Press release
30 November 2012
The Makabayan bloc today hit the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Joint Order No. 14-2012 which lists alleged “235 wanted communists” with a total updated monetary reward of PHP 466.88 million. The bloc also files House Resolution 2927 to investigate the very dangerous list.
Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares said that “This list should be scrapped or at the very least there should be a full disclosure of such a listing, which in military terms is basically an order of battle (OB). This list is essentially telling state security forces that the policy of neutralizing and eliminating activists and communists remain. Members of legal organizations and party list groups might have been included on the said list as the government continues to file and pursue fabricated charges and violate due process rights of activists.”
“Ganito na din kasi ang nangyari noong panahon ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na gumagamit ng mga listahan o OB laban sa mga aktibista at kanyang mga kritiko. Noon ay 1,206 naging biktima ng extrajudicial killings at 206 naman ang naging biktima ng sapilitang pagkawala dahil sa Oplan Bantay Laya pero hanggang sa ngayon ay patuloy pa rin ito sa Oplan Bayanihan,” he added.
“One very frightening consequence of this list is that certain military officials might resort to surveilling, arresting or killing fall guys, activists and anyone or producing fake surrenderees in order to get the money reward,” Colmenares said.
As for his part Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano said that the Aquino administration refused to release the more than 401 political prisoners and continue to jail 13 NDF consultants and personnel in violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig).
“This DND-DILG increased bounty list will also violate the Jasig and sabotage the already stalled peace talks, as the list includes NDF consultants and personnel. How can peace talks continue if the consultants for one side are always being threatened with arrest, harassment or being killed because of this list,” said Mariano.
“Ang hirap kasi nito e sasabihin ng pamahalaang Aquino na seryoso sila sa usapang pangkapayapaan pero pinapahuli naman nila ang kanilang mga kausap. Papaano magkakaroon ng matino at makatarungang usapan nito kung ganito ang nangyayari?,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luz Ilagan.
“The government should scrap this list so as to facilitate the talks or at the very least publicly disclose the whole list to be examined. Because as things stand this so-called list can be used by death squads to assassinate anyone who is supposed to be there,” ended Colmenares.
For reference:
Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, Bayan Muna
Rep. Rafael V. Mariano, Anakpawis
Rep. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women’s Party
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