Kin of ‘communist purge’ victims still crying for justice
By Joey A. Gabieta
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 22:48:00 08/28/2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—The relatives and friends of alleged victims of mass purging allegedly committed by the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army are not giving up hope on attaining justice for the victims.
During the commemoration of the second year of the discovery of a mass grave in 2006, a relative speaking on behalf of the others, said their hopes were buoyed by the fact that the victims’ remains were found after many years of search by their kin.
Cresencia Estelloro, 50, said she felt relief upon finding the remains of her father and two brothers, but she insisted that justice be meted on those who committed the "evil deeds."
"I am seeking justice for the death of my father and two younger brothers. I want that those responsible be locked in jail, at least. This way, I can say that we have justice at last," Estelloro, speaking in the vernacular, said on Thursday.
She was among the close to a hundred individuals who trooped to the public cemetery of the City of Baybay, where the remains of those discovered in Mt. Sapang Daku, Inopacan, Leyte, were buried. The members of the 46th Infantry Battalion, based in Sogod, Southern Leyte, discovered the mass grave on August 28, 2006.
Estelloro lost her father Roman Dedace and brothers Raymundo and Wenceslao 24 years ago when alleged rebels took 30 men and women who, they believed, were government informants, from Cabunga-an, BayBay City.
Estelloro said that her father and two brothers were among those killed and buried in the mass grave.
Among those present during the short commemoration were Brigadier General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division and Baybay Mayor Michael Cari.
Tabaquero said that he found it fitting to commemorate the discovery of the mass grave "if only to remind our people of the atrocities committed by the communists against the civilians."
"We also hope that this will serve as a deterrent to our (civilians) not to join to their movement," he added.
The government has used the mass grave as evidence in filing a multiple murder against Communist Party of the Philippines leaders, including Jose Maria Sison, founding leader of the movement and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo.
One of the accused, Randall Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines), was arrested and detained at the Leyte provincial jail but was transferred to Camp Crame on July 29.
Both Ocampo and Echanis, among others, have denied any involvement in the alleged purging that took place between 1984 and 1987.
|
