FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2007
Political violence continues: Three activists leaders ambushed in Iloilo
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo strongly condemned the ambush on three
Iloilo activists at 9:30 pm yesterday (April 12) that left one of them
seriously injured and two others missing.
PANABO CITY — About 50 families composed of more than 300 individuals fled their homes after a military air-strike hit Wednesday morning a banana plantation area in barangay Manay, this city.
About 15 kilometers from the poblacion, Manay was the place where the Philippine Air Force OV-10 planes dropped bombs at a banana farm where New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were seen hiding after their successful raid of a jail armory last April 8.
A lone gunman was responsible for the shooting rampage at an Army patrol base in Sulu province that killed nine soldiers and a civilian, the Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said.
Quoting initial findings of a military investigation, Esperon also said “no drinking spree and no mauling” preceded the carnage, contrary to some news reports.
DAVAO CITY — Cris Paul Agustin just recently earned his first promotion as First Lieutenant of the Philippine Army (PA) and he is already leading a company of soldiers, a size of combatants and infantrymen normally led by a Captain, having their field operations in Maco, Compostela Valley some 80 kilometers away from Davao City.
Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights)
2/F Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin cor. Matatag Sts., Bgy. Central, Quezon City 1101 PHILIPPINES
Telefax: (+632) 4354146
Email: karapatan@tri-isys.com karapatan.pid@gmail.com
Press Statement
April 9, 2007
Reference: Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Secretary General, No. 0917-8176274
” ?the military and many key officials have buried their collective heads in the sand and announced that business will continue as usual?” ? Prof. Philip Alston, referring to the Philippine military in his initial report to the UN Human Rights Council of his visit to the Philippines, March 27, 2007
RISING CASES OF ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES, EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS COMMITTED AFTER THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL