Farmers tag military in Nueva Ecija leader's slay

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – A fact-finding team of farmers’ groups alleged that only the military had the motive in the July 9 killing of a peasant leader in Nueva Ecija.

The team, composed of members of the farmers’ groups Anakpawis and Alyansa ng Magsasaka sa Gitnang Luson, reached the conclusion on the killing of Pascual Guevarra, chairman of the Alyansa ng Magsasakang Nagkakaisa ng Laur (Almana).

It said the killing was part of “fresh harassments” of peasant leaders in Nueva Ecija.

Guevarra was shot twice in the chest by two men armed with a caliber 9-mm pistol in his residence in Barangay San Isidro, Laur town. His grandson, Ronnel Viloria, 18, was wounded.

The gunmen fled on an unlicensed motorcycle.

Arturo Regala, Anakpawis chairman in Nueva Ecija, linked the incident to alleged efforts of the military to boot out farmers residing and tilling lands in a 3,100-hectare land reportedly being claimed by the Department of National Defense as part of the Fort Magsaysay military reservation in Laur.

“Only the government and those in power had the motive, as they are the ones to benefit and are now already benefiting from the wide tracts of land within the Fort Magsaysay military reservation,” he said.

Regala said a road-widening project has been completed in the area in the government’s apparent bid to lure investors to the reservation.

He said many farmers tilling lands in the area have already been barred from going to their farms.