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.