Aquino mute and deaf on extra-judicial killings against militants
 

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) and Tanggol Magsasaka (Peasant Network for Land, Justice and Human Rights) condemned the first case of extra-judicial killing (EJK) under the Aquino government, victimizing Lezo town councilor Fernando Baldomero, Bayan Muna and Makabayan coalition provincial coordinator of Aklan. Baldomero is also a member of SELDA (ex-martial law detainees group) and the municipal coordinator of Liberal Party. He was killed morning of July 5 in Bgy. Sta. Cruz Bigaa, said town by 2 motor-cycle riding men believed to be military agents.

“This is the very reason we set-up our 100-day camp-out, to call for genuine land reform and justice for victims of human rights abuses under the Arroyo government. But Aquino is mute and deaf as he continues to ignore us, worse, we were violently dispersed and killings continue until now,” said Antonio Flores, KMP Spokesperson and Tanggol Magsasaka co-convenor.

“Ka Fernando fought for genuine land reform, justice and democracy since Marcos’ times, a defender of peasant rights, thus, he was targeted by fascist forces of the state and was not spared though he was a member of Aquino’s Liberal Party,” Flores added.

KMP with Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK, KMP Southern Tagalog) and Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL, KMP Central Luzon) have set-up their 100-day camp-out at Mendiola last June 30 to push President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to implement genuine land reform and serve justice for victims of human rights abuses. But after 3 days, July 3 about 3:30pm, more than 200 elements of Manila police violently dispersed the farmers and demolished their make-shift shelters. The incident resulted into 11 wounded and 42 farmers and supporters arrested. The groups file complaints at the Commission on Human Rights yesterday morning. They are now staying at the compound of Caritas Manila near Nagtahan.

Tanggol Magsasaka said that KMP has the most number of member-victims of EJK by the Arroyo government reaching to 561 of the 1,190 victims documented by Karapatan human rights group. The group said that EJK victimized 119 KMP leaders including Eddie Gumanoy of KASAMA-TK (KMP Southern Tagalog), Renato Pacaide of KMP Far Southern Mindanao Region, Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Battad of DANGGAYAN – CV (KMP Cagayan Valley), Marcelino Beltran of AMT (KMP Tarlac), Fermin Lorico of KAUGMAON (KMP Negros Oriental), Celso Pojas of FADC (KMP Davao City) and more. In addition, there are 129 peasants and organizers who were victimized by enforced disappearances including Nilo Arado of PAMANGGAS – Panay and Jonas Burgos of AMB (KMP Bulacan).

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka said that Aquino is inclined to implement the same or worse oppressive measure as Oplan Bantay Laya (OBL), the counter-insurgency program of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“During the campaign period, he disapproved of disarming the CAFGUs and para-military groups, issued statements exclusive on media killings prior his inaugural and attended military rites where AFP Chief of Staff Ricardo David imposed a deadline of 3 years to end insurgency, to add, there were no release of political prisoners, no signs of resumption of peace talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the government,” Flores said.

The groups said Aquino kept quiet on the killings of activists, thus, sending no deterrent on the perpetrators. They added that Aquino has done nothing so far to put down the culture of impunity in the country.

“The Aquino government with all its machinery and influence is helpless of stopping the killings. The mere inaction of Aquino is the very promotion of killings in the country,” said Flores.

“The Aquino government is hopeless this early and it is clear that change could only be from the people struggling for democratic rights and fundamental reforms. We now declare Aquino and Arroyo are synonymous, we expect nothing from him but more killings, more human rights abuses, more terror and fascism. We call on all sectors to rise up against the oppression as the Aquino government is pathetic to protect and promote our basic rights,” Flores called. #

Dispersals, killings on Aquino’s first week hints at continued repression

The series of violent dispersals and the killing of an activist all on President Noynoy Aquino’s first week put his promise to uphold democracy and peace in serious question, Kilusang Mayo Uno said today.

Protesting farmers from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog, including Hacienda Luisita farmers, who were demanding the Aquino administration to implement genuine agrarian reform were violently dispersed last Saturday. At least 40 farmers and militants were arrested while dozens more were hurt.

Following the arrest of farmers, about 30 students who staged an indignation rally at the police headquarters in Manila were also violently dispersed.

Just today, Bayan Muna party-list coordinator Fernando Baldomero was shot dead in front of his house, marking the first extra-judicial killing under the Aquino administration.

“These series of violent dispersals and the killing of our fellow activist portend a repressive climate for militants and ordinary people under the new administration. It is an unwelcome sign from a new government which promises respect for democracy and peace,” KMU vice-chairman Joselito “Lito” Ustarez.

Condemn the dispersal

“What happened in Mendiola last Saturday was a violent repression of democratic calls for genuine land reform right in front of the President’ seat of power,” he added, adding that Aquino should condemn the incident rather than defend his family’s interests in Hacienda Luisita.

