This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VII, No. 5, March 4-10, 2007
Ilocos Peasant Leader Charged Anew with Homicide
A
peasant leader in the Ilocos Region stands to face trial for homicide. The
admission to the crime by the victim’s sister-in-law did not save him from being
charged with homicide. It was the second time that trumped-up charges of
homicide were filed against peasant leader Avelino Dacanay, said a militant
peasant group.
BY ROD TAJON SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION
( 269 kms. north of Manila) A peasant leader in the Ilocos Region stands to face
trial for homicide. The admission to the crime by the victim’s sister-in-law did
not save him from being charged with homicide. Police investigators in
Aringay town, this province, filed a homicide case against Avelino Dacanay,
chairperson of Solidarity of Peasants against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation),
a local chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine
Peasant Movement) and Marites Lucena for the Feb. 13 killing of Alano Lucena.
Police accused Dacanay of killing Lucena after he was allegedly identified by
the victim’s brother. Witnesses said that the
victim Alano Lucena had a fight with his brother, Narciso. Alano was allegedly
about to stab Narciso when a commotion ensued and a shot was fired. Dacanay, a veterinarian,
said he was on his way home after operating on a cow in Sta. Cecilla, Aringay in
La Union when he heard a shot. He immediately went to the crime scene and found
Lucena dead. He reported the incident to the Aringay Police Station and assisted
the police in their investigation, he said. Charlie Juloya, Dacanay's
counsel, said the homicide case filed against his client is already at the
Aringay fiscal’s office. He added that his client has filed a counter-affidavit.
Juloya added that Marites
already admitted to killing Alano. Dacanay was earlier
detained for 36 hours at the Aringay police station. He tested negative for
powder burns, Juloya said. The suspect Maritess
surrendered at noontime on Feb. 14 and Dacanay was subsequently released. However, Aringay police
insisted on charging Dacanay with homicide. Meanwhile, militant peasant
groups in Ilocos condemned the arrest and detention of Dacanay. Zaldy Alfiler,
STOP Exploitation secretary-general, said Dacanay has been an exemplary leader
to the peasant movement and does not have any criminal record to speak of.
“How could he kill anyone
when he condemns such inhumane acts?” Alfiler said. Alfiler also said that this
is the second time Dacanay was accused of murder. In 2000, Dacanay along with
the late Romy Sanchez and other mass leaders were accused by the military of
killing Fr. Conrado Balweg. The cases against Dacanay and other leaders,
however, were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Dacanay was then among the
executive officers of STOP Exploitation. “This incident shows that
mass leaders asserting the people’s rights for genuine land reform and just
economic conditions are charged with common crimes,” Alfiler added. Alfiler challenged the
Arroyo government, along with its security forces, to respect and uphold the
rights of the people. “In the six years of her
presidency, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has unmistakably violated the rights of
the people by its use of state terror and undeclared martial rule in the guise
of the war on terror,” she said. She cited the counterinsurgency program of the
government, Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch), as part of the
government’s terror campaign. Alfiler also said political
dissenters are being persecuted to stop them from exposing the pitfalls of the
government. “The government should be
reminded that they should respect the civil and political rights of the people,”
Alfiler said. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat © 2007 Bulatlat
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Militant peasant groups condemn charges as part of harassment
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat