Church group decry brutal killing of combatant’s daughter
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace
(Isaiah 32:16-17)
The Promotion of Church Peoples Response Davao City expresses its deepest concern over the latest victim of extra-judicial killing, Rebelyn Pitao, young daughter of known NPA commander Ka Parago, who was viciously abducted and whose body was found tortured and dead on March 5 in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
The Arroyo governments counter-insurgency plan and policy of state violence against its perceived enemies has taken its most cruel head in the killing of an innocent daughter and civilian. We are aghast with how state elements can go such lengths in its bid to capture its hated enemy, in the person of Ka Parago, and to eventually weaken the revolutionary organization of the New Peoples Army.
Who has the motive to subject Ka Paragos family to such grave injustice? Who has the capacity to comport itself to such a barbaric act? Who has the track record of more than a thousand extra-judicial killing of advocates, families of NPA combatants, and prisoners of war? Who has the mercenary tradition in our history, and during the Marcos dictatorship?
It would only be the military, in this city, the 10th ID which is doggedly implementing the Oplan Bantay Laya 2 which targets civilians as key tactic to weaken and dismantle the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Demoratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
This trend of barbaric and demonic act of political oppression perpetrated by the agents of the state is a gross violation of the protocols of war I and II stipulated in the articles of war in the International Humanitarian Law and in tenets pertaining to respecting human rights. If this barbaric trend of political killings and violating the law continues, the basic rights of both conflicting parties’ families are not being respected and not safe, much more so the broad masses of the struggling Filipino people. This is not the way the church longed for; it is a curtailment to peace.
The church expresses support to the bereaved family of Rebelyn Pitao and urges them to be unwavering in their courage in face of this brutality, to speak out to denounce and demand for justice.
We call on the church people to conduct any form of responses to condemn the reign of evil of political oppression, abduction, killings and to let justice overflow like several springs. Together we say Never again to slavery
We continue to cry out for freedom and justice for Ms. Rebelyn Pitao, Sister Stella Matutina, OSB and all victims of human rights violations.
For reference:
Rev. Jurie Jaime
PCPR
09198161876
