Protesters in Sorsogon, in indignation rally over the killing of human rights journalist Teodoro “Todoy” Escanilla, pile up mock coffins of victims of extra-judicial killings infront of police provincial headquarters to dramatize police failure in solving the killings and arrest of the killers. The protesters lambast at the Aquino administration for the worsening poverty and economic woes in the country. BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
Condemning on latest killing of Sorsogon human rights advocate, Bicol’s progressive organizations held chained protest and caravan against massive series of extra-judicial killings under counter-insurgency campaign of Aquino Administration.
Hundreds of activists and supporters from Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and from Albay massed at Daraga Cover Court and marched to Camp General Simeon A Ola, Legazpi City to signify their indignation and protest on the killing of one of their progressive leaders, Teodoro “Ka Tudoy” Escanilla.
Their program at Camp Ola continued despite the loud music of the camp.
Counter-Insurgency campaign “Oplan Bayanihan” in the region led by 9th Infantry Division of Philippine Army is being used by the administration to reinforce brutality according to Karapatan.
“State Forces are the ones harassing and silencing the members of the progressive organizations who criticize, denouncing and exposing human rights abuses committed by the military,” Karapatan spokesperson Rev. Pastor Dan San Andres said.
The protest continued in Sorsogon parading 15 paper-made black coffins from Provincial Capitol to PNP camp along Magsaysay Street.
Coffins represented the 15 victims of extra-judicial killings in Sorsogon alone under Aquino regime.
Maximizing the units of AFP and PNP, protestors believe 9th ID continues to operate their active death squad to divert extra-judicial killings off their hands.
The indignation rally in Sorsogon was held while state forces were conducting case conference on Escanilla’s death. Coffins were left in front of the camp gate.
Protesters in Sorsogon, in indignation rally over the killing of human rights journalist Teodoro “Todoy” Escanilla, pile up mock coffins of victims of extra-judicial killings infront of police provincial headquarters to dramatize police failure in solving the killings and arrest of the killers.The protesters lambast at the Aquino administration for the worsening poverty and economic woes in the country. BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
Slain Sorsogon human rights spokesperson Karapatan-Bikol said 31st Infantry Battalion (IB), under the arm of 9th ID, is responsible for the killing of its Sorsogon Spokesperson Tay Tudoy last week.
Escanilla had been warned before that he was in the “hit list” of the state military due to his expose’ of human rights abuses inflicted on civilians in a radio program “Pamana ng Lahi” at radio DZMS for 10 years.
However, Ka Todoy continued his advocacy in human rights.
Six men silenced the victim.
Ka Tudoy sustained gunshot wounds all over his body on Wednesday midnight of August 19 at past 11pm in his unfinished wooden house in Brgy. Tagdon, Barcelona, Sorsogon. was brought to Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services (SORDOC) for medical treatment but eventually died while being treated.
Recovered at the crime scene were five cartridge cases for M 16 rifle and three fired cartridges cases from Cal. 45 pistol.
According to Eden Escanilla, wife of Ka Tudoy, she went outside their house and talked to men wearing black sweater with black cloth covering their face. She asked the man who introduced himself as Alex about their purpose.
“I asked again [their purpose and] who are they looking for and he [Alex] said its for lot purposes,” Eden said in a statement. “Suddenly a man came in our backyard with long gun”. The gun which was a M 16 rifle started to release its bullets while her husband was looking by the window.
Their neighbor saw two men running towards Brgy. Luneta while 4 men run towards different direction.
On the day of the incident, residents in the area saw three motorcycles and a tricycle parked in front of the house of Ka Tudoy’s relative in Brgy. Luneta.
Since April of 2012 elements of the 31st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) had been harassing and threatening Tay Tudoy according to Rev. Pastor Dan San Andres.
The Peace and Development Team (PDT) of the 31st IBPA arrived in their barangay in October 2014 according to data gathered by Karapatan.
The said PDT engaged in population survey and interrogation of select residents whom they suspected of either being members, supporters or sympathizers of the New People’s Army (NPA).
In November 2014, a civilian who was tortured by the same military unit said that he was asked during the course of interrogation if he knew Tudoy, to which he answered, yes, and so he was offered a gun and P50,000 to kill Tudoy but declined the offer.
“PDT of 31st IBPA based in Rangas, Juban, Sorsogon has the only motive and orientation of Oplan Bayanihan to execute the killing of Ka Tudoy,” Karapatan Sorsogon said.
The brutal Oplan Bayanihan of the 9th ID must put to an end according to San Andres.
“It’s time to end the brutality and abuses against the people, long live the progressive leaders of the region,” San Andres concluded.
BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
Protesters in Sorsogon, in indignation rally over the killing of human rights journalist Teodoro “Todoy” Escanilla, pile up mock coffins of victims of extra-judicial killings infront of police provincial headquarters to dramatize police failure in solving the killings and arrest of the killers. The protesters lambast at the Aquino administration for the worsening poverty and economic woes in the country. BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
Protesters in Sorsogon, in indignation rally over the killing of human rights journalist Teodoro “Todoy” Escanilla, pile up mock coffins of victims of extra-judicial killings infront of police provincial headquarters to dramatize police failure in solving the killings and arrest of the killers.The protesters lambast at the Aquino administration for the worsening poverty and economic woes in the country. BICOLTODAY.COM PHOTO
http://bicoltoday.com/2015/08/25/bicol-wide-protests-held-to-condemn-killing-of-human-rights-advocate-and-other-extra-judicial-killings-under-oplan-bayanihan/
More Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) anti-government/military human rights propaganda. KARAPATAN, the main CPP-associated human rights front group, is in the vanguard of this protest activity. There is little credible evidence other than the skewed interpretation of events offered by KARAPATAN and its CPP mass base supporters, of any military involvement in the death of the group's Sorsogon spokesperson Tay Tudoy.
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