Militants stage mock burial of slain Bayan Muna leader

Members of militant groups yesterday held here a mock burial simultaneous with the burial of Bayan Muna Bohol chapter chairman Victor Olayvar who was slain by alleged military hitman in Danao, Bohol early morning of September 7.

Members of Bayan and its allied organizations held their "burial procession" from the Fuente-Osmeña oval to Camp Sergio Osmeña (Police Regional Office-7) to show to police that they are not satisfied with the way the police is handling the investigation.

They brought a mock coffin representing Olayvar and the other members of the progressive groups who fell victims to extra-judicial killings.

This as Olayvar's immediate family and relatives, colleagues in the progressive movement and friends from different government agencies and local government units held protest march during his burial in Panglao, Bohol yesterday.

Under the scorching heat of the sun, Bayan members and their supporters held picket outside the regional police office where they burned the symbol of the all-out war policy of the provincial government. They also lambasted President Arroyo and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for their all-out-war policy that allegedly inspired the political killings.

On the other hand, relatives of Sharon Abangan and Gerard Lavadia, suspected rebels who were arrested in Talisay City for alleged extortion and collecting of revolutionary taxes, yesterday filed for moral damages against Garcia and officials of the police and military for allegedly maligning the moral ascendancy of the two.

Relatives of the two asked for P1 as moral damages. The case was filed before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.

Dennis Abarrientos, Karapatan-Central Visayas secretary general who assisted Abangan and Lavadia's relatives in filing the case said they asked for P1 to show that they are not after the money as alleged they were extorting money, the reason why they were arrested. - Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV