47 ‘political killings’ in CL, Bayan claims

ANGELES CITY — The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the number of "political killings" in Central Luzon since last January has reached 47.

Bayan has blamed the Army’s 7th infantry division, under Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, for the latest killings that victimized barangay chairwoman Victorina Gomez and her councilman, Romeo Atienza, in Barangay Parian in Mexico, Pampanga last Dec. 16.

On the same day, Roman Polintan, Bayan-Central Luzon chairman, said Jess Alcantara, leader of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), was also shot dead near his home in San Miguel, Bulacan.

Polintan said the deaths of Gomez, Atienza and Alcantara brought to 47 the number of victims of "political killings" in Central Luzon since January this year.

"There have also been 10 frustrated murder cases and nine forced disappearances," he said.

He identified those recently abducted allegedly by the military as Demerly Adriano of Norzagaray, Bulacan; Ernesto Andrada of San Isidro, Lupao, Nueva Ecija; Edwin Nuqui of Matatalaib, Tarlac; and Felix Domingo of Malining, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.

Polintan linked the killings and disappearances to the 7th ID, saying that Malacañang has apparently been coddling Palparan.

"President Arroyo has never categorically condemned or at least ordered the military to stop these senseless and cowardly attacks on civilians even if they happened in her own region," he said.

Polintan dismissed as "pure hogwash" the claim of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) that the NPA was behind the killing of Gomez and Atienza.

He claimed that "the attack bore the same pattern of the previous killings attributed to Palparan."

In earlier interviews with The STAR, Gomez’s relatives also belied Nolcom’s allegation.

Polintan said the renewed killings came after Palparan issued last Dec. 15 a statement to radio station dzXO in Cabanatuan City renewing his pledge to go after communist rebels and their supporters.

"Palparan wanted to seal that pledge with the blood of innocent victims, those belonging to Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and other progressive organizations whom he perceives to be ‘supporters’ of the NPA, " he said.

Polintan noted that when Palparan’s appointment to his post was confirmed over a week ago, militant leader Alfredo Manaol Jr. was killed in Nueva Ecija.

Polintan appealed to local officials in Central Luzon "to assert civilian supremacy over the military to protect the life, liberty and well-being of their constituencies against violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms." — Ding Cervantes