Groups call for justice on Rustico Tan’s death
Fr. Rustico Tan | Photo from Karapatan – Central Visayas
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Militant groups here in Central Visayas are calling for justice on the killing of former priest and peace negotiator Rustico Tan.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Central Visayas (Bayan-Central Visayas), in a statement on social media, announced it would conduct an online candle lighting and indignation rally on Sunday, May 30, urging authorities to shed light on Tan’s death.
“Sa nagkagrabeng pagpangyatak sa tawhanong katungod ug sa lantarang pagpamatay, angay lamang natong pakusgon pa atong mga tingog sa pagpanawagan ug hustisya alang sa tanang gipamatay aning di makatawhanong estado,” the group said.
(As the disregard of human rights worsens with the rampant killings, it is just right to amplify our calls for justice to all victims of this inhuman state.)
Still unidentified gunmen killed Tan, 80, last Friday evening, May 28, while he was sleeping in his hammock in Purok Caimito, Barangay Upper Poblacion in Pilar town, Cebu.
Tan left the priesthood decades ago, and allegedly joined the New People’s Army (NPA), a claim his family denied after he was arrested in 2017.
He also served as a negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) during the administration of President Corazon Aquino.
In Iloilo, during the same day when Tan’s death was reported, another former NDFP negotiator Reynaldo Bocala and his companion, Willy Epago, were killed in a police raid.
They allegedly put up a fight against officers who tried to serve warrants for Bocala’s arrest at his house at Barangay Balabag in Pavia town, Iloilo. / with reports from Philippine Daily Inquirer
RELATED STORIES
Two elderly communist leaders slain at home in the Visayas
Former priest and alleged NDF peace negotiator shot dead in Pilar, Cebu
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