Over the weekend, Aquino merely said that dispersed Luisita farmers should give him time to distribute the sugar estate in Tarlac owned by his family.

“Is that what this shows? That when the new president feels pressure from below, he agrees to use pressure against demonstrators? He asks for much time for him to implement reforms while he does not waste time in using force against dissenters. Not a good sign,” Ustarez said.

It’s the least which the people expect from Aquino, who promised in his inaugural address that farmers will finally be cared of under his administration,” said Ustarez.

Probe the killing

KMU also urged President Aquino to order a swift investigation into the first case of extra-judicial killing under his watch.

“How Aquino will handle the case of Baldomero will be a measure of his administration’s sincerity to seek justice for all victims of human rights violations,” Ustarez said. #
 

League of Filipino Students
118-B Sct. Rallos Ext. Bgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City
Website: LFS.PH
Email: lfsphilippines@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE
July 6, 2010

With the first activist murder few days after inauguration
LFS calls on Aquino to abandon Oplan Bantay Laya II

“Pres. Aquino should better leave the wang-wang talk behind. Activists and journalists are being murdered despite the promises of the new government.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, the LFS expressed doubts as to the resolve of the Aquino government in stopping and reversing the culture of impunity and political killings that marked the nine-year human rights record of the Arroyo government.

Today, a leader of Bayan Muna in Aklan, Fernando Baldomero had been murdered by suspected elements of the military. During the Arroyo administration, such execution-style killings had been repeated all over the country against activist leaders and supporters.

Ridon said that Aquino never concretely addressed human rights and political killings in his policy statements in the last few days, with much Palace attention being devoted to the problem of ‘wang-wangs’.

Human rights organizations and student groups like the LFS had laid the blame for the political killings on the continued operation of the AFP’s counter-insurgency plan, Oplan Bantay Laya II, which allegedly targets for liquidation or disappearance leaders and members of people’s organizations, NGOs, student councils, lawyers, professionals, all of whom have been critical of policies of the Arroyo administration.

“It is most disturbing that after the euphoria of the people in their aspirations for genuine change, such atrocities continue under the new government. We call on Pres. Aquino to abandon Oplan Bantay Laya II now,” Ridon said.

Reference:

Terry Ridon, National Chairperson, League of Filipino Students
09155310725, teridon18@gmail.com

--
"the development of each is the development of all."

teridon.blospot.com

An indictment as the first step to justice for Fernando Baldomero
Concha Araneta
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Panay

July 12, 2010

Fernando Baldomero, Provincial Coordinator of MAKABAYAN for Aklan and councilor of Lezo Municipal Council, was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants as he was preparing to bring his child to school on July 5, 2010 in Kalibo, Aklan. This was the last of the long series of threats and harassments inflicted on him because of his unswerving commitment to the people's cause.

A few years before this, he was arrested and imprisoned based on trumped-up charges which included alleged arson and participation in ambuscades of government troops in places far- away from his home and business. After months of imprisonment and trial, all cases were eventually dismissed due to the incredibility of the evidence presented against him.

In the months leading to his assasination, he received a letter warning him to desist from his militant political activities. A grenade was thrown and exploded outside his home in Lezo. Two weeks prior to his death, the Army Hour program of the Civilian Relations Service of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) under Commanding General Vicente Porto and the 301st Brigade (301Bde) under Brigadier General Gerardo Layug finger-pointed Fernando Baldomero as "front- man of communist terrorists" and his organization as a "front organization of terrorists".

Aside from these, during the election campaign, all other progressive candidates and Party-Lists and their campaigners and voters were especial targets for harassment and threats by units and elements of the reactionary Armed Forces under the two commands above-mentioned. House- to-house campaigns by soldiers not to vote for progressive parties and candidates, removal of campaign posters as soon as they were posted, threat letters, surveillance, threats to sympathizers, and false accusations were dished out by armed forces elements.

Prosecutor's of the people hold that these actuations of the 3ID and 301Bde, PA immediately before and in the years preceding the crime are incriminating indications of motive and opportunity for Baldomero's assassination. They set up Baldomero for the killing and blood is on their hands.

The public and even those in the reactionary military and police know that the state's security agents and their henchmen killed Baldomero. Only the Armed Forces' spokesperson has the gall to claim that Baldomero's killing was the result of a so-called purging among the rebel ranks. This squid tactic has been bandied so often that nobody is buying the lie. In fact, such outright lie constitutes a cover-up, thus implicating the AFP as accessory to the crime after the fact.

In this regard, the people's democratic government in Panay has indicted the following for participation in the murder of Lezo Councilor Fernando Baldomero, having found prima facie evidence against them:

1. Major General Vicente Porto for inciting to murder in his command responsibity of the CRS unit that branded the victim as "front man for terrorists". In today's political atmosphere, such public accusations incite and give license or serve as outright command to all state security agents to murder with impunity the targetted political activists.

