Luzon Senators urge Razon to solve killings in Camiguin, Romblon

10/12/2007 | 04:04 PM

Senators on Friday urged newly-installed Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr to address the extrajudicial and unsolved killings, particularly in the provinces of Camiguin and Romblon.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr said he received reports from Camiguin residents that vigilantes roam the province and are responsible for the killing of one Luc-Luc Dayao, a suspected financier of a local illegal numbers name called “suertes".

“Razon has been directed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to stop the spate of extrajudicial killings in the country. I strongly suggest that he begin with Camiguin where people are reportedly being terrorized and shot down by death squads," Pimentel said.

In Romblon, environmental activist Councilor Arman Marin was buried Friday, almost two weeks after he was gunned down in front of demonstrators protesting the nickel mining operations in the island.

Marin, who was shot by a security guard of mining firm Sibuyan Nickel Property Development Corp., is the leader of the Sibuyan Anti-Mining Movement that strongly deplores the mining explorations being conducted in the island. He also served as councilor of San Fernando town and worked for a local non-government organization.

Sen. Loren Legarda, in a message read before a huge number of mourners who attended the funeral, said she would push for the suspension of all mining permits and applications in Sibuyan Island, in the wake of the killing.

Marin had waged a campaign to stop mining activities in the island which is believed to destroy the island, including its faura and fauna, and also destroy the livelihood of the inhabitants who take raw materials from their natural surroundings. - GMANews.TV