LEGAZPI CITY— One hundred seventeen (117) members of militant organizations in Bicol have been killed extra-judicially since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power, from 2001 to the present, according to a human rights group here.

        Vince Casilihan of Karapatan Bicol told Bicol Mail all the cases of extra-judicial killings that happened in the region are still unsolved until now, and that Bicol ranked third among the regions with the highest record.

        Casilihan said that in Bicol, Albay has the highest number of extra-judicial killings with 38 victims; Sorsogon, 34; Camarines Sur, 33; Camarines Norte, 7; Masbate, 3; and Catanduanes, one.

        Karapatan has claimed that all over the country, extra-judicial killings victimizing members of militant organizations have reached 749, with Southern Tagalog having the highest number of cases followed by Central Luzon and Bicol.

        On Tuesday, leaders of militant organizations and families of extra-judicial killings victims gathered at the Karapatan Bicol regional office to plan out action to seek immediate justice of the killing of Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa of Daraga, Albay; Cris Hugo of Irosin, Sorsogon; and Reimond Guran of Bulan, Sorsogon.

        Sta. Rosa was a member of the United Methodist Church, former executive director of Farmers Assistance for Rural Management, San Isidro Labrador Institute, and project staff of Kilusang Magbubukid sa Bicol. Hugo and Guran are both leaders of the League of Filipino Students (LFS).

        Karapatan claimed that the series of killings reflect the anti-people and fascist regime of President Macapagal-Arroyo after she declared an all out war against the enemies of the state, Casilihan said.

        But an Army official has indicated that the extra-judicial killings were carried out by communist rebels.

        Major Ramon Ronard J. Rosario of the Southern Luzon Command of the Philippine Army said the victims of extra-judicial killings of the communist rebels were those who have left the movement and joined government service.

        Rosario said that alleged former members of Bayan Muna in Camarines Norte have accused the communist rebels of killing 12 persons, mostly activists, across the region.

        He identified certain Rey Hernandez, Rolando Maiuat and Robin Pajo to have revealed the information regarding the extra-judicial killings carried out by certain Ka Clito and Ka Darlin.

        Rosario said the former alleged members of Bayan Muna pointed at Ka Clito and Ka Darlin to be responsible for deaths of Dario Oresca, Roger Urban, Medardo Español and JR Malto. Other victims identified were Pedro Aldeza, Nestor Espinola, Fernando Bernardeno, Penoy Handugan, Jose Yases, Agosto Estipono, Aba Handugan and Joselito Carredo.

        Mayor Renato Laurenaria of Castilla, Sorsogon also told Bicol Mail that the communist rebels have at least killed 34 persons, some were former members of militant groups who had joined the government service.

        On a visit here on Tuesday, Major Gen. Alexander Yano, commander of the Southern Luzon Command, called on the people to be vigilant against the communist rebels because, he said, their ultimate goal is to topple the government and replace it with communist rule.

        Yano, along with Army officials, visited Bishop Nestor Cariño of the Diocese of Legazpi.

        The general said that Cariño has expressed cooperation and strong support in addressing the insurgency problem.

        He described the bishop as “a very level-headed prelate who thinks of the welfare of the Bicolanos and looks forward to better cooperation.”

        Yano also addressed the regional forum of the comprehensive process held here where he cited the insurgency as not only a problem of the military and police but the people from all walks of life.

        “If we do not move and act together, we will wake up under the communist rule. They continue moving on with fast pace. The rebels develop hatred against the government and alienate the government from the people to weaken and discredit it,” he said.

        Yano said that the communist rebels use deception and are happy when more companies close down because, he said, for them less employment means the more for them to recruit.