Long live the legacy of Atty. Felidito Dacut!

A Press Statement by KATUNGOD-SB-KARAPATAN on the death anniversary of Atty. Dacut
March 14, 2007

It was March 14, 2005 when human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna Regional Coordinator Atty. Felidito Dacut was treacherously shot on his back hitting him on the heart that leads to his instantaneous death. His death came at a time when then Gen. Jovito Palparan was head of the 8th Infantry Division and was leading the onslaught against vocal critics of military abuses. Now, its been two-years but justice has not yet been served.

We, in the Regional Human Rights Alliance, give our highest salutation to Atty. Dacut for being in the forefront of the struggle for human rights, for the defense of the farmers who are fighting for the lands they till; for the workers who are fighting for their rightful wages and humane conditions of work; and for the victims of human rights violations.

It is in line with his noble service to the people that he was killed by agents of the State who wanted to silence the struggle of the oppressed for genuine freedom and human rights.

Instead of conducting investigation for the resolution of the case, the State even afforded to taint the good reputation of Atty. Dacut by maliciously attributing his death to the NPA because of an alleged financial opportunism and alleged selling off a labor case. However, these claims have been proved to be fabricated by the investigations made by the Commission on Human Rights.

His death, including the death of other leaders of progressive and militant organizations, is part of the campaign of the Government to silence the struggle of the people, to eradicate those who are vocal critics of the oppressive system of the government. This grand plan was dubbed as Oplan Bantay Laya, the government’s operation plan to eradicate the so-called “legal fronts” of the CPP/NPA. Legal fronts for them includes those legal organizations who are criticizing the government.