Justice for Fr. Cecilio Lucero, end Arroyo regime’s extrajudicial killings

PHILIPPINES | 23 – 10 – 2009 | The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and all revolutionary forces join the family and friends of staunch human rights fighter Fr. Cecilio Lucero in marking today the 40th day of his abominable murder by fascist operatives of the state. The CPP joins the Diocese of Catarman and the entire progressive and propeople church sector, the people of Samar, and all peace- and freedom-loving Filipinos in their intense demand for justice to Fr. Lucero and all other victims of the Arroyo regime’s extrajudicial killings. The CPP join in calling and fighting for an end to the continuing spree of violence by fascist agents of the state against social-cause activists, freedom fighters, critics and even innocent and unarmed civilians.

Fr. Lucero, who headed the Human Rights Desk of the Social Action Commission of the Diocese and chaired the Task Force on Peace and Order of the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum (NSPDF) was an indefatigable defender of the people’s rights and a champion of the cause of the poor and oppressed. He earned the ire of fascist military and other state security forces because of his unflinching and outspoken tirades against their human rights violations and the several cases in which he assisted or personally filed against them. For a long time before he was gunned down, he was already constantly being surveilled by the fascist state’s military and intelligence operatives and was recently even accosted at a military checkpoint, and nearly abducted had not an influential brother interceded.

Fr. Lucero was ambushed at 8:30 a.m. last September 6 in San Jose, Northern Samar by heavily armed assailants wearing bonnets and military uniforms. In proportion to their hatred of Fr. Lucero, the operation to kill him was planned and implemented as a big-scale military offensive. At least 30 military operatives were involved in the entire operation to ensure his elimination. Five operatives, waiting in ambush while coordinating with others trailing Fr. Lucero’s van, fired their Armalite rifles while the target was driving the van through Sitio Puente, Barangay Layuhan, San Jose, Northern Samar. Fr. Lucero died on the spot. His two companions in the van were wounded, as was a passenger in a nearby jeepney who was hit by a stray bullet.

The CPP holds Gloria Arroyo personally and ultimately responsible for the killing of Fr. Lucero. When she inaugurated the Catubig bridge in Northern Samar last June 16, she publicly denounced Fr. Lucero as “that communist priest” in front of Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero and other high-ranking military and civilian officials in the province. In doing so, she virtually signed Fr. Lucero’s death warrant and gave the go-signal for a military offensive against the priest. It is widely believed that forces of General Tabaquero’s 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army carried out the dastardly murder of Fr. Lucero.

The murder of Fr. Lucero has created a big backlash against the fascist deeds of the ruling reactionary puppet regime and state. The gruesome murder highlights the Arroyo regime’s continuing campaign of suppression and extrajudicial killings. From 2001 to the first half of 2009, armed agents of the AFP have already killed around 1,110 peasants, workers, human rights advocates, students, church people, teachers, ordinary employees, health workers, media workers and other critics of the Arroyo regime.

Majority of the victims were members of patriotic, democratic and progressive mass organizations invariably regarded by the AFP’s official dogmatists as “enemies of the state.” These organizations have actively opposed the puppetry and fascist violence of the Arroyo regime. In the halls of parliament and in the streets, they have effectively exposed the rottenness and cruelty of the ruling regime and continue to organize and mobilize the people in protest movements and mass struggles.

This year alone, more than 60 have been gunned down by the ruling regime’s fascist operatives. Arroyo and her cabal of fascist officials have contemptuously dismissed calls and recommendations made by the United Nations and other international as well as national organizations to put a stop to extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the state’s military and security forces. These forces have long been showing complete disregard for universally accepted human rights, make no difference between armed resistance and unarmed opposition, and have been including in their order of battle an increasing number of unarmed critics and even plain civilians.

The number of extrajudicial killings is bound to increase further as the AFP’s “counter-insurgency” Oplan Bantay Laya 2 nears its end, and the military grows ever more desperate to mask its failure. Arroyo and her military and security minions are desperately resorting to violent suppression as she schemes to perpetuate herself in power.

As the economic and political crisis of the ruling system continues to worsen, the reactionary ruling state is callously resorting to more vicious means of suppressing the people’s resistance and struggles to advance their national and democratic interests.

The Communist Party of the Philippines calls on all peace-loving Filipinos to continue to defend the people’s human rights and expose and oppose the Arroyo regime’s campaign of suppression.

At the same time, the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) vow to exact justice for Fr. Lucero and all victims of the regime’s fascist suppression. Local NPA units in Northern Samar have been busy gathering evidence to pinpoint the actual masterminds and perpetrators of his killing in order to render justice for their crime.
Communist Party of the Philippines
October 16, 2009