Murder of peasant leader activists is GMA's burden

We condemn and join other groups and kindred individuals in demanding the immediate resolution of the cold-blooded murder of Ka Eric Cabanit, Secretary-General of the Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (UNORKA) who was gunned down last April 24 in Panabo City, Davao.

Ka Eric was actively engaged in peasant struggles foremost of which was the lobby work for CARP coverage of the Floirendo-owned properties in the Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL).

For the APL, it is precisely the inaction of government when it comes to extra-judicial killings that have emboldened these elements to carry out dastardly acts that now have claimed another victim. The alarm has been sounded long ago, with hundreds of activists from legal and aboveground organizations being abducted, disappearing and turning up dead, or being shot in broad daylight. In many cases, the suspects are vigilantes and military personnel.

Yet no serious effort has been observed from government. Instead, we have the likes of rabid bloodhounds like Gen. Palparan even being rewarded with promotions despite being linked to massive counts of human rights violations.

The APL is no stranger to violence, with the murder of two of its leaders actively engaged in lobbying work for urban poor communities' rights. To this day the murder of Uldarica Prado and Myrna Navales, leaders of the Alyansa ng Maralita sa Valenzuela (AMSV), an urban poor organization affiliated with APL have not yet been solved. Just the other day, another peasant leader, Rico Aldeva of the Task Force Mapalad was also shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

The list is growing longer and longer, and the murder of Ka Eric only unmasks the increasing degree to which the GMA administration is tolerating these murders.

The failure of the government to protect its citizens from violence and violent attacks is a manifestation of its incapacity to let the rule of law prevail. Its failure to solve these dastardly killings makes it just as guilty as the assassins who murdered Ka Eric, Uldarica, Myrna, and Ka Rico.