Slain activist’s kin cry for justice

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The family of Romeo Sanchez, the slain Bayan Muna Ilocos coordinator, is crying for justice and appealing to President Arroyo to intervene for the speedy resolution of the case.

"We want the President to look into the matter," said Sanchez’s wife, Elvie, alleging that the military had a hand in his killing.

"We to make sure that there is no whitewash in the case of my husband. He is innocent, he’s just helping the poor," she added.

The Baguio City police released yesterday an artist’s sketch of Sanchez’s killer described as about 37 years old, stands 5’4" to 5’5", medium built, fair-complexioned and Ilocano-speaking.

Sanchez was with two companions when he was shot in the nape by a lone assassin with a caliber .380 semi-automatic along 3rd Kayang street near the Baguio City public market last Wednesday afternoon.

Elvie, however, claimed that human rights lawyers have evidence that could pin down the military in her husband’s killing.

"Human rights lawyers who arrived at the crime scene found very important evidence that linked the military to the death of my husband," she said.

Elvie could not confirm if the evidence found by human rights lawyers was a slug or a bullet.

She alleged that the evidence had markings similar to those found on ammunition issued to Armed Forces personnel.

Members of Bayan and Bayan Muna in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions held a protest rally in Baguio City on Thursday, immediately after Sanchez was killed, and tagged personnel of the Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion.

Sanchez was also the national secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.