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2 more activists in Bulacan abducted, mauled by military, Pamalakaya report says

Two more fisherfolk activists in Barangay San Roque, Hagonoy, Bulacan were reportedly abducted and mauled by government troops last night. Reports reaching the national headquarters of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said fishpond caretakers Poly Bautista and wife Pia were abducted by military agents belonging to Task Force Bulacan headed by Lt. Col. Rogelio Boac.

“ They were snatched last night and were mauled by their abductors. Poly is still missing, while his wife Pia was brought to Hagonoy District Hospital,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement. Initial reports said the Bautistas were resting few meters away from the fishpond they guard, when troops allegedly belonging to Task Force Bulacan under the command of Lt. Col. Boac came to their hut and dragged them out of their nipa hut.

The Bautistas are active members of Pamalakaya local chapter Samahan ng Bantay Palaisdaan (Association of Fishpond Caretakers), as well as members of the militant party list group Anakpawis. The two work as fishpond caretakers for Dr. Benny Castro.

“ The Task Force formed by Army Maj. General Jovito Palparan under his protégé Lt. Col. Boac is the military group operating in that area and we have no suspects other than this group who made an earlier pronouncement that they will get rid the barangay of Pamalakaya and Anakpawis members, “ Hicap asserted.

Last month, Palparan announced that Pamalakaya and Anakpawis leaders and mass members in Obando, Bulacan, Malolos, Paombong and Hagonoy towns will be singled out in the anti-insurgency campaign of the government. The controversial army officer had accused Pamalakaya of extorting
P 50,000 from fishpond owners, intimidating or forcing fisherfolk to join the New People’s Army and causing trouble to the residents of five coastal towns.

Last July 21, Pamalakaya filed a P 21-million libel case against Palparan for branding Pamalakaya as front group of the CPP-NPA-NDF and for singling out the group and its ally Anakpawis party list in the counter-insurgency campaign in Bulacan. On August 16, Pamalakaya-Obando leader Orlando Rivera was shot dead inside his house by four-bonnet wearing assassins believed to be members of Palparan’s death squad operating in Bulacan province.

Also yesterday, the international group World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), a worldwide alliance of fish worker and small fisherfolk organizations was the latest foreign association to condemn the spate of political killings in the country.

The WFPP member countries include the Philippines as represented by Pamalakaya, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Kenya, Mauritania, France, Spain, Canada, Honduras, Uganda, Mali, Senegal and partner networks in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, The Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vatican City, United Kingdom, Algeria, the United States, Madagascar, Italy, Norway, Bangladesh, Jordan, Germany, Chile and Columbia.

“ We were shocked to hear and extremely worried about the killings of fisherfolk leaders and activists in the Philippines. The killing of Pamalakaya leader Orlando Rivera by alleged military elements in Obando, Bulacan and the marking of “x” of the house of Sonny de Armas, another Pamalakaya official in the same fishing village is highly condemnable,” said Herman Kumara, WFFP general secretary.

“ We are now very much concern about the life of de Armas and 11 other fisherfolk leaders in Obando, Bulacan. We are in solidarity with the victims and we want to convey our message against the present situation involving political killings in the Philippines,” Kumara said. The WFFP also noted that while the Philippines is a democratic country, the government has no space for the voice of the people. The international fisherfolk alliance said the government should allow the people to take a strong stand against issues, which are detrimental to the lives and livelihood of poor sectors like the fisherfolk. “ We hope Mrs. Arroyo would allow the fisherfolk and the people to stand up against the issues, which they want to change for the benefit of the people. The killings of leftwing activists, leaders and members of social movements in the Philippines is not the right response and we will not tolerate such action of the Philippine state,” WFFP added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:44 | link | comments |

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