Sectoral front organizations, according to the AFP, join multisectoral mobilizations which carry issues outside of their traditional issues. They also conduct radical and violent mobilizations.
Target individuals in these organizations, under the OBL, are the president, chairperson, secretary, secretary-general who participate in symposia, lectures, teach-ins and other activities designed to mobilize the audience against the government.
In February 2004, the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) issued a memo directing all its units to submit a report regarding the results and developments in the neutralization of their targets. In military parlance, neutralization means killing its targets.
While OBL documents did not identify the organizations it categorizes as local communist-infiltrated and sectoral front organizations, the AFP came out with a power point presentation titled Knowing the Enemy in the last quarter of 2005. In Knowing the Enemy, legal organizations such as the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement); Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines); COURAGE, a federation of unions of government employees, PISTON, a federation of transport drivers and operators; KADAMAY, a federation of urban poor associations; as well as organizations of youth and students, teachers, women, health workers, lawyers, journalists, scientists and techonologists, church people as sectoral front organizations.
The list even included the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Philippine Independent Church (PIC), the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
The lists are also consistent with statements by the AFP and PNP, especially Palparan, Razon, and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, and that of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales accusing the groups as communist front organizations and are therefore targets for neutralization.
Being categorized as a sectoral front organization and target individuals, and being listed in the sectoral/front organization Order of Battle practically constitutes a death sentence. This appears to be consistent with reports about AFP troops involved in harassing, threatening and killing members and leaders of these organizations.
Impunity
Bulatlat has documented at least 10 habeas corpus cases filed involving the disappearances of 18 individuals, 13 of them civilians while five are consultants of the NDFP in the peace negotiations with the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
While seven cases (Narciso Parani-Jovito Velasco, Cadapan-Empeo-Merino, Prudencio Calubid, Rogelio Calubad, Leopoldo Ancheta, Philip Limjoco and Roland Porter) are still ongoing, three cases (Abalos, Tessie and Rodel Abellera and Philip Dela Cruz) have been dismissed by the Solicitor General for lack of merit on Aug 29, 2006.
The Abelleras were abducted by hooded armed-men who family members and witnesses alleged as soldiers belonging to the Delta Company of the 71st IB in their homes in Barangay Parista, Lupao, Nueva Ecija on July 13, 2006. Family members and witnesses said Dela Cruz was abducted by the same elements on July 20.
