Monday, August 18, 2008
Human rights group condemns militant leader's slay
By Malu Cadelina Manar
Correspondent
DAVAO City-based human rights group Karapatan has condemned the killing last Friday of a militant in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley.
In a statement, the Karapatan in Southern Mindanao identified the latest victim of the so-called extra-judicial killing as Roel Doratot, 33, organizer of militant partylist Bayan Muna in Monkayo.
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The killing, according to Karapatan secretary-general Kelly Delgado, took place around 1 p.m. on Friday at Purok Narra, Barangay Banlag.
According to reports, Doratot was driving a "habal-habal" with his six passengers and was on his way to Purok Narra, when shot by one of the two still unidentified men, who were standing some 10 meters away from the victim.
One of the suspects, according to witnesses, was wearing a black helmet and stood beside an XRM motorcycle with no plate number, while the other suspect was wearing a black ski mask.
Before the killing, one of the witnesses saw the suspects' vehicle parked just few meters away from the habal-habal terminal.
"When it was Doratot's turn to move, the suspects immediately started the engine and went ahead of the victim. Just few meters away, they blocked the path, which made Doratot to stop. Then one of the suspects shot Doratot," Delgado said in a press statement.
The suspects, based on police investigations, used a caliber .45 pistol in killing the victim.
"The killing of Doratot is highly condemnable and unfortunately falls in the pattern, manner and motives of execution targeting so-called political dissenters," the group said.
Karapatan hinted the killing of Doratot could be linked to his expose of the abduction, torture, and the frustrated murder of a certain Renante Romagos of Monkayo.
In his testimony last December 12, 2007, Doratot pointed to some members of the Army as behind Romagos' attempted killing.
It was also Doratot who led Romagos to Bayan Muna in Davao City to help him in his quest for justice.
"The recent killings in Compostela Valley are alarming," said the group.
In July 2008, two peasant leaders identified as Nolie Llanos, 47, and Diego Encarnacion, 48, were also shot dead in Barangay Linda in Nabuntoran town. The group hinted a suspected military asset was behind the murders.
"The recent massive troop deployment in Compostela Valley has caused massive human rights violations and has terrorized the civilian population as the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) intensify their military operations, which pave the way for development aggression in the area," Delgado said.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 18, 2008 issue)
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