Luisita slay: Palace tags NPA, left blames military

Malacañang appealed to left-wing activists yesterday not to be too quick to point an accusing finger at a Philippine Army general for the murder of labor union leader Ricardo Ramos, saying the communist New People’s Army (NPA) or those who want to bring down the government could be responsible.

Leftist leaders, on the other hand, suspect Ramos was the latest target of a military-backed campaign headed by the military commander in the region, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, who had been accused of summary executions and human rights violations in the past by leftists and human rights advocates.

President Arroyo, meanwhile, ordered yesterday a speedy investigation into a spate of killings of left-wing activists in Central Luzon to "prevent a wave of violence."

Ramos, who led a strike at the Hacienda Luisita sugar plantation owned by the family of former President Corazon Aquino, was murdered late Tuesday while drinking with friends in his backyard in Tarlac City in Tarlac.

The following day, Francisco Rivera, an activist with the left-wing Bayan Muna party, and two close friends were gunned down by a group of armed men while he was jogging near his home in Angeles City in Pampanga.

Also last Wednesday, Federico de Leon, a member of Anakpawis, another left-leaning party, was shot dead in Malolos City in Bulacan. He was a member of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide, a union of jeepney drivers and operators.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is conducting a separate investigation into the Ramos killing.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco said his agency is ready to join in the probe being conducted by a police task force formed by national police chief Arturo Lomibao.

"We are also looking into the case just in case they transfer the investigation to us," Wycoco told a press briefing.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye appealed for an end to premature speculation as the police investigation gathered steam.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said he doubted Palparan’s involvement.

"He happens to be the favorite of the other side, those on the left. Every time something happens, they immediately point an accusing finger at him, but he’s a very good officer," Ermita said.

"But as to whether he will be among those investigated, I have no idea. But right now I don’t feel the investigation will be pointing towards his direction," he said.

Ermita said it might be possible that communist rebels were responsible, because "it is to their advantage that the situation should deteriorate to put the blame on the administration for not being able to put things in order.

"From where I sit, I could feel that it is actually being taken advantage of by groups or forces that would like to foment unrest in the area," the former army general said. "But the investigation will show what might have been the real motive" behind the killing.

Central Luzon regional police chief Alejandro Lapinid had hinted that rival leftist groups may have carried out the murder because Ramos was working to resolve the strike with Hacienda Luisita.

Ramos was the president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union and a barangay chairman of Mapalacsiao.

"They were reaching an agreement with Hacienda Luisita, a resolution to the problem so it could have been that their comrades on the sidelines who did not want a resolution would have a motive to do this," Lapinid said in a radio interview.

Three sugar mill workers were killed and at least 16 others, including three police officers, were injured in November last year in a clash that broke out during a strike at Hacienda Luisita.

The strikers were demanding better wages and the reinstatement of more than 300 laid-off colleagues, including union leaders.

Former President Aquino is not involved in the management of the sprawling plantation. The management and union were close to a settlement after Hacienda Luisita paid the workers’ back wages.

In a statement issued to the media yesterday, the Communist Party of the Philippines blamed the killings on the "murderous Arroyo regime and its fascist attack dogs." The NPA is the CPP’s armed wing. Both are considered terrorist organizations by the United States.

"These continual killings are desperate acts of the Arroyo regime to silence the people and cow them to submit to its illegitimate, corrupt, rotten and terrorist rule," CPP spokesman Gregorio Rosal said in the statement.

Rosal claimed that documents seized by NPA guerrillas in clashes with the military "explicitly direct its units, through the AFP Intelligence Service, to fulfill a quota of progressive leaders to be ‘neutralized’ — an AFP euphemism to mean killing."

"In the face of the intensified killings of unarmed civilians, it is imperative for the New People’s Army to continue intensifying tactical offensives nationwide, punish and annihilate fascist units, and weaken the entirety of the Arroyo regime’s fascist machinery," Rosal said.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga rejects the leftist accusation against Palparan.

"That’s unfair. I don’t think even General Palparan and the rest of the military organization will allow evil deeds. The military does not sanction any illegal means of conducting operations," he told reporters. "Let’s wait for the results of the investigation before condemning people and organizations."

Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon lashed out at the left for immediately accusing Palparan. "They already have a guilty verdict. It’s like a kangaroo court," he said.

Leftist leaders suspect the military was involved because the military bought a dog owned by Ramos’ neighbor who lived a few meters away.

Roman Polintan, the leader of the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in the region, said the dog barked at the sight of strangers and Ramos’ neighbors saw soldiers frequenting the neighborhood recently.

"Apparently the dog proved to be an obstacle to them, so they bought it from Ramos’ neighbor last Sunday before carrying out the task of killing Ramos," Polintan said.

That claim could not be immediately confirmed.

Ramos was shot twice in the head by a sniper, most likely with an M-14 rifle.

Lomibao vowed to bring the killers to justice. "We are looking at the case from at least three angles, which I do not want to reveal at this time because it could jeopardize our investigation."

But Lomibao did concede that one angle would be the military’s alleged involvement.

Leftist leaders doubt the police will get to the bottom of the case.

Politan said Palparan should be relieved to ensure a speedy and credible investigation. "I don’t think the police task force would be able to get witnesses if they feel intimidated by Palparan’s presence in the region," he said.

Palparan commands the Army’s 7th Infantry Division. He has been reassigned twice after human rights advocates, local officials and lawmakers accused him of grave human rights atrocities. He was assigned to Central Luzon in September, and was bypassed for promotion earlier this year after opposition from the leftist legislators.

Senior Inspector Joanna Ponseca, public information officer of the Central Luzon police headquarters based at Camp Olivas in Pampanga, said Task Force Ramos investigators have so far questioned eight people, including those who participated in the drinking spree with Ramos.

She did not give further details of the investigation.

A leftist lawmaker said his party and their allies will file a case with the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands if the Arroyo administration and Palparan are implicated.

"The victims and relatives of summary executions have no remaining legal remedy in the Philippines especially under Arroyo. The people cannot seek justice from this fascist regime," said Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano.

"These killings that are now being perpetrated with impunity deserve universal condemnation and must be stopped. We will exhaust all avenues to prosecute President Arroyo and Major General Palparan."

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, one of the Roman Catholic Church’s prominent clerics, issued a statement yesterday warning against killing left-wing activists.

"One thing is certain: the blood of the poor is the seed of revolution. This is history." — With Paolo Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Jaime Laude, Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero, Edu Punay, Eva Visperas, Jess Diaz