Labor leader gunned down in Laguna; militants hit Aquino

MANILA, Philippines—Another activist has been killed under the Aquino administration, leaving militants angry that the President’s assurances to do something about the killings have so far come to naught.

Carlos Rodriguez, the President of the Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Manggagawa ng Calamba Water District and an officer of Courage, was gunned down in Laguna on Friday afternoon by armed men riding tandem on a motorcycle, according to the human rights group Karapatan.

Karapatan said the 41-year-old Rodriguez had just come from a meeting of union leaders and was headed home on his motorcycle when his assailants fired at him at an intersection in Halang, Calamba. He had two shots on the back, one on his arm and another on his neck.

The group said Rodriguez had been a leading figure in bringing out the concerns of state workers in Southern Luzon. He had organized the Southern Luzon forum on government employees’ issues and the assembly of the group WATER-Southern Luzon.

Rodriguez is the 22nd victim of extrajudicial killing under the Aquino administration, by Karapatan’s count.

Karapatan acting-secretary-general Jigs Clamor said the President’s statements about combating extrajudicial killings has not produced actual results.

“Despite assurances from President Benigno Simeon Aquino III before foreign diplomats that the killings would stop, this violation of the most fundamental human right to life continues under his administration. We denounce this in the strongest possible terms as we seek justice for the victims,” Clamor said in a statement.

He said Aquino should also take a closer look at the human rights problems besetting his own country, especially in light of his protests against the travel advisories concerning the Philippines.

The killings of militants had been a big issue during the previous administration, and activists had been hoping that the situation would change once the new government takes over. –Leila B. Salaverria, Philippine Daily Inquirer