BAYAN Muna Partylist expresses its outrage and strongest condemnation of yesterday’s killing of its provincial coordinator in Aklan, Fernando Baldomero, and challenges the Aquino administration to act swiftly on this recent activist killing five days under his new administration.
“This is the first politically-motivated extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration and we challenge the new president on his inaugural word to `give justice to those whose justice were eluded,” Richard Colao, BM regional coordinator for Northern Mindanao said today.
“It’s been five days since Benigno Aquino’s ascendancy to power but the unjust killings against militant groups that characterized the Arroyo administration has already started and we are wary of this,” he said.
Aquino through newly appointed Justice Sec. Leila de Lima vowed to end the extra-judicial killings under its term.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general for Northern Mindanao Kristin Lim said in a separate statement that Aquino must now prove to the people that the law will be upheld by immediately arresting the perpetrators.
“We hold accountable the military for this murder as this is like all similar cases of extra judicial killings committed against our ranks under the Arroyo government. And Pres. Aquino must fulfill his promise to the people by giving justice to the lives of these people. Run after the military, prosecute the offenders in order to end the climate of impunity that his predecessor has so blatantly condoned,” she said.
Lim said the progressive block has earlier warned of the resurgence of killings, harassments and other forms of state terrorism after the election.
In light of newly appointed Armed Forches Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David’s pronouncement in wiping out the insurgency in three years, Lim said this could be a prelude to actually terrorize the legitimate progressive bloc that is working for legitimate issues on wage increase, land reform, worker’s welfare and rights, students rights, OFW, indigenous peoples, women and children’s rights and human rights, among others.
She said, David’s pronouncement only legitimizes the military’s excuse to terrorize, impugn, harass and even murder the workers of legitimate progressive organizations and its supporters.
Baldomero was a town councilor of Lezo Aklan and was shot by two unidentified gunmen early this morning while on his way to sending his child to school. His bullet wounds were in his head and neck. He was killed in front of his house at 6:30 in the morning.
Early in March, two grenades were lobbed at his house but no one was hurt though his house was damaged.
For Reference:
Kristin Lim Richard Colao
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