PAMALAKAYA condemns killing of a fisherman by a drunk soldier in Bohol
Manila, Philippines — The national fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Monday denounced the killing of an elderly fisherman by a soldier yesterday.
Leopoldo J. Saligan, 70, a resident fisherman of Malingin, Bien Unido, Bohol, was shot dead by a drunk soldier, who was identified as Reymond Casiple, after an argument between the two on Sunday, August 30.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA slammed the killing “brought about by the government’s militaristic solution to the pandemic”. The group said that police and military deployed in communities under lockdown “do not actually help combat the pandemic, but are rather involved in anti-social activities and are causing fear among civilians.”
“The killing was an obvious result of a militarist lockdown imposed across the country. It should not be regarded as an isolated case as there were many same incidents of abuse of authorities in lockdown-stricken areas, even in the metropolis,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
“The civilians never felt any safer with the presence of abusive military and police elements in their communities,” added Hicap.
“We demand justice for the slain fisherman and to hold the assailant accountable. Moreover, we demand an end to the militarist solution to the pandemic to prevent such kind of abuse,” ended Hicap. ###
