Karapatan-Bikol Press Statement
Reference:
Vince Casilihan
Karapatan-Bikol
February 12, 2013
Karapatan condemns to
the highest degree the killing of Romero Octavo by Lt. Col. Andrew
Costelo’s soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Battalion on February 11 at 1
am in Brgy Sukip, Pio Duran, Albay.
Romero Octavo is a former NPA rebel who has decided to lay
down his arms and pursue civilian life. From the time Romero settled as a
civilian resident of Brgy Rawis in neighboring Jovellar town, he has since survived
the daily struggles ordinary peasants confront.
As was his nature, he would assist fellow villagers in their daily
endeavors, his efforts be in form of words or direct participation in farm
labor. Apart from tending to his land, he joined gatherings that fight for the
people’s rights, though this time on the legal front.
But Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo and his 2nd IB death
squad denied Romero the chance of returning to civilian life. Costelo’s rabid adherence to AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista's Oplan Bayanihan, being 901st Brigade’s former civil-military
operations (CMO) chief, exposes the AFP’s vicious counter-insurgency campaign
as being ultimately deadly to civilians. On February 11, Romero Octavo was
never able to enjoy the small joys of a village dance, as he was mauled and
shot to death by ten fully armed masked men believed to be Costelo’s soldiers.
After mercillesly killing Romero Octavo, the murderers got on their motorcyles,
in full death-squad fashion, and retreated to the direction of an army camp at nearby
Brgy Halabang Puro.
Costelo’s lies as a
CMO implementer secretes from his pores
while he gloats on Oplan Bayanihan’s glorification as supposed peace and
development for the people. With Octavo’s killing, Costelo seems to be saying
that former NPA rebels have might as well remained hiding in the mountains, because
apparently civilians are the primary targets of Oplan Bayanihan. Costelo’s perceptible
reasoning in having Octavo killed is that civilians who are vocal in legally
fighting for their rights might as well take up arms if only to defend
themselves, because apparently Oplan Bayanihan virulently snaps on any sign of
dissidence. This seems to be the logic Costelo wants to convey to the people of
Albay.
With Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo and his 2nd IB
frantically shooting civilians as if these were their armed opponents, peace
based on justice would obviously be far-fetched in this province.
Justice for Romero Octavo!
Punish Lt. Col. Andrew Costelo and his 2nd
Infantry Battalion!
Stop Extra-Judicial Killings!
Stop OPLAN Bayanihan!
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