP-NPA fronts,” the statement read.

“The GMA regime is desperate to crush and defeat the mounting and intensifying efforts of people’s organizations calling for her ouster. Her (GMA) desperate moves succeeded to expose her criminal plans and isolate her more from the people,” Timmawa Vice-chair Robert Aquijo said.

Timmawa urged the media, church, patriotic politicians, and all people to unite and fight the desperate efforts of the Arroyo regime to use the most detestable fascism to remain in power and or the people of Pangasinan to unite for fight for respect of human rights and for decent and free life. # via NORDIS

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