Bayan Muna leader killed

Another official of the party-list Bayan Muna in Albay was gunned down at 5 p.m. the other day by motorcycle-riding suspects while driving his car in Ligao City, the police reported yesterday.

Chief Inspector Arnel Rabe, Ligao police chief, said the victim, Rodolfo "Bong" Alvarado, 43, was driving his car when two suspects on-board a motorcycle had overtaken the victim’s vehicle in Barangay Guilid, Ligao City and shot him several times in the head and body that resulted to his instantaneous death. Rabe said at least eight empty shells from caliber .45 revolvers were recovered at the crime scene.

Alvarado was the chairman of Bayan Muna in Albay.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known but colleagues said it could be linked to his work. More than 180 activists — including journalists, human rights workers, left-wing politicians, trade unionists and lawyers were assassinated in 2006 for their criticism of the government, rights groups say.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered a thorough investigation on the killing of Alvarado and the immediate arrest and prosecution of the assailants.

Calderon also directed Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., chief of Task Force Usig, to coordinate with the Bicol police in the investigation of the killing. President Arroyo directed the police to address the killings, which have alarmed the international community.

Alvarado was the highest officer of Bayan Muna, a prominent left-wing party strongly critical of Arroyo’s government, to be killed so far. More than 120 members have been slain in attacks blamed by the party on soldiers or police since 2001, party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño said. Military and police officials have denied such allegations and challenged accusers to produce evidence and file charges in court.

The killing of Alvarado followed the spate of killings of Cris Frivaldo, a Bayan Muna coordinator, who was inside his house in Irosin, Sorsogon last Nov. 11. He was the brother of another Bayan Muna coordinator who was also shot dead in 2005. Task Force ‘Usig’ is still investigating the killing on Dec. 12, where armed men shot dead Atty. Gil Gujol and his driver in Barangay San Ignatio in Gubat, Sorsogon. Gujol was just attending a hearing in Gubat town when he was attacked. Reports said a passenger jeepney with heavily armed men on board were following the van of Gujol before armed men riding a motorcycle attacked him less than 50 meters from an Army detachment.

The party overwhelmingly won in vote-rich Albay, about 340 kms. southeast of Manila, during the 2001 and 2004 elections, Casino said. International human rights groups, including London-based Amnesty International, have expressed grave concern over the rising number of the apparent political killings.

In an unprecedented move in November, the American, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese and South Korean business chambers issued a joint statement condemning the killings, saying "such violence has no place in a modern democratic state."

President Arroyo also has denounced the killings and has created a fact-finding body to investigate them.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known but colleagues said it could be linked to his work. More than 180 activists including journalists, human rights workers, left-wing politicians, trade unionists and lawyers were assassinated in 2006 for their criticism of the government, rights groups say. — With AFP, AP and Celso Amo