PNP forms task force to probe latest slay of activist

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a task force to investigate the killing of a Bayan Muna member in Calamba City in Laguna late last Saturday.

PNP "Task Force Usig" acting director Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Carta said a task force has been created to investigate the murder of Noli Capulong, a regional deputy coordinator for environmental action of party-list organization Bayan Muna.

Capulong was driving his owner jeep when he was shot by two motorcycle riding gunmen last Saturday in Barangay Parian in Calamba.

The Calabarzon police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have offered a reward of P50,000 for information that can lead to the arrest of Capulong’s assailants.

The killing of Capulong, who also wrote a column for the local tabloid Bida, brought to 95 the number of Bayan Muna members killed since 2001.

Carta expressed optimism on a speedy solution of the case as Capulong’s relatives led by his brother Nomer, a retired Army officer, vowed to cooperate with investigators.

"In fact our regional officers led by Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble were at Capulong’s wake on Saturday night and talked to the victim’s relatives. They provided several leads, which are now being pursued by our operatives," Carta said.

Noble assigned Calamba police chief Superintendent Reynaldo Bustos to lead an independent task force to investigate the killing.

Capulong’s murder followed the slaying of Bayan Muna member Manuel Nardo last May 13 in Barangay Quebiawan, San Fernando City in Pampanga.

Jose Doton, Bayan Muna-Pangasinan chapter secretary general was also killed while his brother survived the ambush, two days after Nardo was killed.

Activist organizations claimed that since President Arroyo assumed power in 2001, a total of 601 activists have been killed. At least 68 of those slain are women.

Since January this year, activists have recorded 46 political killings in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, the Bicol Region and Southern Mindanao.

The spate of killings of leftist leaders prompted the government to form Task Force Usig with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno leading the investigating body.

Authorities claimed the recent killings of leftist leaders formed a pattern similar to the bloody internal purges of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the 1980s.

The purges resulted in the torture and deaths of thousands of rebels, including women and children who were relatives of suspected deep penetration agents.

The NPA rejected government allegations that they were behind a string of killings of leftist activists, insisting that military-backed death squads were to blame.

Amnesty International also scored the rising number of leftist murders in the country.