2. Brigadier General Gerardo Layug for inciting to murder for the same reason given above.

3. The CRS elements directing the anti-Baldomero program for the same reasons.

The people's prosecutors and all revolutionary forces are continuing to investigate the incident to find those who committed the actual crime and their masterminds. An arrest order will be issued as soon as the evidence warrants a full indictment. While some may ridicule indictments by the people's court, and though arrest warrants may not be served for years, the long arm of revolutionary justice will catch up with perpetrators like what happened to Leyne Leysa, killer for hire and hit man involved in the killing of Sonny Laporga, whose sentence was carried out after more than two decades.

The Aquino2 government has ordered an investigation primarily because the murder has become a media event even in international media outlets. He was embarrassed by the first extrajudicial killing that marks his presidency as no different from the Arroyo regime in this regard. The Aquino2 regime is linked to the Arroyo by the bloodthirsty AFP and other security forces that it inherited and who continue its bloody tradition of extrajudicial killings and abductions in the pursuit of a "counter-insurgency program" that Aquino himself now directs. In fact, the assassination of Baldomero immediately followed the declaration of the regime's new plan to "decimate the insurgency in three years", and announced by President Aquino's own appointee, CS Gen Ricardo David himself.
 

The Aquino government may actually come to present or apprehend some fall guys or even some perpetrators but it will never push through to the masterminds nor reveal the actual reason why Baldomero was killed by his assassins. Doing so will amount to admitting the truth that the extrajudicial killings and other atrocities by the state are creations of the AFP and its Oplan Bantay Laya. Justice for Fernando Baldomero, then, will only be fulfilled by bringing down the very state system that carries out these oppressive strategies.
 

◄◄◄

And beyond Baldomero's demise, true justice can never be served without the victory for Baldomero's cause. Baldomero fought against the Marcos dictatorship for more than a decade by force of arms. He then fought for the downtrodden and the weak in the legal arena and even within the local government of the reactionary state for a decade and more. Baldomero lived and died for the cause of a truly democratic and truly free Philippines.

By making the leap toward the strategic stalemate in the people's war in five years and eventually winning victory for the people's war, we will ensure that people like Baldomero will not have died in vain.

Justice for Baldomero, justice for the Filipino people!!

Fight till victory for Baldomero's dream of a free and truly democratic Philippines.
 

nformation Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Press Release
July 7, 2010

"Purging" theory in Baldomero to deflect blame against military--CPP

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the "internal purging" spin now being floated by the military and police officials with regard to the killing last Monday of Bayan Muna Aklan coordinator and Lezo town councilor Fernando Baldomero "is meant to deflect the blame for the murder from the fascist military and security agents of the reactionary state."

"Because of the widepread indignation over the killing, the AFP is now trying to shift the blame for the killings of activists to the activists themselves," said the CPP. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta yesterday complained that the military has become the easy usual target for blame in such cases, and retorted that communists or even the militants themselves could be behind the killing.

"Baldomero is a dedicated social activist and outstanding servant of the people. His killing is a big loss to the toiling masses and the movement for national freedom and democracy," said the CPP. "He is well loved by the people of Lezo. The revolutionary forces continued to regard Baldomero highly even after he decided to shift to the open, legal arena of struggle since his release from detention in 1994."

"The AFP and its henchmen in the RPA-ABB have long wanted to do away with Baldomero who has consistently served the people's national democratic aspirations," said the CPP. "He performed his duties in the local parliamentary struggle just as ardently and effectively as he did in the armed struggle before his detention. But his shift to the legal and parliamentary struggle made him an open target of the fascist agents of the reactionary state, the only ones with the motive to kill the likes of him." Baldomero was rearrested by the military in 2004 and detained for three months.

The CPP expressed that "It is through such psywar spins as 'internal cleansing' or 'communist purging' that the military and police try to cover up the extrajudicial killings, abductions and other attacks perpetrated by state armed agents against the open, legal cause-oriented activists and organizations which they consider as 'enemies of the state'."

"Such psywar spins have been thoroughly disproven and discredited," the CPP stated further, pointing to investigations in 2007 by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) headed by Extrajudicial Killings Special Rapporteur Philip Alston which concluded that such killings have actually been the handiwork of state forces. Alston's report pointed to the organic connection between the campaign of vilification by the government and military against progressive activist groups and the killings perpetrated against their ranks.

The CPP described as "lame and inadequate" Aquino's order to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the killing of Baldomero. "Putting a stop to the extrajudicial killings requires an overhaul of the very framework of the goverment's military and security forces in carrying out their counterrevolutionary war, something that Aquino has failed to do."

The CPP forewared Aquino that, "ultimately, he himself will be blamed for the killings. His failure to countermand the AFP's fascist terror tactics-cum-vilification campaign against activists, progressive groups and movements constitutes implicit support to the military's fascist reign of impunity."