DAGUPAN CITY – The fact- finding mission formed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) to probe the gunslaying of its secretary-general in Pangasinan on May 16 showed that the assassination was part of widespread political killings being perpetrated in the country.

      Jose Doton, 62, of San Nicolas town who was Bayan’s secretary-general in the province, was laid to rest after a necrological service was held by the farmers’ federation.

Fr. Tery Revollido of the Aglipayan Church and chairman of Bayan in Pangasinan told reporters here that while the fact-finding mission has not established anything substantial, it had determined the “basic facts” about Doton’s death.

He echoed the claim of the Commission on Human Rights that it was part of a grand plan to carry out massive political killings, “that there’s really a trend of killing progressive leaders in different parts of the country”.

Revollido said Doton headed one of the organized peasant groups in eastern Pangasinan.

He said one of the plausible angles being looked into is not only local politics “but a widespread harassment and threatening of progressive groups and legitimate fighters of people’s cause”.

With his death and the killing also of Bayan’s vice chairman in Pangasinan last March, Revollido said there is a need to reorganize and strengthen their group.

He said his members continue to be harassed by the presence of strangers in their communities monitoring their movements. He called on to the police to be true to their sworn task of protecting the rights and lives of the people.

Meanwhile, Task Force Doton formed by the provincial police office said in its May 24 second progress report that the victim’s brother Cancio Doton who was also wounded but survived the ambush on May 16, executed a sworn statement pointing to local politics as the motive behind the killing of his elder brother.

“Although the motive of the killing is focused on political angle, probers of  the Task Force are also eyeing possible angle of liquidation from the leftist  group after Doton manifested to mellow down with the group,” said  Superintendent Noli Taliño, designated commander of Task  Force Doton, in his  report.

The late Doton organized and led the 1,376 members of San Nicolas Gold Panners Federation that   opposed the operation of the San Roque Multi-purpose Project in San Manuel, Pangasinan. — EVA

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments