“There is no let-up in the extrajudicial killings with BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan. The killing of typhoon relief workers and peasant leaders further exposes the contempt of this regime against those who are genuinely working for poor communities,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
“There is no let-up in the extrajudicial killings with BS Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan. The killing of typhoon relief workers and peasant leaders further exposes the contempt of this regime against those who are genuinely working for poor communities,” said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.
An average of one person is killed every week as shown in the documented cases of extrajudicial killing this August.
Jefferson A. Custodio, 25, a member of the Municipal Farmers Association in Carigara (MUFAC) was shot dead in August 23 at Brgy. Punong, Carigara, Leyte by two men on motorcycle. The perpetrators wore bonnets.
Custodio was at Brgy. Punong to deliver farm tools to the farmer-beneficiaries in upland barangays of Carigara when two men, riding a new blue XRM without a plate number shot and hit him in the arm and chest. He died on the spot.
The MUFAC is involved in the rehabilitation of communities affected by typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan, providing farmers with shelter materials, seeds and seedlings, and farm tools.
In July 2, when soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion and police from the Regional Mobile Group arrived in Capoocan, Leyte, they immediately sought out members of the MUFAC. While these soldiers encamped in the barangay hall, tanod outpost and chapel, they also held meetings with the residents and prohibited them from joining rallies.
Earlier, another relief worker, Gildegardo Hernandez, was gunned down in August 6, along the Candelaria-San Juan Diversion Road in Candelaria, Quezon province.
Hernandez was waiting for a ride when a man got off his motorcycle and shot him. Another man who served as backup was onboard another motorcycle. Hernandez fell on the ground but the assailant fired more shots. Hernandez, who died on the spot, sustained gunshot wounds on his head, chest and face.
Like Custodio, Hernandez, was working on the preparations for the Relief Delivery Operation (RDO) for the survivors of typhoon Glenda. The RDO was scheduled on the following day, August 7, by the Southern Tagalog People Corpse (STPC) and Kalipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid ng Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK) in cooperation with the Pamatid- CQ, a peasant organization led by Hernandez.
In August 26, Bayan Muna coordinator in Baao, Camarines Sur, Librado Adoptante Sr. was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in bonnets. Adoptante came from the hospital for a check-up was on his way home with his wife, Gemma and 12-year old daughter Sally when the men stopped them.
The gunman shot Librado who fell on the ground. Not contented, the gunman went fired two more shots on Librado’s head.
Librado died on the spot, sustaining gunshot wound on his chest, right temple and on the crown of the head. The police arrived 30 minutes later with members of the village council. The police, upon seeing Adoptante, exclaimed, ‘Ah si Ka MAYON!’, insinuating that Adoptante used an alias. “Ka” is a short form of “kasama” or comrade.
Since 2006, members of the 42nd IB-PA and CAFGU had been to the house of the Adoptante family, looking for Librado Sr. The military wanted Adoptante to “clear” his name as he was suspected to be a member of the NPA.
Earlier, in August 14, Marcel Lambon, a council member of a Lumad organization in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon was shot by a member of the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) under the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion. Lambon was an active campaigner against the expansion of an oil palm plantation in their town.
Like Adoptante, Lambon also had his share of frequent “visits” from the military; like Custodio, he was also summoned by the military for questioning. All three victims were suspected as members or supporters of the New People’s Army. ###