FQSN Condemns the Murder of FQS Activist Sotero Llamas of Bicol

PRESS STATEMENT
May 30, 2006

Reference: Mario Santos (415) 309-5835

FQSN Condemns the Murder of FQS Activist Sotero Llamas of Bicol

The First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN)-USA vehemently condemns the cold-blooded murder of another former FQS activist, Sotero "Nognog" Llamas from Tabaco, Albay whose name was added to the long list of people "liquidated" by the Arroyo government's death squads.

Nognog or Ka Teroy became an activist in Bicol during the FQS. He did mass work in the Bicol countryside and when martial law was declared, they were forced into hiding and continued their work until a group of New People’s Army (NPA) arrived in their area from a long march from Sorsogon. Teroy then joined the NPA, and from then on, saw the growth of the peasant army from the remnants of the group that was nearly decimated in Sorsogon.

Ka Teroy figured prominently during the ceasefire and negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) from 1986-1987. Ka Teroy was captured in 1995 but was released as part of the confidence-building measures for the peace negotiations then between the GRP-and the NDF. Later on, Teroy also helped build the Bayan Muna party-list and later joined the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) faction of Senator Panfilo Lacson. He ran but lost the elections for Albay governor during the last presidential elections.

For sure, the military and the US-Arroyo regime will weave another set of lies and bombard their captive media that the Left is responsible for Ka Teroy's death. They will insinuate that the Left was offended when Teroy ran with Lacson's party. They will never understand that the Left respects individual choices and freedom unlike the murderous clique in power who cannot even argue but uses force to liquidate their opponents while preaching "democracy."

The same militarists in Malacañang responsible for over 600 killings since Arroyo took office also killed Llamas because he was a soft-target and because in their diabolical calculation his death can be used to set off intrigues and psy-war against the left. His liquidation certainly sets the stage for the assassination of their high-priority targets like the six party-list representatives like Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Rafael Mariano and others.

We hold President Arroyo as the head of the cabinet, Norberto Gonzales, Eduardo Ermita and other cabinet members responsible for all of these heinous murders.

The FQSN-USA condoles with the family and friends of Teroy Llamas. Teroy served the people most of his life and if he made the mistake of allying himself with Lacson and harboring political ambitions in the bourgeois parliamentary area, he was honest in his political undertakings.

The Left always disagrees with but will respect such political and individual choices like when former Kabataang Makabayan (KM) chair Nilo Tayag joined Marcos, Bobby Tiglao joined Ramos and then Arroyo, and Mike Defensor and Hernani Braganza joined Arroyo's cabinet. It is different when such individuals choose the kiss of death – their own political demise in opposing the people and becoming out-and out counter-revolutionaries.

Again, we, in the FQSN-USA most especially those of us from Bicol, condole with the family and friends of Ka Teroy. His good works will always remain with the people of Bicol and those who loved him, as a friend, as a kasama and a true servant of the people. #