Militant groups today marched to the Mendiola Bridgeto demand justice for Fernando Baldomero, the first activist killed under the new Aquino administration. Baldomero, a Bayan Muna provincial coordinator of Aklan, was shot yesterday by motorcycle-riding men at his home. Groups suspect that his death was because of his affiliation with the Left.
“Today we march for justice. Fernando Baldomero should be the first and last activist to be killed under the Aquino regime. Not one more activist killing. That is our challenge to the new President. The killings must stop. He must send a strong message to his troops that the killings are unacceptable,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
“The reason why the climate of impunity remains is because no one has been made accountable for the hundreds of killings that have taken place in the past years. The failure of Arroyo to protect human rights will be a failure of Aquino too if he does not act swiftly to stop the killings,” Reyes said.
Bayan has blamed Arroyo for the spate of killings in the pas t years. The government’s counter-insurgency program has targeted unarmed activists. In her 2006 State of the Nation Address, Arroyo even publicly praised notorious human rights violator Gen. Jovito Palparan.
“Aquino must bare his plan to end the killings. His vow to pursue true and complete justice for all would be empty rhetoric if the killings continue with impunity,” Reyes said.
The militant group said that AFP’s adherence to human rights should be prioritized by Aquino instead of increasing the size of the armed forces.
“It doesn’t make sense to increase the size of the military when there are so many abuses being committed by state security forces. The government will merely be increasing the number of oppressors of the people,” Reyes said.
Bayan challenged the commander-in-chief Aquino to order the relief of military commanders in areas where the killings of activists take place. It also called for speedy the prosecution of military officials involved in human right cases.
