SLAIN FARMER LEADER. The police in Caraga region vows justice for Nora Apique, 66, a farmer leader, who was allegedly killed by members of the New People’s Army on in Barangay Patong, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on March 31, 2020. The killing was condemned by top military officials, line agencies, and the local government. (Photo courtesy of Datu Rico Maca)
The Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 (Caraga) on Wednesday vowed to conduct a thorough investigation to bring to justice those responsible for the killing of a farmer leader in San Miguel town, Surigao del Sur.
PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. said Nora Apique, 66, leader of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ng Surigao del Sur (KAMASS), an affiliate organization of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was reportedly gunned down by members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Patong on the evening of March 31.
Esquivel condemned the killing, noting that the NPA in Surigao del Sur has already killed three innocent civilians since the ceasefire was declared.
The NPA has admitted the killing of Datu Bernandino Astudillo and Zaldy Ibanez in Sitio Idanan, Barangay Magroyong, also in San Miguel, last March 19.
“The government’s security forces and the Caraganons slammed this atrocity, which claimed the life of a farmer-leader. Despite the pandemic we are facing nowadays, the enemies of the state continue to commit crimes and instill fear to our people,” Esquivel said.
The killing of the three civilians in Surigao del Sur is "unacceptable, considering that both sides, the government and the NPA, had declared ceasefires," he added.
Esquivel also labeled the NPA as "terrorists as they continue to violate the ceasefire and kill innocent civilians who refuse to follow their orders."
“We will give our best shot to give justice for the victim and her bereaved family,” he said.
In an interview on Wednesday, Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel and chairman of the Peace and Order Committee of the Sangguniang Bayan, said Apique had been supportive of the programs and services of the local government.
“Though she belonged to an organization that has known links to the communist movement, in the past two years, Apique had been helping the local government in facilitating programs and projects to farmers in barangays,” Maca told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
He said in recent years, Apique had stopped supporting the mass actions and other activities of left-leaning groups linked to the communist rebel movement.
Maca’s observation was shared by Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) director, Col. James Goforth.
“As per our investigation, Apique was already on a lie-low status and no longer active with the activities of the group KAMASS,” Goforth told PNA.
He said the SDSPPO and the San Miguel police had been instructed to investigate the killing.
Condemned
San Miguel Mayor Hazel H. Elizalde also condemned the killing of Apique, promising the local government's support for the latter’s family.
Director Leomides R. Villareal of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 13 also condemned the killing of the farmer leader and called on authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
“Ms. Apique is an active chairperson of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council in Barangay Patong, San Miguel and a member of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council Committee in the province of Surigao del Sur,” Villareal told PNA on Thursday.
He added that Apique had contributed to the accomplishments of the DAR in Surigao del Sur in the past two years by helping facilitate the implementation of the support services of the agency to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
Col. Allan D. Hambala, commander of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade, also criticized the NPA for playing “the blame game” in the killing of Apique.
“They kill innocent civilians, then blame it to the military and other law enforcement units to discredit the government. They are the masters of deceit,” Hambala said.
Brig. Gen. Maurito Licudine, commander of the Army's 402nd Brigade, said Apique had been supportive of the development efforts of the local governments and line agencies.
“I strongly condemn the killing of Lola Nora, a KMP lie-low who went back (in)to the fold of the government. She was already doing government work and I believe it’s the reason why the NPA wanted her killed,” Licudine said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098583
PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr. said Nora Apique, 66, leader of the Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uuma ng Surigao del Sur (KAMASS), an affiliate organization of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), was reportedly gunned down by members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Patong on the evening of March 31.
Esquivel condemned the killing, noting that the NPA in Surigao del Sur has already killed three innocent civilians since the ceasefire was declared.
The NPA has admitted the killing of Datu Bernandino Astudillo and Zaldy Ibanez in Sitio Idanan, Barangay Magroyong, also in San Miguel, last March 19.
“The government’s security forces and the Caraganons slammed this atrocity, which claimed the life of a farmer-leader. Despite the pandemic we are facing nowadays, the enemies of the state continue to commit crimes and instill fear to our people,” Esquivel said.
The killing of the three civilians in Surigao del Sur is "unacceptable, considering that both sides, the government and the NPA, had declared ceasefires," he added.
Esquivel also labeled the NPA as "terrorists as they continue to violate the ceasefire and kill innocent civilians who refuse to follow their orders."
“We will give our best shot to give justice for the victim and her bereaved family,” he said.
In an interview on Wednesday, Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Miguel and chairman of the Peace and Order Committee of the Sangguniang Bayan, said Apique had been supportive of the programs and services of the local government.
“Though she belonged to an organization that has known links to the communist movement, in the past two years, Apique had been helping the local government in facilitating programs and projects to farmers in barangays,” Maca told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
He said in recent years, Apique had stopped supporting the mass actions and other activities of left-leaning groups linked to the communist rebel movement.
Maca’s observation was shared by Surigao del Sur Provincial Police Office (SDSPPO) director, Col. James Goforth.
“As per our investigation, Apique was already on a lie-low status and no longer active with the activities of the group KAMASS,” Goforth told PNA.
He said the SDSPPO and the San Miguel police had been instructed to investigate the killing.
Condemned
San Miguel Mayor Hazel H. Elizalde also condemned the killing of Apique, promising the local government's support for the latter’s family.
Director Leomides R. Villareal of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 13 also condemned the killing of the farmer leader and called on authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
“Ms. Apique is an active chairperson of the Barangay Agrarian Reform Council in Barangay Patong, San Miguel and a member of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council Committee in the province of Surigao del Sur,” Villareal told PNA on Thursday.
He added that Apique had contributed to the accomplishments of the DAR in Surigao del Sur in the past two years by helping facilitate the implementation of the support services of the agency to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.
Col. Allan D. Hambala, commander of the Army's 401st Infantry Brigade, also criticized the NPA for playing “the blame game” in the killing of Apique.
“They kill innocent civilians, then blame it to the military and other law enforcement units to discredit the government. They are the masters of deceit,” Hambala said.
Brig. Gen. Maurito Licudine, commander of the Army's 402nd Brigade, said Apique had been supportive of the development efforts of the local governments and line agencies.
“I strongly condemn the killing of Lola Nora, a KMP lie-low who went back (in)to the fold of the government. She was already doing government work and I believe it’s the reason why the NPA wanted her killed,” Licudine said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098583
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.