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Armed
suspects abduct woman
peasant activist
TRINIDAD.
Unidentified motorcycle-riding armed suspects in bonnets are
on the loose.
The duo abducted a woman farmer activist in broad daylight
on March 13 in this town, said Karapatan Bohol chapter, a
human rights group.
The
kidnap victim was identified as one Regina Olayvar, vice-chair
of Hiniusang Makinasudnong Mag-uuma sa Trinidad- Kababayen-an
(HIMAMAT-KA), a women-farmer organization affiliated with
Hugpong sa Maguumang Bol-anon of the Kilusang Magbubukid sa
Pilipinas, the statement said.
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The
human rights group denounced the abduction of Olayvar,
calling it "desperate attempt to silence militant
activists," blaming on the "special military
agents conducting clandestine operations against the
activists."
It
added that the kinapping of Olayvar, like the rest,
is sanctioned by the Arroyo counterinsurgency program
called OPlan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom
Watch II). The program, it said, continues to launch
political killings, abductions, "and all sorts
of dirty methods employed to stifle dissent and curb
people's struggle for genuine democracy and freedom."
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According
to the victim's account, she was "waiting for a habal-habal
to take her to the demo-farm here where she works as casual
under the municipal Department of Agrarian. Shortly, a blue
Aura motorcycle, driven by a male with a female backrider,
stopped in front of her. The duo supposedly gave the victim
a ride to the town proper but took another route.
In
her affidavit, Olayvar said the driver and the female guarded
her while noticing the driver carrying a clutch bag "with
a handgun tucked."
The
duo then asked the whereabouts of John Ruiz, provincial coordinator
of Bayan Muna party-list and Camelo "Eloy" Tabada
and Walter Balonga, deputy secretary-general - HUMABOL-KMP.
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