Violence against the democratic movement
Violence against leaders and supporters of the legal democratic movement has once more reared its ugly head. Aside from the four women activists illegally arrested in Quezon on March 1 (see previous article), a prominent leader has been assassinated, another abducted and believed killed and yet another has survived an assassination attempt.
Armed men seized BAYAN-Central Luzon official Danny Macapagal in front of his house in Cabanatuan City on the night of March 3.
That same day, Tarlac City councilor and Bayan Muna member Abelardo Ladera, 43 was shot and killed by a sniper in Barangay Paraiso, Tarlac City while he was buying spare parts for his jeep.
Ladera was one of the staunchest supporters of the Hacienda Luisita strikers and one of the witnesses who testified against the military and police during a congressional investigation into the massacre of workers in November 2004.
Ladera had long been the object of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM)'s ire because of his pro-worker stand. In fact, he was among the "prominent leftist personalities" identified by the NOLCOM as "inciting" anger and discontent among the hacienda workers. The NOLCOM tried to justify their harassment of Ladera by straining to link him with the NPA in the area. NOLCOM even spread rumors that he was a nephew of CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal.
Prior to this, an attempt was made on the life of Fr. Allan Caparro of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and vice chairperson of the Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) in Eastern Visayas. Caparro and his wife Aileen were wounded when three armed men riding a motorcycle and armed with .45 caliber guns shot them on February 18 in Abuyog, Leyte. Caparro is known for his opposition to large-scale mining in the region because of the harm it would bring to people living in upland areas.
In a statement, the PCPR implicated in Caparro's shooting Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan, newly appointed chief of the Eastern Visayas-based 8th ID.
Meanwhile, on March 6, the 63rd IB positioned an armored personnel carrier in front of the office of Bayan Muna-Northern Samar and Katungod-Eastern Visayas in Catarman City. Katungod condemned such outright harassment of progressive organizations and human rights advocate groups.
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