Killings mar RP elections — int’l HR group

Saying Philippine elections are being “fought with bullets as well as ballots," an international human rights organization has called on presidential candidates to formulate plans to combat political violence and abolish private armies said to be responsible for these attacks. In an Amnesty International statement Thursday, the London-based human rights group said at least five candidates and sixteen campaign leaders have been killed in election-related attacks this year. "This election is being fought with bullets as well as ballots. The new president will need to tackle the private armies and political killings that mar (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's) legacy," said Lance Lattig, Philippine researcher for AI. But even before the start of the campaign period, the group said election-related violence had already hit record levels with the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, where at least 57 people, including 32 journalists, were murdered. "Maguindanao should have been a wake-up call for the president to abolish these militias. Whichever candidate wins this election will need to disarm and disband these private armies, once and for all," said Lattig. AI said the number of private armies almost doubled from 68 in December last year to 117 in February this year, quoting Dante Jimenez of the presidential commission created to dismantle private armies following the November 23 massacre. The group scored the government for failing to curb the increase in the number of private armies despite the massacre. “Despite public outrage over Maguindanao, President Gloria Arroyo has failed to revoke Executive Order 546, which effectively authorized private armies in 2006," the group’s statement read. It also added that political killings remain an “endemic" problem in the Philippines, as the government often fails to conduct effective investigations leading to the prosecution of perpetrators. AI cited in its statement the following nine cases of candidates who were killed in election-related attacks: 1. Kagi Ketong, campaign manager for the mayoral and vice-mayoral candidates Montasir and Abdulwahab Saban, killed in a grenade attack on a political rally in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on April 15 2. Edwin Segue, village councilman for San Antonio village and radio reporter, shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental on April 14 (See: Volunteer radio reporter shot dead in Ozamis) 3. McArthur "Tol" Cortez, candidate for councilor in Sarangani town,Davao del Sur, killed in Digos City on April 12 (See: Candidate for councilor shot dead in Davao del Sur) 4. Bernardo Olarte, campaign organizer for mayoral candidate Junjun Binay, shot dead in front of his house in Makati City on March 31 5. Willy Viloria, candidate for vice-governor of Zambales, shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his house in Cabangan, Zambales on March 7 (See: Vice-gubernatorial bet in Zambales shot dead) 6. Ponciano Numeron, candidate for councilor for Pasacao township and former policeman, allegedly killed by New People's Army (NPA) forces in Camarines Sur province on March 5 7. Luis Mondia Jr., mayoral candidate and former mayor of Pulupandan town, Negros Occidental, killed in Jaro, Iloilo province on February 17 (See: Negros mayoralty bet killed in ambush) 8. Oscar Animo, local campaign organizer for presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro, killed while riding his motorcycle in Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte on February 2 (See: Local admin party leader shot dead in Surigao Norte) 9. Julio "Bimbo" Esquivias, candidate for councillor in Casiguran, Sorsogon, killed on January 5 (See: 4 NP bets killed in 2 weeks; Villar alarmed) Save for Animo’s case, where local police reported they had arrested three suspects on March 2, no suspects have been arrested in the eight other cases, according to the group. AI noted that authorities have been more responsive in the case of Numeron who was allegedly killed by the NPA. Meanwhile, records from the Philippine National Police show that as of March 9, 16 local candidates have been killed in poll-related violent incidents since the election period started. (See: 16 local candidates killed in 24 poll-related violent incidents)—JV, GMANews.TV