Victor Olayvar anniversary

Photos courtesy of BAYAN - Bohol

In Memoriam: Anniversary of Slaying of Boholano Peasant Leader Marked by Protest A year has passed since the extrajudicial killing of peasant-leader and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Bohol chapter (Bayan-Bohol) Chairman Victor Olayvar. And justice is as elusive as ever for Olayvar and five other victims of extrajudicial killings in Bohol province. BY KAREN PAPELLERO Bulatlat Vol. VII, No. 32, September 16-22, 2007 TAGBILARAN CITY – A year has passed since the extrajudicial killing of peasant-leader and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Bohol chapter (Bayan-Bohol) Chairman Victor Olayvar. He was waylaid and shot by three still unidentified motorcycle- riding assassins believed to be military agents last September 7, 2006 at Cantubod, Danao, Bohol. Incidentally, the killing happened five days after a dialogue was held between militant groups and officers from the 302nd Brigade and the 15th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and officials of the provincial Philippine National Police (PNP). The dialogue was brokered by the Peace and Order Forum led by Gov. Enrico Aumentado and then Tagbilaran Bishop Leo Tumulak. Olayvar was shot just a kilometer away from the headquarters of the 15th Infantry Battalion in Sta. Fe, Danao, Bohol. Protest march Militant groups commemorated the one year anniversary of the extrajudicial killing of Olayvar with a protest march. The protest was also a cry for justice for five other Boholano leaders and activists who fell victim to the cycle of violence and extra-judicial killings allegedly perpetuated by the Arroyo regime through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The most recent victim was peasant-leader and provincial Bayan Muna (People First) secretary-general, Mario “Mayong” Auxilio who was killed last June. The six cases of political killings in Bohol remain unsolved until now. Bayan–Bohol along with its allied organizations and progressive party-list groups led the street march. They also called for the scrapping of the Human Security Act (HAS), describing it as “a grave threat towards civil liberties.” They also described the recent arrest of National Democratic Front (NDF) chief political consultant, Jose Maria Sison as “pure harassment.” Residents from fishing communities in Panglao also joined the protest to amplify their opposition to the planned oil exploration in the province. Bulatlat Related links: ■ UPDATE: Bayan Muna Leader Shot in Bohol, Dies ■ Military Asset Tagged in Killing of Bayan Muna leader in Bohol ■ Mario “Mayong Mag-uuma” Mundin Auxillo (1957-2007)



			Members of Bayan-Bohol pay tribute to Victor Olayvar and five other victims represented by the six coffins they carried. The 7^th coffin asking “WHO’s next?” represents the unsolved and unabated killings


Protesters in front of Camp Dagohoy Provincial PNP headquarters			Protesters in front of the Provincial Capitol


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	Tagbilaran city – Members of BAYAN-led organizations and allied party list organizations held a protest rally in remembering the first year death anniversary of the late peasant-leader and BAYAN-Bohol Chairman Victor Olayvar. He was waylaid and shot by three still unidentified no-plate-number motor riding assassins believed to be members or agents of the military last September 7, 2006 at Cantubod, Danao, Bohol. The incident happened five days after the dialog with the 302^nd Brigade, 15^th IB and Provincial PNP leadership brokered by the Peace and Order Forum led by Gov. Aumentado and Tagbilaran Bishop Leo Tumulak. The place of the incident is just a kilometer a way from a company headquarter of the 15^th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army in Sta. Fe Danao.

Demand for Justice and condemnation of the killings of Victor Olayvar along with five other Boholano leaders, part of the 869 political killing victims in the country and 183 enforced disappeared during the Arroyo Administration, was the central issue of the protest. Scrapping the Human Security Act seen as anti-civil liberties, demand for justice and freedom of Prof. Jose Maria Sison in Netherlands, and the issues of corruption and inefficiency surrounding the dam projects in the province were among the many issues protested. Fisherfolks from Panglao also joined the protest stressing their opposition to the planned oil exploration in the province. The protest march started at 1pm from Provincial sports complex, and later protest rallies were held in front of the provincial capitol and at the Camp Dagohoy PNP headquarters. The protesters concluded their protest at 5pm at the Agora Square with different sectoral speakers and cultural presentations. Reference: JOHN RUIZ III, BAYAN-Bohol Secretary General