Student leader shot dead in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY — A member of a left-wing student group suspected to have links to communist guerrillas was fatally shot here late Sunday, the latest in a string of killings of activists.

Cris Hugo, 21, a coordinator of the League of Filipino Students (LFS), was walking with a friend toward his home in Barangay Bagumbayan, Washington Drive when an unidentified assailant shot him, Senior Inspector Narciso Guarin, the city police chief said.

The assassin immediately fled on foot after shooting Hugo.

Hugo’s companion, Gremil Naz, 25, an instructor at the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters called for help and three members of the city Public Safety Office immediately responded. Hugo was brought to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital where he died.

Reports said that Hugo, a journalism student at Bicol University, had a few beers with Naz at a popular food stall beside the Provincial Capitol annex building along Rosario St., just a few meters from the city police headquarters.

When the two were in front of the Bagumbayan Elementary School, a lone gunman suddenly fired at the victim.

"We hold the belief that this killing is politically motivated," LFS chairman Vencer Crisostomo said, adding that his group holds the government responsible."

Guarin said investigators were looking at several angles, including a possible feud between fraternities. Hugo belonged to a fraternity, Guarin said.

"It’s very unusual that a college student... will be killed and it will be connected to a political incident," Guarin said, adding that police would also look into that angle.

"Why do they conclude so quickly without conducting any investigation?" he asked, referring to leftist groups.

Meanwhile, the provincial coordinator of Anakpawis party list in Zambales, his wife and their child were shot dead by a still unidentified men in Barangay San Rafael in San Marcelino, Zambales yesterday.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) regional chairman Roman Polintan identified the victim as Amante Abelon, who is also the vice chairman of the Alyansang Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon in Zambales.

Abelon‘s killing was said to be the 69th incident of killing of militant leaders and members in Central Luzon since last year.

Polintan said Abelon was a long-time Aeta leader in Zambales.

Several militant youth organizations immediately condemned the killings.

In separate statements, the LFS, Youth Demanding Arroyo’s Removal (YOUTH DARE) and Anakbayan, expressed alarm and outrage over the killing.

LFS members were planning to hold a candle-lighting gathering yesterday afternoon in protest of Hugo’s killing and vowed to intensify moves to end President Arroyo’s administration.

YOUTH DARE spokesman and Kabataan party president Raymond Palatino said these are all part of the systematic political repression being instigated by the Arroyo administration against militants and government critics.

"And now, they are killing even harmless, unarmed students," Palatino said.

He also appealed to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the case of Hugo. — Ding Cervantes, Sandy Araneta, Katherine Adraneda, AP, AFP