Labor groups demands surfacing and release of victims; PISTON and KMU officials abducted in Central Luzon

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today condemned the abduction of 7 leaders of PISTON and KMU in Central Luzon yesterday and blamed the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines for the continuing saturation drive and militarization in various Central Luzon provinces.

The victims Emerito Gonzales Lipio, Jose Ramos, William Aguilar, Jav Francisco Aquino, Fernando Poblacion, Jose Bernardino and Archie De Jesus were forcibly taken between 11am and 12 noon yesterday at Hensonville, Bgy. Malabanias, Angeles City in Pampanga by heavily armed men.

The aforementioned PISTON and KMU officials were holding a meeting when alleged elements of CIDG, 56th and 69th Infantry Battalion headed by Supt. Policarpio C. Segubre, head of Angeles City PNP, barged into the house and forcibly arrested the transport and labor leaders without any warrant of arrests. Upon questioning by the victims' families and human rights groups in Central Luzon , the police admitted that the abducted militant leaders were taken to 174th PNP station at Sto. Domingo, Angeles City .

This morning, Central Luzon PNP Director Ismael Rafanan admitted in a radio interview that there was a legitimate operation in the area yesterday as the AFP were pursuing alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA). The police officer refused to admit the whereabouts of the abducted activists. He just said that they turned over them to the military.

"We are holding General Jovito Palparan and his men accountable for this incident. We demand the immediate surfacing of the abducted PISTON and KMU officials. We demand a stop to the worsening militarization in Central Luzon and other provinces. It seems that there is an on-going contest among military units to arrest, abduct or neutralize suspected rebels who are actually leaders and organizers of legal organizations. Is it a crime or an act of rebellion to oppose oil price hikes which the PISTON and KMU leaders and members are doing? If that is the case, then all Filipinos are guilty of rebellion for opposing increases in the prices of petroleum products?"

"Our immediate demand now is for the military and police to surface and release all the victims. As long as the victims remain in the hands of their captors, their lives are in severe danger," said KMU Spokesperson Presto Suyat.