Death by Democracy

The Court of Appeals has directly linked retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan to the abduction of civilians suspected of being insurgents, saying that he at least knew about the arrest and detention by his men of the Manalo brothers.

The court’s second division said this showed Palparan’s "command policy" of encouraging the arrest of civilians without due process and sufficient basis.

A radio broadcaster who had denounced alleged corruption in the building of the “People’s Park” in this city and government malfeasance will not be spending Christmas Tuesday with his four children.

An assassin riding tandem on a motorcycle with an accomplice gunned down Ferdie Lintuan at 9:30 a.m. Monday as the 51-year-old journalist was driving his Volkswagen, police said.

CLAD in black shirts with their faces covered by black veils, female relatives of the victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances held roses as they marched Monday in Manila to mark Human Rights Day.

"The families of the victims continue to mourn because they remain deprived of justice," said Renato Reyes, spokesperson of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

The women in black led some 1,500 activists in calling on the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the extrajudicial killings.

One year and five months after their abduction, a witness testified that he had actually seen and talked to Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, the two scholars of the University of the Philippines (UP) who were abducted allegedly by soldiers on June 26, 2006 while doing research in a farming community in Barangay (village) San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Farmer Manuel Merino was abducted together with the two.

The witness, Raymund Manalo, also confirmed what had been feared all along - that the UP students were raped by their abductors.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño condemned the latest assassination attempt against a high-ranking official of our party in Western Visayas .

“Ms. Hope Hervilla, our Bayan Muna Panay regional officer and 10th nominee in the last partylist elections, narrowly escaped a crack team of assassins that had blocked off all the exits of her house in Iloilo yesterday, November 26. Only the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units in the island are the primary suspects, having the motive, means and evil designs to harm Hervilla, a respected political leader in the province,” Rep. Casiño said.

According to a short report from Bayan Muna Panay, Hervilla was only able to get out of her house when security escorts provided by Iloilo Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. and Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas came over. The assassins’ vehicles were blocking all exit points.

Hervilla has been extended protection by the provincial government since yesterday.

“She has earned the ire of the military in the island of late due to her strong advocacy in searching for Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado, the two militant leaders in April 2007,” Casiño said.

Hervilla has blamed the attempted murder and abduction of Luisa Posa-Dominado, Ely Garachico and Nilo Arado on the military.

“We advise the military, specifically the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army officials MGen Jovenal Narcise, Col. Renato David, Lt. Col. David Tan and Capt. Lowen Gil Marquez, not to come up with the usual profound denials. If Hervilla meets any harm, we shall hold them and the AFP top leadership responsible,” Casiño said. #

News Release –November 27, 2007
For Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, 0920-9035683
For more information: Vince Borneo, Media Officer, 0927-7968198