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T a b a
n g P a l o !
November 25, 2005 Just a day after the Christian community celebrated the feast of the Christ the King, we were all shocked with the news of a massacre of helpless peasant farmers in Brgy. (village) San Agustin, Palo, Leyte. The horrible incident happened just a few minutes before they were to begin their "balik-uma (literally means returning to till)" of a land granted to them by the Department of the Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 1996 by the issuance of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards. From accounts of the survivors and witnesses, it was past five in the morning (5am) when some were still sound asleep and others were busy preparing for their breakfast when without warning, they were sprayed first by M-16 armalite rifles followed by 6-9 explosions coming from M203 grenade launchers from elements of the 19th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IB PA) under the command of a certain Lt. Benedicto. The strafing and bombing continued despite the shouts of the peasants that "mag-uuma la kami (we are just farmers)" and "tama na (enough, please)" and even after Brgy. Captain Renato Dizon approached the soldiers and begged that they stopped shooting – instead he was rebuked and ordered to leave the place. When the smoke cleared on the kamalig (makeshift hut) where the peasants were gathered, after the rain of bullets fired from the soldiers, 11 were left wounded and brought to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVRMC), 8 were beaten before they were taken to the Philippine National Police Station (PNP) of Palo and detained, and 5 died there on the rice plains. Later, two (2) wounded women died while being treated at the hospital identified as Alma Bartoline who was 7 months old pregnant and elderly Eufemia Burra, 51. Among the wounded in the hospital, three (3) are in critical condition and need major surgery, with one of the survivors needing a minimum of Php 80,000 to cover operation costs. The names of the wounded and receiving medical attention at the EVRMC are the following: 1. Ramy Cumpio, 36, male, organizer of Bayan Muna party list. 2. Mark Bonsa, 23, male 3. Ferdinand Montanejos, male 4. Bernabe Burra Sr., 20, male (sustained hack wounds). 5. Ranilo Orseda, 42, male 6. Berlito Burra y Barbosa, male. 7. Ismael Regato, 22, male 8. Cora Bernabe, 52, female 9. Richard Cornesta y Margallo, 30, male, chairman of SAFaBenCo. 10. Christopher Bayase, male 11. Ariel Timbo Capatoy, male
Below are the names of those who perished: 1. Bernabe Burra Jr y Barbosa – male, resident of Brgy. Teraza, Palo, Leyte , died on the spot (son of fatality Eufemia Burra and wounded Bernabe Burra Sr.) 2. Eric Nogal y Selada – male, died on the spot. 3. Roel Obejas y Lacaba – male, died on the spot. 4. Richard Tante, male, member of ASFA, resident of San Antonio, Alang-alang, died on the spot 5. Gerry Almerino – male, member of Bayan Muna, resident of Brgy Capirawan, Palo, Leyte , died on the spot. 6. Eufemia Burra y Barbosa, 51, female, resident of Brgy. San Agustin, Palo – was admitted to the EVRMC but was declared dead on arrival. 7. Alma Bartoline – 30+; female; seven months pregnant; member of Bayan Muna; resident of Barangay Capirawan, Palo, Leyte was admitted at the St. Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City but was declared dead-on-arrival.
OUR APPEAL We are appealing for your support in whatever way you can to condemn this dastardly act against these peasant farmers and bring justice to the lives taken and the families left behind. In particular we are faced with the urgent need to extend assistance to the family of those who have died, those who are in the hospital and the survivors who are still in shock of the incident and whose lives are still in danger. To that effect, we are knocking at your generous heart to extend to us any of the following: 1. Financial and material assistance that will be given to the family of the ones who died, those in the hospital and other survivors of the massacre. It will also be used in the preparation of documents and filing of appropriate charges to the soldiers-perpetrators. 2. In relation to the filing of charges, we have witnesses who are willing to testify in court but whose lives are in danger. As such, we would appreciate if you could provide sanctuary to these witness(es) and other survivors for a certain period of time. Together, let us help re-claim the shattered hopes and dreams of the peasants for ownership of land they can till and also find justice amidst these grave and disheartening times. For the Tabang Palo secretariat,
JOHANN HEIN B. ARPON
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