Only two months after the political assassination of CPA Regional Elders Desk Coordinator and Bayan Muna-Kalinga Vice Chair Rafael Markus Bangit on June 8 in Isabela province, the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime has again pulled the trigger on another political activist, Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver, Jr on July 31 at around 6:30 AM. Knowing no mercy, the killers, believed to be military operatives, also targeted Dr. Claver’s 42 -year old wife, Alice, and their 7-year old daughter, Cassandra by ambushing their van with high powered rifles in Bulanao, Tabuk. While Dr. Claver and Cassandra survived the shooting, Alice was not able to survive after struggling for life for five hours from multiple gunshot wounds. Dr. Claver, 49 years old, has incurred two gunshot wounds in the left arm and chest. Their daughter Cassandra was deeply traumatized by the incident and is now into complete silence. A bystander, Janice Ewag, a 23 years old student and part of Tanudan tribe, also incurred two gunshot wounds in the hips.

Dr. Constancio “ Chandu Claver, a native of Bontoc is the Chairperson of Bayan Muna-Kalinga, and the Vice Chairperson of CPA-Kalinga. He has been a doctor of the masses for decades, being the Executive Director of the former Community Health and Education Concerns for Kalinga-Apayao (CHECK-A). He was one of the founding members of the CPA- Kalinga Chapter, and has been working relentlessly with other leaders and members of the mass movement in Kalinga and the Cordillera Region. Chandu Claver is known as a staunch advocate of human rights, peace and justice.

Alice Omengan Claver was an active member of Cordillera student’s organizations, including CPA chapter in Manila while she was a college student. She had been very generous in her support to various peoples organizations and socio-civic institutions. She has also provided invaluable support to her husband and his work while at the same time, a devoted mother to their three children. Alice became a martyr of the people, even if the actual target for killing was the husband. Alice Omengan Claver was a native of Sagada, Mountain Province.

We vehemently condemn and deny the claim made by the Regional Director of the Philippine National Police (PNP-CAR) Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzalez that Chandu Claver is an active member of the National Democratic Front (NDF), a coalition of revolutionary organizations.

The NDF is a primary target of the military’s Oplan Bantay Laya, a “counter insurgency plan” to cripple the revolutionary movement but unjustly targeting leaders of un-armed legitimate organizations in the peoples mass movement like CPA, BAYAN MUNA and others.

We also condemn the hypocrisy and lies of the PNP- Kalinga Provincial Director, Pedro Geronimo Ramos for his claim that Alice Claver was immediately killed, and for their inaction when the two vans which staged the ambush were able to escape freely without a chase. One of the vans used looked very much similar to the one also used by the killers of Rafael Markus Bangit. We hold Ramos accountable to the ambush of the Claver Family and we demand that he should be pulled out of Kalinga for charges of severe human rights violations and sowing terror amongst the people. Prior to the ambush, Chandu was already stoked by agents of the military in Kalinga. Likewise, other leaders and activists in Kalinga and other provinces of the Cordillera, including Baguio city remain close surveillance by suspected military agents and goons.

We continue to deplore the insincerity of the President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to address the worsening political repression. While she condemned political killings, she likewise praised General Palparan who is being charged with extra judicial killings of legal activists. It is not condemnation that is needed from the President. It is to make herself and her Military Generals and officials accountable and responsible to these serious transgressions with impunity to the fundamental right to life and security of hundreds of activists, journalists and civilians. They should also stop the prevailing climate of fear and terror perpetrated by the military and their death squads.

We shall continue to uphold and fight for the rights, interests and welfare of the people. We call on the people to speak out against political killings and demand justice for the families of victims. We cannot expect the President and the military to solve these cases and put a stop to political killings, unless there will be a strong public outcry that will ultimately lead to their removal from power.

We also call on the international community to condemn political killings in the Philippines, demand justice, and exert the greatest pressure to the Philippine government to stop these grave violations of human rights. We also appeal to other governments and the International Funding Institutions to denounce these killings and withdraw their support to the Philippine government until it upholds its international commitments and obligations on human rights.

The officers and members of CPA wish to extend deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Alice Omengan Claver.

Joan Carling, Chairperson
August 1 2006