Union, peasant leaders gunned down; bishops condemn EJKs

With the toll from extrajudicial killings (EJKs) reaching 22 under President Aquino's term by the count of local human rights group Karapatan, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano filed two resolutions urging the House of Representatives to probe the cases of the two latest victims. Ireneo “Rene" Rodriguez, a member of Samahan ng Magbubukid sa Batangas (SAMBAT), a provincial chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) was killed by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men at Sitio Caybunga, Balayan, Batangas on Nov. 7, according to House Resolution (HR) 640. Carlos “Caloy" Rodriguez, 41 years old, union president of the Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Calamba Water District (NLD-CWD) was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Calamba, Laguna on Nov. 12, according to HR 641. “How many more will have to die before government makes a decisive move against the killings?" said Renato Reyes, Jr., secretary-general of alliance group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). Reyes noted that with 22 EJKs since Aquino took office on June 30, the killings were taking place at the rate of almost “one extrajudicial killing a week… despite government claims that the killings are being solved, there are fresh cases every month." “The trend is truly alarming," Reyes added. The nongovernment organization Water for the People Network (WPN) denounced the killing of Caloy Rodriguez, saying he had been a strong supporter of the nationwide campaign against water privatization. “Rodriguez led efforts to correct the gross inequity in water access in the region, successfully heading the campaign to expand the bulk water coverage in Laguna — which has been monopolized for years by huge corporations in export processing zones — for farming and residential communities," said WPN in a statement. ‘Stop extrajudicial killings’ Meanwhile, a Mindanao-based bishop has suggested the creation of a special “oversight body" to deal with the EJKs. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo warned against treating EJKs as “ordinary crimes. The prelate said the oversight body for investigating EJKs should include specialists from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Justice. In Northern Samar, Visayas, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance also announced the creation of a “multisectoral quick reaction team" in his diocese, in response to extrajudicial killings in the region. The team would be composed of representatives from the church, police, lawyers , military, and nongovernment organizations. “We are saddened that the extrajudicial killings still continue… in spite of the assurances given by the Aquino administration at the start of his [term that] these things will be things of the past," Bagaforo said. — With Larissa Mae Suarez/VS, GMANews.TV