DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 23, 2008) – A leader of the militant peasant group called Pakisama was shot dead in the southern Philippines as political killings continue unabated under the President Gloria Arroyo’s rule.
Gunmen killed Vicente Panglinawan, the group’s deputy president, in an attack in Paquibato district in Davao City late Saturday. Panglinawan was the fifth member of progressive groups murdered in the southern Philippines since January, according to a report by ABS-CBN television.
No group claimed responsibility for the latest killing and militant groups suspect the military was behind the murder of Panglinawan who was shot on his way home.
Pakisama, an acronym for Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka, said the military is expected to deny the accusation and is likely to blame communist rebels for the killing.
Early this month, gunmen also shot and killed Danny Qualbar, leader of the peasant group Compostela Farmers Association and political coordinator of the Bayan Muna partylist.
Qualbar, who decried military’s human rights violations in Mindanao, was killed November 6 while driving a motorcycle in the village of Osmena in Compostela town in Compostela Valley province.
Qualbar is the second leader slain in Compostela province after Roel Dotarot, who was also a Bayan Muna coordinator in Monkayo town.
In May, Celso Pojas, leader of the Farmers Association in Davao City (FADC) and Peasants Movement in the Philippines, was also killed in Davao City. More than 900 political activists were killed in the Philippines since Arroyo came into power.
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