No clues yet on Surigao activist’s slay

CAMP RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City — Police were still gathering evidence in Sunday’s killing of a peasant leader in Tandag, Surigao del Sur.

The victim, Hermelino Cedron Marqueza, provincial secretary-general of the Peasant Movement of the Philippines, was gunned down inside his home in Barangay Maitum.

Police said it was too early to tag anyone in the killing, which militant groups claimed was part of a government crackdown on known activists.

Last week, another peasant leader, Nestor Ladica, was gunned down also inside his residence in Salay, Misamis Oriental.

Chief Superintendent Antonio Dator Nañas, Caraga police director, said Marqueza’s son, Ali, joined the New People’s Army six months ago. — Ben Serrano