Asia-Pacific News

Leftist farmer leader killed in southern Philippines

Jul 10, 2007, 6:31 GMT

Davao City, Philippines - A leader of a leftist farmers' group was killed by unidentified gunmen in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Alfonso Capiales, 72, was shot to death by two unidentified gunmen who barged into his house in Nabunturan town in Compostela Valley province, 975 kilometres south of Manila, on the weekend.

Major Randolph Cabangbang said Capiales was actually a military informant and said there was a strong possibility that the attack was perpetrated by the communist New People's Army.

But Kelly Delgado, regional secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan, blamed the military for the attack.

Delgado said Capiales rejected a summons by soldiers to attend a meeting in a village hall three days before he was killed.

'The military is on a killing rampage, hunting down members of militant organizations and farmers' groups on suspicion that they are communist rebels,' he said.

The attack occurred as various governments urged the government to put an end to the attacks, which have victimized mostly leftist activists and journalists critical of the administration.

Last month, a team of experts from the European Union visited the Philippines to check on ways to help the government effectively address the extrajudicial killings.