News update ‘Purge’ as motive for activist’s killing ‘pure hogwash’ — Bayan

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Wednesday described as "pure hogwash" the military’s claim that slain activist Fernando Baldomero may have been a victim of "communist purging."

"[Armed Forces] spokesman [Brig. Gen. Jose] Mabanta’s insinuation that Bayan Muna’s Baldomero may have been a victim of a Leftist purge is pure hogwash," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. in an article posted on the group’s website.

"This (communist purge) is a worn-out defense by the Arroyo regime. The Aquino government would be stupid and irresponsible if it would allow the military to use the same defense now," Reyes added.

Mabanta on Tuesday said the killing of Baldomero may have been the communist rebels’ way of scaring off their erring members.

Unidentified motorcycle-riding men shot dead Baldomero Monday morning while he was preparing to bring his child to school. He was a councilor of Lezo town in Aklan province and the coordinator of party-list group Bayan Muna.

Baldomero was a political detainee in the 1980s when he was accused of being a high-ranking official of the New People's Army (NPA). In 2005 and 2006, he was arrested for offenses attributed to the NPA, but all cases filed against him were eventually dismissed.

Baldomero’s death was the first extrajudicial killing of an activist under President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.

Bayan urged President Aquino to "strongly condemn" the killing and bare his government’s plan of protecting human rights.

"The strongest condemnation must come from the commander-in-chief himself, not just his surrogates. The drive to prosecute the perpetrators must emanate from the president as commander-in-chief," Reyes said. — KBK/RSJ