Karapatan strongly condemns the killing of another peasant leader in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental early morning today by the elements of 11th infantry battalion of the Philippine Army. In the initial report from Karapatan Negros, Rene “Toto” Quirante, local chairman of the KAUGMA-ON, a local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was shot dead at around two in the morning today in Sitio Amomoyong, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. Quirante was one of the six peasant leaders of KAUGMA-ON who have been charged with common crimes in 2008.
Karapatan strongly condemns the killing of another peasant leader in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental early morning today by the elements of 11th infantry battalion of the Philippine Army. In the initial report from Karapatan Negros, Rene “Toto” Quirante, local chairman of the KAUGMA-ON, a local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was shot dead at around two in the morning today in Sitio Amomoyong, Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. Quirante was one of the six peasant leaders of KAUGMA-ON who have been charged with common crimes in 2008.
Jigs Clamor, acting secretary general of Karapatan, “condemns the new wave of political killings perpetrated by the military and blames President Benigno Aquino III for pampering the blood thirsty military by extending Oplan Bantay Laya, the blue print for bloody attacks used by the former Arroyo regime.”
“Quirante is the 14th victim of political killings under the Aquino regime. Practically there is one victim of political killing every week and this is very alarming trend considering that Aquino is barely three months in office. Aquino may surpass Arroyo’s last six months in office with 17 recorded political killings.” Clamor added .
Clamor added that the Negros island "has been identified by the AFP as priority area for massive military operations together with Caraga, Compostela Valley, Samar-Leyte and Bicol regions to continue the military’s unfinished business under extended OBL. Guihulngan and the whole central Negros in particular is under heavy military operations for quite some time now.”
“It seems Aquino is another Arroyo in terms of bloody human rights record”, Clamor said.