Rights group accuses army of killing labor leader

PROGRESSIVE human rights organization Karapatan is accusing agents or assets of the 29th Infantry Battalion as the suspects in the killing of Anakpawis Partylist coordinator in Caraga Linus "Bebot" Cubol on Tuesday, November 27, in Santiago town, Agusan del Norte.

Karapatan said a week before he was killed, intelligence agents of the 29th IB threatened and harassed him, interrogating him for his continuous participation in labor and multi-sectoral activities.

According to the rights group, Cubol was a former president of the Manila Mining Corporation workers' union in Placer, Surigao del Norte in 1990s, and served as a board of director of the Labor Center for Education and Research in Cagayan de Oro in 1998.

He also once served as chairperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno in Caraga and was Bayan-Caraga chairperson too.

In 2008 however, he chose to start a livelihood by establishing his own furniture shop where he was killed last Tuesday.

Karapatan said despite working in his shop, Cubol continued to participate in consultations with workers seeking his advice on labor problems.

Reached for a comment, First Lieutenant Edmar Colagong, civil military officer of the 29th Infantry Battalion said the case is still under investigation, adding that it is unfair to accuse them of the killing.

"Patunayan nila yan kung gusto nila, may batas at proseso naman patungkol diyan at handa and 29th IB humarap sa allegation, kasi wala po kaming kinalaman diyan," Colagong said.

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