Human Rights

Murder of Peasant Leader Elicits Condemnation of Gov?t, CARP

DAVAO CITY ? The assassination on Monday of a peasant leader in Panabo demonstrates once again the campaign of repression against agrarian-reform activists and reformists, cause-oriented and human-rights groups said on Wednesday.

Enrico Cabanit, secretary-general of the Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling Lokal na Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (Unorka), a peasant organization that has been campaigning for agrarian-reform in Davao del Norte, was gunned down on April 24 at a public market.

His daughter, Daffodil, was in critical condition after she, too, was shot by the bonnet-wearing assassin.

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His Warrant Recalled, Luque Vows to ?Face this Battle?

Alvin Luque?I will make use of the increasingly tapered space in the judicial system, to expose the incredulity of the accusations hurled against me, and to defend my name and the people?s movement of which I come from” — Alvin Luque
DAVAO CITY ? A local court has recalled the warrant of arrest it issued against Alvin Luque, the former secretary-general here of the progressive Bayan, his lawyer said Tuesday night.

The order by Judge Marivic Daray of the Regional Trial Court Branch 14, will allow the prosecution to file within 10 days its comment or opposition to the motion for reconsideration earlier filed by Luque questioning the warrant, Isagani Zarate, Luque?s lawyer, told davaotoday.com.

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Groups Hit Military?s Red-Baiting, Warrant Vs. Luque

DAVAO CITY ? The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Mindanao said Monday it was strongly behind Alvin Luque, the group?s former secretary-general here who is believed to be in hiding now, and vowed to continue fighting what it called as the ?Arroyo regime?s political repression.?

?We decry the fact that under the current regime defending the limited democratic rights of the people and fighting for a just cause are being defined as crimes,? says Ariel Casilao, the acting secretary-general of Bayan in Southern Mindanao.

Bayan said it saw the decision by a local court, which upheld the state?s arguments and ordered Luque?s arrest, as part of the calibrated and systematic attack against critics of the Arroyo regime.

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