PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Palparan-style killings now nationwide -- Ka Roger
March 18, 2005

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today accused the military of perpetrating the successive extrajudicial executions of activists and leaders of progressive organizations, calling them "Palparan-style killings".

CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said the killings were reminiscent of the style of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, whose stint a few years ago as chief of the Philippine Army's 204th Infantry Battalion in Mindoro was marked by the murders of scores of peasant organizers and human rights activists in the island.

Rosal deplored the killing the past two days of peasant leaders in Central Luzon and the Bicol region.

Last night, Ben Concepcion, secretary-general of the peasant group Aguman da reng Maglalautang Capampangan and coordinator of the Anakpawis political party was gunned down in Angeles City.

The previous day, Anakpawis party organizer Joel Reyes was shot in Jose Panganiban town in Quezon by soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army 902nd IBde and 31st IB.

Several other leaders and activists have been killed by the military and paramilitary groups in previous weeks. In Tarlac, Fr. William Tadena and Councilor Abelardo Ladera, both supportes of the Hacienda Luisita strike, and tagged by the military as NPA members, were killed within days of each other.

In Baguio, Bayan official Romeo Sanchez was killed on March 10. Three days later, Atty. Felidito Dacut, Bayan Muna coordinator for Eastern Visayas was killed in Tacloban City.

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



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