A peasant-leader in the Bondoc Peninsula in the province of Quezon was brutally murdered last February 4, 2003, by four armalite-wielding communist New People’s Army (NPA). Raymundo “Teteng” Tejeno, bore several gunshot wounds on different parts of his body causing him to die instantly. Tejeno is a municipal leader of the Malayang Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Magbubukid ng San Narciso (MAKAMMASA or Federation of Small Farmers of San Narciso), an affiliate of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula (KMBP or Peasant Movement of Bondoc Peninsula), a district-wide reform-oriented landless peasants’ organization affiliated with member organization of UNORKA - Pambansang Ugnayan ng Nagsasariling Lokal na mga Samahang Mamamayan sa Kanauyunan , or National Coordination of Autonomous Local Rural People’s Organizations).
In statement left beside the brutalized body of Teteng, the Maria Teresa De Leon Command of the NPA justified the execution by alleging that the slain leader committed ‘anti revolutionary’ activities as a rabid sympathizer and agent of the military, and as a member of an alleged barangay intelligence network. The NPAs also blamed Teteng for the death of a certain ‘Kumander Lawin’ who, according to the NPA statement, died in an encounter with the military on May 2002. The NPA also alleged that Tejeno had ‘blood debt’ against the people of San Narciso.
Tejeno’s relatives denied the allegations. They said that his murder was directly linked to a land conflict involving Tejeno’s organization and the refusal of Tejeno to continue paying the NPAs’ revolutionary tax. Tejeno belongs to a local organization that has been campaigning for the redistribution of a land being claimed by the powerful Uy family. The said land conflict has also claimed the life of another KMBP leader four years ago. On June 8, 1998, Edwin Vender, a peasant leader was also brutally murdered by goons identified with the landowner, for leading the campaign for agrarian reform. The case has yet to be resolved and the killers have yet to be arrested.
In March 2000, six armed men identified with a landowner also attacked Tejeno right in his house - in an incident believed to be part of the anti-reform harassment to stop Tejeno’s organization’s struggle for land. Tejeno defended his and his family members’ lives. One of the assailants was killed during the said attack and the subsequent defense, with Tejeno suffering physical harm as well. The family of the assailant filed a murder case in government court but this was subsequently dismissed. Failing to get relief from the “legal court”, the widow of the assailant sought the assistance of the NPAs. This started the travails of Tejeno with the NPA.
Sometime in November 2000, Tejeno was “arrested” by a contingent of the NPA and made to explain his side on the controversy. The NPAs tied his hands with a wire that injured him and left scars on his wrists. During the arrest, the NPAs ordered Tejeno to pay the widow the amount of P10,000.00 for the so-called damages he created. Tejeno refused to pay the widow arguing that he also suffered serious injuries during the attack and had to shell out more than P10,000.00 for his hospitalization caused by the several hack wounds he suffered. The NPAs eventually released him after he explained his side. Starting then, however, the NPAs regularly collected revolutionary tax from him.
This practice of communist NPAs killing suspected “military agents” has led to the death of hundreds of its own members and leaders in a series of bloody purges since 1982. The most recent assassination owned by the NPAs was the murder of its former national commander several days ago. But to the communist NPAs, “counter-revolutionary work” usually includes engaging the government in reformist programs like land reform. For them, “genuine land reform” can only come after the victory of the revolution.
According to sources of farmers who requested anonymity, the chairperson of MAKAMMASA is also in the hit list of the NPAs for his ‘anti-revolutionary work’ and will be executed anytime after the NPAs Kangaroo Court meted him with death sentence. The leader refused to leave the area believing that he has not committed any crime against any people.
The KMBP-UNORKA and PEACE Foundation condemned the killing and the threats and intimidation of NPAs against ordinary civilians and peasant-leaders. The group reminded the NPAs on the right to due process especially of poor rural citizens and challenged the NPAs to an open trial to prove if Tejeno was indeed guilty of so-called “counter-revolutionary work” as alleged by the armed communist movement. The KMBP also assailed the NPAs inaction on the abuses committed by landlords against ordinary peasants claiming that the NPAs brand of justice is too arbitrary, abusive, personalistic and self-serving.
The KMBP also criticized the NPA for turning a blind eye on crimes when NPA supporters and sympathizers are the ones involved in crimes. The KMBP said that one of the suspects in the murder of Edwin Vender was a known NPA sympathizer and “post”, while the other suspects are hardened criminals in the payroll a big landlord in the district who is popularly believed to be an ally of the NPAs. It is not very surprising then that the murderers of Edwin Vender are being allowed to roam freely by the NPAs.
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Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling mga Lokal na Organisasyon sa Kanayunan (UNORKA) |
Philippine Ecumenical Action for Community Empowerment Foundation, Inc (PEACE) |
