PHILIPPINES: Local governor belies PDSP claims of communist atrocities in Bukidnon

PHILIPPINES: Local governor belies PDSP claims of communist atrocities in Bukidnon
by Tonyo Cruz Sunday, May. 28, 2006 at 4:33 PM


PHILIPPINES -- The chief executive of the southern province of Bukidnon has vehemently denied claims of the chairman Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) and concurrent national security adviser of President Arroyo that scores of communists and activists were killed and buried in his area.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on May 24 that "Bukidnon Governor Jose belied claims of National Security Adviser and PDSP chairman Norberto Gonzales that the military had unearthed two mass graves in the province containing the skeletal remains of 18 communist rebels and sympathizers who had been killed by their comrades."

Zubiri, also the chairman of the Northern Mindanao Peace and Order Council, was quoted by the Inquirer saying: “He (Gonzales) made it appear that Bukidnon is a massacre field. That’s a lie... I don’t know his agenda but definitely we won’t allow him to use Bukidnon for whatever agenda he has.”

Zubiri is a member of the ruling Lakas (Strength) party of President Arroyo. He is the latest government official to criticize Gonzales.

Click here for the full Inquirer story entitled "Gonzales lying about mass graves, says Zubiri"

Gonzales is reaping the ire of activists and government officials for his campaign of terror against those opposing the Arroyo government.

The Inter-Agency Legal Action Group formed by an Executive Order by Mrs. Arroyo and which Gonzales leads was behind the fabricated rebellion charges against six Members of Congress belonging to leftwing partylists Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela Women's Party.

Across the country, human rights watchdog Karapatan has documented 604 summary executions and extrajudicial killings of civilians, mostly suspected communist supporters or members of politically-active leftist groups.

The PDSP has not condemned the killings, and has diabolically blamed victims themselves for their fate.

Amnesty International, global journalists organizations, the International League of Peoples' Struggle and even the US State Department have criticized the Arroyo government over rising human rights abuses against Filipinos.

THe PDSP is also spreading misinformation in the Indymedia network, including the malicious publication of photos of mass activists marching and demonstrating along with Communist Party of the Philippine founder Jose Maria Sison and National Democratic Front chief international representative Luis Jalandoni.

Adherence to communism or membership in the CPP is not a crime under Philippine law.

Sison, who lives in exile in The Netherlands and is a recognized political refugee under EU conventions, is a vocal critic of US imperialism, specifically imperialist globalization and the US war on terror. This political standpoint earned Sison the ire of the US government which placed him in the list of foreign terrorists and terrorist organizations.

The CPP leads the New People's Army. The CPP-NPA have been waging a civil war against the Philippine government since 1969. The NDF has represented the CPP-NPA and allied organizations in peace talks with the Philippine government. The talks have resulted in 11 bilateral agreements, including a Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Bayan Muna contends that PDSP's malicious linking of activists with the CPP-NPA-NDF is aimed at redbaiting, and whipping anti-communist hysteria against the legal Left. The legal Left led by Bayan Muna and the multisectoral alliance are at the forefront of the broad movement seeking President Arroyo ouster from office.