Anakpawis Statement on the brutal assassination of Renato Pacaide
Justice for Ka Atong! 
Justice for the toiling masses in Davao del Sur!
Stop Political Killings!
March 4, 2007, Cherry Clemente, National Secretary-General

The Anakpawis Partylist vehemently condemns the brutal killing of our provincial coordinator in Davao del Sur Renato ‘Ka Atong’ Pacaide.

Ka Atong, 53 years old, was gunned down yesterday, again, by masked motorcycle-riding men at 10:45 am while he was on his way to the headquarters of Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Davao del Sur (NAMADS) "United Farmers of Davao del Sur". 

Ka Atong is the 58th Anakpawis member killed since our organization was founded in 2003. 

He is the 6th member of our National Council killed since Sammy Bandilla (Eastern Visayas), Diosdado Fortuna (Southern Tagalog), Isaias Manano (Mindoro Oriental), Marcelino Beltran (Tarlac City) and Ka Pedy (Federico de Leon, Bulacan).

Ka Atong is one of the delegates of Anakpawis in SOCSKSARGEN who attended our National Council and National convention in Metro Manila held last February. He carried the banner of his region during the opening parade of our national convention.

As a genuine leader of peasants in his province, Ka Atong has offered his life in pursuing the interests of the toiling masses. He staunchly opposed large-scale mining operations in his province by the Sagittarius Mines Inc., led the campaign against GMOs which destroys farmlands, and successfully organized the masses to resist the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s grand plan at charter change for her political survival. Ka Atong is notably one of the most vocal critics of the Arroyo administration in the province which qualifies him among the targets of extra-judicial executions by the regime.

The Anakpawis Partylist is enraged by the death of Ka Atong. We call on all advocates of human rights and social justice all over the world to condemn this dastardly act of state-sponsored terrorism committed against the political opposition. We call on all Filipinos to guard our democratic rights as a people against tyrants in the bureaucracy who will stop at nothing to ensure its grip on power. We will see to it that the perpetrators of this crime against humanity will be held accountable and will be punished accordingly.

We extend our sincerest condolences to Ka Atong’s family and loved ones. In the same light, we manifest our highest recognition for his sacrifices, for living a life for others. We also pledge to take on the tasks left by our beloved Ka Atong, to continue his quest for social justice and genuine democracy. He will forever be a bastion of strength for all members of Anakpawis. 

His province of Davao del Sur, and the oppressed peoples of the world will definitely feel the untimely loss of a true leader of the oppressed masses.

We call our more than 500,000 members all over the country to guard themselves against these attacks. In a country where darkness remain as the dominant force, we must be steadfast in ensuring that all the forces of light will remain strong so that others will not be pushed to the dark. 
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