Peasant Leader Killied in Davao Del Sur

It’s another casualty of war . Some elements of the security forces were allegedly responsible for extra judicial killings, disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrest and detention. The Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Hermogenes Esperon insists that the murder of political activists is mere communist propaganda, if not self-inflicted. UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Philip Alston and Melo Commission Report blamed the military for political killings. The Arroyo government is in a state of total denial.

Militant shot dead in Davao del Sur
Victim a party-list group coordinator

A PEASANT leader and provincial coordinator of the party-list group Anakpawis was shot dead yesterday morning in Davao del Sur by two motorcycle-riding masked men.
Victim Renato Pacaide, 45, was secretary general of the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Davao del Sur, a provincial chapter of the militant farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).
Wilfredo Marbella, KMP internal deputy secretary general, said Pacaide was shot four times with a .45 caliber pistol at around 10:45 a.m. at Rizal avenue and Lim street in Digos City.
Marbella said Pacaide died at the Davao del Sur provincial hospital.
Camp Crame reports said Pacaide was with his daughter Michelle when attacked.
Investigators recovered three shells and a round of ammunition, two slugs and a wristwatch.
The killers escaped on their black Yamaha DT motorcycle.
The human rights group Karapatan listed Pacaide as the 835th victim of extra-judicial killings since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001.
The 834th victim was student leader Farly Alcanta, who was killed last February 15 in Camarines Norte. Malaya 03/03/2007