On the death of a peace advocate; on the fight against terror

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 19, 2007

The heinous killing of a noted anti-Communist leader in Catbalogan by two young assassins allegedly members of the Sparrow Unit of the CPP-NPA operating in the area, is a wake up call for the immediate passage of the anti-terror bill which have been for quite sometime, pending in Congress.

While the government operatives, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, continues in its relentless pursuit on the agents of terror, the passage of the Anti-terror Bill will complement the government’s anti-terrorism campaign.

The victim, whose only sin is his being an advocate of peace and anti-terror, is Augusto S. Daclitan, 55 years old and a resident of Barangay Canlapwas in Catbalogan, Samar. He is the Regional Coordinator in Region 8 and Operations Officer of the anti-Communist group Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) that is instrumental in assisting the government in its anti-insurgency campaign.

Daclitan, just recently, with the help of the local police, successfully convinced the leaders of the more than 10 youth gangs who have been sowing violence at the capital town and united them into a single youth group that is now called the United Youth of Catbalogan.

The relentless pursuit of the military on the agents of terror, is producing positive results. While these inspire the Government to have greater resolve in move forward in strengthening domestic, regional and global security, these cause despair on the part of the terror groups.

The treacherous assassination of Agoy Daclitan is a proof on how desperate the communist terror groups are in the Region. Allegedly, someone called him up by phone and made an appointment to meet with him for some official business at the Capitol Park before 7:00 o’clock of January 17.

When he arrived at the Park, however, one of the assassins shot him in the head. When he fell, the other one fired at him on the back. This manner of killing the anit-communist leader, which was done in a crowded park, was a typical example of the insurgents’ strategy to sow public fear and use it as a propaganda tool, the local police said.

The Government is determined to finish the job of cracking down until all the terrorists and their clandestine cells are accounted for, with a hand of steel in order to usher in a genuine and durable peace and economic development.

Congress will immediately pass the anti-terror bill and give more teeth in the Government’s crusade against anti terrorism. All the sectors of the community must join hands in not allowing the communist terrorist from sowing fear and terror in their respective communities.