ANAK NG Bayan Youth Party recently led a protest rally in front of
Camp Aguinaldo to codemn the merciless killings of innocent and progressive
youth leaders in Maco, Campostela Valley.
Last month, four youth leaders of Maco were abducted allegedly by
the military intelligence group in the province while on the way home
from Tagum City. They were Marjorie Reynoso, Jonathan Bernaro, Ramon
Regase and Lito Doydoy. The decaying bodies of the four were only
found yesterday morning
Reynoso is the current Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson of Maco and
Provincial Treasurer of Anak ng Bayan in the province. Bernaro is
SK Councilor and Municipal Coordinator of Anak ng Bayan. Doydoy is
an Anakbayan community coordinator.
The mother of Marjorie received a phone call last weekend from the
military intelligence group claiming they have custody of her daughter.
The military meanwhile tagged the Alsa Maco, an anti-communist vigilante
group operating in the area as the main suspect.
Anak ng Bayan President Apo Alvarez blamed the military and the Arroyo
government for being responsible in the killing of youth leaders because
of their overblown "war on terror" which legitimizes the militarization
in the provinces and the harassment of progressive individuals and
groups.
Alvarez said the murder of the four young heroes is a gloomy reminder
that "thirty-one years after martial law was declared, the specter
of state terrorism has yet to be vanquished. This is a painful revelation
that we are not living under a democratic government in spite of all
pretences by the government that it upholds democracy."
"How can the government claim the support of the youth when it cannot
protect its own elected barangay youth leaders? This is driving the
youth away from parliamentary politics towards extra-constitutional
means."
Alvarez calls for the resignation of top military officials in the
region because of the abominable killings. He also insisted for the
resignation of Maco Mayor because of his reported complicity with
the Alsa Maco group. Alvarez wanted all of them investigated for their
role in the crime. Anak ng Bayan will lead a fact-finding mission
in the area to get more details about the crime.
