Extrajudicial Killings

A Pattern to Madness

(first of three parts)

Killed on the feast of San Isidro, the patron saint of peasants, Celso Pojas fell just a few steps from the gate of the KMP office in Maa. (contributed photo)

First, their groups have been tagged as the legal fronts of the Communist New People's Army. Then, top military officials make public statements suggesting they're enemies of the state. Finally, before anyone could stop to consider, they are killed. This pattern emerges in the extrajudicial killings of activists in the country, which have become more pronounced in Davao City and neighboring provinces of Compostela Valley as the government's 2010 deadline to wipe out the Communist insurgency looms. After Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo exposed the existence of a military document linking some individuals and civil society groups to the Communist movement, Davao Today finds it urgent to look into the pattern of the killings of activists in this part of the country. Read on.

Continue ReadingA Pattern to Madness

Peers of slain doctor worried over colleagues’ safety

Pe?era's name was not in the reported military list earlier leaked by Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo to the media. But groups like the United Integrated Health Services Foundation Incorporated (UIHSFI), where Pe?era used to sit as Board member, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), where he was a council member, were. Dr. Jean Lindo, chair of the doctor's group Rx for Peace, said the killing of Pe?era has raised the concern of their colleagues over the safety of six other physicians identified in the military Order of Battle (OB) list. They included Dr. Ruben Robillo, Dr. Jose Lacuesta, Dr. Shalom Lorezana, Dr. Eugene Nalian, Dr. Rey Lasaka. The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) plans to call a meeting with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to clarify what?s on the document. Read on.

Continue ReadingPeers of slain doctor worried over colleagues’ safety

Activist doctor shot dead in Davao

Dr. Rogelio ?Bong? Pe?era, head of the Department of Health (DOH) epidemiological research and surveillance unit tasked to monitor and address the A (H1N1) flu cases in the region, was killed in his car while going home. He was active in political campaigns that sought government?s attention to the sordid state of the country?s health care delivery. Pi?era was also a member of the groups Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), the Rx for Peace and the Health People United for the Removal of Gloria (Purga), a group of medical practitioners and health workers calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Read on.

Continue ReadingActivist doctor shot dead in Davao