Writs of amparo vs NPA killers part of Sept. 12 joint peace, justice forum in Basey

By CHITO DELA TORRE
September 12, 2008

BASEY, Samar  –  A still yet undetermined number of families of individuals in this town who were killed by members of the New People’s Army since the first day of their operation in Basey until their last murderous flings are expected to start filing cases against the killers, including petitioning for writs of amparo, when they converge Friday morning (September 12) in sitio Rawis, a big progressive village of barrio Guirang, which is home of the town’s newest international tourist attraction known as Balantac Falls.

The event, expected to be big and significant enough, is known as the Joint Peace and Justice Rally organized by the 62nd and 34th infantry battalions of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, to which all the 51 punong barangay of Basey have committed attendance and active participation.

Samar governor Milagrosa Tee Tan and Colonel Francis B. Lanuza, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army, will lend credence to the occasion that will open with an invocation from St. Michael Archangel Parish Church priest Reverend Father Niceas Abejuela, followed by welcome remarks from mayor Wilfredo O. Estorninos and the opening statement by lieutenant colonel Alberto C. Desoyo, 62IB commanding officer.

A few days after Lt. Col. Desoyo assumed command of 62IB following the mid-August turnover of leadership from Lt. Col. Jonathan G. Ponce, there have been families of victims of NPA atrocities that have come out to avail of the assistance of the military and the Philippine Commission on Human Rights in the filing of appropriate cases against the killers of their loved ones.  The survivors from the violent, senseless and unjust killings were able to identify some of the members of the NPA.

At Friday’s (September 5) meeting of the association of barangay councils of Basey, a military executive, including first lieutenant Alsiyao, company commander of 62IB’s Alpha unit in Rawis, urged the barrio chiefs to seek out the affected families and encourage them to avail of this assistance.

Gov. Tan will lead the symbolic burning of the flags and effigies of the Communist Party of the Philippines, NPA and National Democratic Front, after the message of Col. Lanuza.  After that, she will give the closing remarks, to be followed by the mass singing of “Pagkaurusa” to be led by non-government organizations leader Anita Ogrimen.

In the interaction portion, Gov. Tan, mayor Estorninos and the Army officers will listen and respond to every concern and issue that will be expressed by the town and barangay officials and their constituents, even as the government executives themselves will make their own appeals to the people and all sectors who have stakes in securing the peace and justice presently enjoyed in Basey.

Tuba-tuba planting in Basey will be discussed by Teodorico Dadale Porbus, president of the Baktas Kabub’wason Rural Workers Association, while agrarian matters will be the subject of the message of municipal agrarian reform officer Chito D. Dela Torre, immediately after the message of police inspector Marianito P. Malibago, chief of police of Basey in the early part of the program.

Guirang punong barangay Ignacio Guimbaolibot and all his barangay officials will lead the barrio folk in attending to their guests for the half-day affair, the first ever to be initiated by Lt. Col. Desoyo.