Desperate for peace
due to unresolved killings
Samar capital conducts
walk for peace and justice prayer rally
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
February 18, 2007
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Desperate for peace due to unresolved killings in this
Samar capital, a church-led walk for peace and prayer rally was
held in Catbalogan town on
February 16, 2007.
The Religious of the
Virgin Mary (RVM) congregation sisters, priests, students of RVM
school St. Mary’s College (SMC), Samar national school students, kins
of the victims of killings paraded around town praying the Holy
Rosary. The activity ended in a mass at the Pieta Park fronting the
San Bartholomew Catholic Church.
Families of the
victims particularly parents of Janine Paulin Ong (the girl burnt
along with the Lester Lace Grocery), Daram Mayor Benito Astorga’s
widow Dr. Lucia Astorga and sister Severa Astorga-Buquid, along with
other peace advocates could have numbered to thousands.
Organizers said that
the prayer rally was not for any particular victim but for general
peace in the Samar capital.
It can be recalled
that Catbalogan has been plagued by unresolved killings these past few
months; the most recent of which was the ambush of Motiong Vice Mayor
Francisco Langi, Sr. Said official however survived the attack.
With the increasing
incidence of killings and alleged human rights violations, however,
not one accused perpetrator has been brought to court, organizers
stressed.
On January 16, this
year, ANAD coordinator Agoy Daclitan was killed. Then a Jiabong
Barangay official Vedasto Gabiana was also shot to death January 25.
Barely a few days after, Daram Mayor Benito Astorga was killed in Brgy.
Birawan, Daram as he socialized with his people. Two other victims,
Doming de Luna and another driver of DBP were also liquidated in the
same fashion-motorcycle riding men, spotting the victim, shooting
fatally and fleeing unnoticed.
On February 5, one
Sixto Elizan, an Urban Poor leader was also killed. Though authorities
have collared suspects and suspects land dispute as motive, still the
masses believe Elizan joined the ranks of the other victims.
On the national scene,
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Special rapporteur on
extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary execution, Philip Alston has
reached the Philippines for probe of the killings.
The Administration
welcomes the UN team in the spirit of truth and justice. President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, since the start, has condemned the killings
and has taken every means possible to get the roots of these dastardly
acts and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Government efforts in
this direction were hampered by the lack of witnesses and the
cooperation of the victims’ families as well as militant groups.
With the UN somewhat
assured of such cooperation, the Administration is confident that the
probe will be objective as well as wide ranging to include the alleged
acts of murder and terror committed by the revolutionary left against
their own kind.