Seventy-eight solons filed last April 12 House Resolution 728 urging
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to take immediate steps to stop the
escalation of extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances, illegal
arrests and harassment committed against members of party-list groups Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, and their allied
organizations.
Led by Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, the 78 solons are: Reps. Teodoro
A. Casiño, Joel G. Virador, Rafael V. Mariano, Crispin B. Beltran,
Liza L. Maza, Emilio R. Espinosa Jr., Arthur D. Defensor, Abdulgani A.
Salapuddin, Del. de Guzman, Hussin U. Amin, Edcel. C. Lagman, Douglas
RA. Cagas, Teofisto L. Guingona III, Robert Ace S. Barbers, Florencio
G. Noel, Eulogio R. Magsaysay, Claude P. Bautista, Mujiv S. Hataman,
Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Rene M. Velarde, Leonila V. Chavez, Guillerma
P. Cua, Roseller R. Barinaga, Rodante D. Marcoleta, Claude P.
Bautista, and Benasing O. Macarambon, Jr;
Agapito A. Aquino, Antonino P.
Roman, Rolex T. Suplico, Ernie D. Clarete, Faysah RPM Dumarpa, Oscar
G. Malapitan, Luis R. Vilalfuerte, Herminio G. Teves, Antonio P.
Yapha, Jr., Rodolfo G. Plaza, Acmad M. Tomawis, Eduardo R. Gullas,
Eladio M. Jala, Roberto C. Cajes, Corazon N. Malanyaon, Joey D. Hizon,
Reynila G. Nicolas, Leovigildo B. Banaag, Mary Ann L. Susano, Milagros
H. Magsaysay, Solomon R. Chungalao, Victor S. Dominguez, Salacnib F.
Baterina, Renato B. Magtubo, Rodolfo W. Antonino, Cynthia A. Villar,
Ronaldo B. Zamora, Judy J. Syjuco, and Jose G. Solis;
Rodolfo G. Valencia,
Alfredo D. Maranon III, Tranquilino B. Carmona, Janette L. Garin,
Alfonso V. Umali, Pedro M. Pancho, Nanette Castello-Daza, Danilo P.
Lagbas, Marcelino C. Libanan, Nerisa Corazon Soon-Ruiz, Lorenzo R.
Tañada III, Hermilando I. Mandanas, Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Juan
Edgardo M. Angara, Alipio Cirilo V. Badelles, Carmen I. Cari, Sunny
Rose A. Madamba, Roger G. Mercado, Eduardo C. Firmalo, Florencio L.
Vargas, Gregorio T. Ipong, and Benjamin C. Agarao, Jr.
Since April 15, 2001, 50 leaders and members of Bayan Muna had
been killed, while 14 others who had been abducted remained missing.
Furthermore, 19 Anakpawis affiliates and four Gabriela members were
also murdered.
HR 728 cites that in the two months there has been a "resurgence of
extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances, illegal arrests and
harassment committed against leaders, organizers and members of
progressive parties and their allied organizations in the provinces of
Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Eastern Visayas".
The resolution states that "these incidents appear to form part of a
design to violently suppress and eliminate progressive party-list
groups that have succeeded in fielding representatives in Congress. It
adds that for the past four years, leaders, organizers and members of
Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela and their allied organizations have
become hapless targets of the spate of gruesome killings, abductions
and harassment in the major provinces of Luzon and, also, in areas in
Visayas and in Mindanao."
It also points out that "justice has not been meted out for the
victims of these series of assassinations in the past four years. Now
these organizations and sectors are once again facing a new wave of
crackdown, mercilessly shot like sitting ducks, reminiscent of the
massive human rights violations committed against the Filipino people
during the dark days of Martial Rule."
The resolution asserts that material and circumstantial evidence and
witness accounts made available and presented both to the local courts
and the political parties point to the elements of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) as the perpetrators
