Militant groups rally vs. political repression
Member organizations of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Panay, in coordination with Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, and Kabataan Partylist organizations, will commemorate the International Labor Day with protest against political repression.
Aurelio "Boy" Bosque, Bayan Panay spokesperson, said the protest caravan and march rally will mainly focus on the condemnation of political repression being employed against those who are critical against the Arroyo government.
"We strongly condemn the recent forcible abduction of Ma. Luisa Dominado and Nilo Arado whose whereabouts could not be ascertained until now. It has been almost twenty days since the two disappeared, and their companion Jose Ely Garachico was shot in the neck but survived. We cannot just let these things happen without holding the Arroyo government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines through its Military Intelligence Batallion accountable to this criminal act," said Bosque.
Dominado is the spokesperson of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Para sa Tunay na Amnestiya (Selda)-Panay while Arado is the chairperson of Bayan-Panay as well as the 7th nominee of Anakpawis Partylist at the national level. Garachico, on the other hand, is the public information officer of Karapatan-Panay, a human rights group. The incident happened at Brgy. Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo at around 9:30 in the evening, April 12.
Bayan-Panay, together with the Save Ma. Luisa Dominado and Nilo Arado Movement, will lead a caravan at around 1:00 pm from two assembly points, Jaro Plaza and Molo Plaza, to converge at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds. A march along the main streets of Iloilo City will follow and a rally will cap the afternoon's activity.
Around 5,000 individuals are expected to join this Labor Day commemoration. There will also be simultaneous mobilizations led by Bayan Provincial Chapters at Kalibo, Aklan and Roxas City in Capiz.
"This will be an island-wide effort in condemning the attack against political activists. We also hope to deliver a strong call to locate and surface Luisa and Nilo from their abductors and be re-united with their families. We sincerely ask the people to help us in this effort," said Bosque.
Bayan also stressed in its statement that the desperate effort of the present government through its OPLAN Bantay Laya II scheme to quell the people's discontentment is not enough to intimidate and terrorize those who aspire in building a just and humane society.