This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com).
Vol. VI, No. 29, Aug. 30, 2006

 

Bayan Leader in Bohol Killed

BY EMILY VITAL
BULATLAT
Posted 3:30 p.m., Sept. 7, 2006

 

An activist leader who had been named as a military target in Bohol province was shot dead early Thursday morning.

 

Victor Q. Olayvar, 41, chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan-Bohol,  was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men at Bridge Caban, Bgy. Cantubod, Danao town.  Initial reports say that Olayvar was one of the five local leaders who had been threatened by elements of the 302nd Infantry Brigade since July.

 

The killing happened five days after Olayvar's group held a dialogue with officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines , Philippine National Police and Bishop Tumulak about political killings.

Olayvar had been the chairperson of BAYAN-Bohol and vice chairman of BAYAN-Central Visayas since 2003.   He served as secretary-general of Hugpong sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon's (HUMABOL/ Bohol Peasant Organization) from 1997 to 2000, and the group's chairperson from 2000 to 2003.

 

Karapatan records show that five activists have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formed the Melo Commission to investigate the political killings and abductions.   Dr. Carol Araullo, Bayan chairperson said, "The Melo Commission proves to be toothless. The perpetrators continue with their killing spree."

 

Araullo said that the formation of the Melo Commission was for mere propaganda. "Arroyo has been compelled to do something if only to appease the families of the victims and to ease the rage over the spate of political killings. In reality, there is a national policy of annihilation against the activists and the Filipino people in general. Mrs. Arroyo knows this and has approved of this policy."

 

Araullo added, "Praising Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. is tantamount to emboldening other state agents to commit human rights violations. Mrs. Arroyo has in fact absolved Palparan of any wrongdoing despite enormous cases of human rights abuses."

 

Meanwhile, Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary general, announced that their group will be holding a protest to mark the 34th anniversary of martial law on Sept. 21. "We will stand up against the new dictatorship of the Arroyo regime."

 

Reyes said there will be protests in the country's major cities and in more than six other countries. Bulatlat


© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Media Center

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