June 27, 2009

FFW condemns killing of civil society leader

“The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) condemns the killing of Danilo Yang, general secretary of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).”

Yang, who is also a Laguna provincial board member, was murdered last Wednesday with two of his aides in Brgy. San Juan Bautista, San Pablo City, when five unidentified men ambushed them during a program in celebration of the barangay fiesta. A fourth companion of the victims survived but suffered several wounds.

“Violence has no place in a democratic society,” said FFW National Vice President Sonny Matula. “A culture of tolerance should prevail, where there is utmost respect for other people’s beliefs,” he added.

Yang was apparently warned by army intelligence about two weeks ago of possible attempts on his life by the New People's Army (NPA). Investigators have not confirmed any suspects to the murders thus far.

The PDSP leader is believed to have been in the order of battle of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the NPA since 2004. He went to communities presenting alternatives to the communist influence.

“Resolving disagreements through the barrel of the gun is not only barbaric, it also negates the gains of humanity in establishing just and lasting peace and resolving differences through peaceful means like social dialogue, said Matula.

Yang's murder together with his two other colleagues, follows yet another killing of a peasant leader a few weeks ago, Ka Rene Peñas, leader of Pakisama who successfully led Sumilao famers into owning the land they till. His advocacy also led to the newly approved Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPer).

The case of political and extra judicial killings have risen, peaking in 2007.

Already, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights investigated the incidents in the country and noted that government efforts at containing the same have been wanting.

By next month, a High Level Mission from the International Labor Organization (ILO) will be arriving in Manila to investigate the alleged extra judicial killings of union leaders in the country and possible violation to the ILO treaties on the freedom to form and join unions and to bargain collectively.

Yang, a PDSP community organizer and political officer since his youth, rose to become a board member of Laguna in 2007 after topping the election for the councilors of San Pablo City and later the provincial league of all city and municipal councilors.

Killed with Yang were PDSP members Manolo Barcenas (Brgy. Chair of Brgy. Santiago 2, San Pablo City) and Brando de los Santos (security staff).