AFP sees ‘communist purging’ in activist’s slay

The killing of activist Fernando Baldomero in Aklan province may have been a case of “communist purging," the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday as it denied involvement in the assassination. "We are possible suspects. But do not forget that on the other side, purging continues to be a strategy if only to tell their members that we can kill you or we can neutralize you any time," said Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta. Mabanta said the killing of Baldomero, a provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna party-list group, may have been the communist rebels’ way of scaring off their erring members. Baldomero, who was also councilor in Lezo town, became a political detainee in the 1980s when he was accused of being an official of the New People’s Army (NPA). According to militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), all cases filed against Baldomero were eventually dismissed. Baldomero was killed Monday morning in Estancia village in Kalibo town by a still unidentified gunman. He became the first fatality from a militant group under the Aquino administration. Easy targets Mabanta said it was not uncommon for the public to point a finger to the military in such killings, adding that soldiers are “easy targets." “When there are usually killings of, let’s say anti-government activists, one of the easier people to blame are the military," he said. He said the military leadership has always been dedicated to protecting the human rights of civilians, adding that newly installed Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David is now even more focused on highlighting this role of the military. As proof of the new military leadership’s stronger drive to protect human rights, David has vowed to channel in more funds to the Armed Forces’ Human Rights Office, Mabanta said. “He is always emphatic about human rights being given paramount importance," Mabanta said of David. Usual suspects Progressive groups have blamed the military for the apprehension, detention, and summary killings of suspected communist leaders and members. The military is currently holding in its custody 43 health workers suspected to be involved in the communist movement. It is also blamed for the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, the activist son of the late press freedom icon Jose “Joe" Burgos Jr. Melissa Roxas, a Filipino-American who was volunteering for a community medical mission in Tarlac, also alleged that she was arrested and tortured by soldiers last year after they suspected her of being a supporter of communist rebels. - KBK, GMANews.TV