Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) – The first real problems for the new president Benigno Aquino, who took office a few days ago, were immediate: the execution of two activists and defenders of human rights has shaken public opinion and caused indignation that has led to spontaneous street protests in Manila, with shouts of: "Stop murder!"
This past July 3, Jose Daguio, a former radio journalist, was killed in cold blood by an unidentified man in Tabuk, Kalinga Province, in northern Luzon Island. Two days later, the victim was Fernando Baldomero, killed near Kalibo, on Panay Island (central Philippines), in front of his son. Baldomero was a city councilor in Lezo and provincial coordinator of the movement "Bayan Muna," active on social issues and defense of human rights.
According to civil society groups, the responsibility for these acts should be attributed to the "death squads" operating in the country, composed of former military or paramilitary units, often operated by army and police, leaders of the long trail of summary and extrajudicial executions during the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Edwin Lacierda, spokesman for President Aquino, said that "the family of the President was the victim of such human rights violations, so he will not tolerate extrajudicial killings under his administration." According to the spokesman, the two murders just want to embarrass the new government, which has responded by creating a special task force to investigate the crimes and is beginning a renewal of military leaders of the nation.
Last June, two journalists were killed by unknown assailants. Organizations for human rights have remarked on the plight of political killings, the practice of "summary justice" and the climate of impunity in the country during the Arroyo government: in its 2010 annual report, the organization "Karapatan ( “Alliance for the Improvement of People's Rights") noted that during the time between October 1-31, 2009, there were 77 extrajudicial executions, mainly of lawyers, judges, human rights activists, and journalists (to which should be added the deaths of 57 others in the Maguindanao massacre, which occurred after the publication of the report); 1,421 cases of threats and intimidation; and 94 illegal arrests. Overall, in eight years of Arroyo government, researchers have found 1,118 victims of summary executions; 1,026 cases of torture; 1,946 arbitrary arrests; more than 30,000 assaults, and 81,000 cases of intimidation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2010)
