Burial of slain leftist leader turns into rally

09 January 2007

LEGAZPI CITY—YESTERDAY’S BURIAL OF THE Bayan Muna provincial coordinator in Albay who was shot dead on Dec. 31 was also a major protest rally by militant groups, which demanded that the military answer for the killing.

“Dugong inutang ng militar singilin, singilin! Pagbayarin ng dugo!” yelled at least a thousand protesters wearing white Bayan Muna T-shirts while the remains of Rodolfo “Ompong” Alvarado was being carried from the church to the Ligao City Catholic Cemetery.

Alvarado, 53, was shot dead inside his car while on his way home in Barangay San Lorenzo in Ligao City.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo said the killing of Alvarado was, in a sense, an election-related violence.

“National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales repeatedly declared that they want Bayan Muna to be disqualified in the elections but since they do not have any basis to file a petition for its disqualification, they resort to physical elimination and terrorism,” Ocampo said.

He said the spate of political killings had a very clear pattern, indicating that it was well organized, well-funded, and that they had become part of a systematic policy of exterminating the basic leadership structure of Bayan Muna and other militant organizations.

Earlier, Senior Supt. Roque Ramirez, Albay police director, said a witness in the killing of Alvarado was now in police custody and that a police task force was created to investigate.

Ocampo said Bayan Muna does not believe the Melo Commission would be impartial in its investigation of the killings of leftists.

“What’s happening is, we don’t see the commission unearth evidence pointing to the government as the one responsible for the killings,” Ocampo said.

Alvarado’s eldest son Carlo, in his speech after the Mass, described his father as a very supportive man.

He asked Alvarado’s supporters not to grieve over his father’s death.

“Let’s work for peace,” he said, crying.

He added that his father had every option to hide or run away but simply told him, “How could I serve the people if I run away and not fight? The people need a voice, I would give my life to them.” Ephraim Aguilar and Niño Jesus Orbeta, Inquirer Southern Luzon