Bayan Muna slams killing of Samar leader

From the Business Mirror (Apr 30): Bayan Muna slams killing of Samar leader

BAYAN Muna party-list group on Saturday denounced the killing of Emil Go, its Northern Samar lead convenor, by unidentified assailants in Palapag town on Friday.

Party-list Reps. Neri J. Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna said in a statement that they condemned Go’s killing “in the strongest possible term.”

Go was shot just 10 days before the May 9 national elections, reports from a local human-rights organization said.

The victim was the lead convenor of Bayan Muna when it was established in Northern Samar in 2001 and became a leader of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) from 2001 to 2004.

He was also the convenor of the human-rights watchdog Katungod in 1999.

Go is a known supporter of the senatorial bid of Colmenares.

“The Aquino administration is now drawing to a close, yet, there is no let up still in the brutalities against the people and progressive members of our society. We condemn in the strongest terms the killing of Emil Go, and demand prompt justice for his senseless slaying,” Colmenares added.

“President Aquino’s daang matuwid is now further heavily drenched by the blood of the innocents—from the massacre of farmers in Kidapawan just earlier this month to the slaying of Emil Go,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zarate noted that the killing could be election-related.

“A bloodless election has yet to happen in Philippine history. Gold, guns and goons have always been in the arsenal of the traditional politicians. It is truly unfortunate and disgraceful that Emil’s life—spent as a long-time activist and human-rights defender—is senselessly snuffed just because of election ambitions and interests,” Zarate said.

“The people has had enough of daang matuwid, and it should end with Aquino’s term. The people should reject this corrupt, brutal, and human-rights violating administration of Aquino, including his putative successor and his minions,” Zarate concluded.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/bayan-muna-slams-killing-of-samar-leader-2/