Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy urged the Commission on Human Rights to immediately probe the circumstances on the killing of Mansaka tribal leader Pedro Tinga.
A “special investigating body” of the “Compostela Valley People’s Democratic Government” has recommended “an order for the immediate arrest and commencement of the trial” of 23 respondents composed of army, police and government civilian personnel implicated in the “murder” of Roque Antivo.
Conde further said that with the spate of killings, “the Aquino administration needs to declare that the attacks on journalists are a national catastrophe that threatens fundamental liberties.”
“He is a leader of the tribal council, an active member of the community church, active in the community, that could prove his innocence,” he told Davao Today on Wednesday.
Police probe the crime scene where radio commentator Rogelio ‘Tata’ Butalid was shot outside of Radyo Natin Tagum in Sobrecary Street last Wednesday past 9am. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
Karapatan presented initial reports that 152 extrajudicial killings occurred under Aquino’s term in the past three years. The group’s secretary general Cristina Palabay said “at least one extrajudicial killing per week was committed by state security forces under Aquino.”
A farmer carries a sign demanding for agrarian reform to benefit farmers during a human rights rally in Digos City.
Farmers and activists from Socsksargen areas held a ‘Lakbayan’ or ‘People’s March’ in Digos City Sunday in commemoration of the 65th Human Rights Day as they slam a mining company for encroaching on tribal ancestral lands and indigenous peoples’ rights. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
Butalid is the third journalist killed in the country in the past three weeks, all in Mindanao, following Joas Dignos in Valencia, Bukidnon on November 29 and Michael Milo in Surigao City on December 9.
Activists march along the city’s downtown area commemorating the 65th year of International Human Rights Day, as they deplore the continuing impunity under Aquino’s administration with the killings of farmers and military abuses. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
