CPP-Central Luzon blames ‘Duterte regime’ for Fr. Paez’s death

PAMPANGA, Philippines – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in Central Luzon blamed President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for the killing of Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez in Nueva Ecija.

In a statement sent to the media on Thursday, December 7, the CPP-Central Luzon said the 72-year-old retired Catholic priest-activist, who was attacked by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Lambakin, Jaen, Nueva Ecija around 8 pm on December 4, was among the first victims of what it called as Duterte’s fascist government.

Paez died in a hospital in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija about 2 hours after he was fired upon by the unknown suspects.

“Isa si Fr. Tito Paez sa mga unang biktima ng umaarangkadang pasistang paghahari ng rehimeng Duterte. Inilabas ni Duterte ngayong Nobyembre ang Presidential Proclamation No. 360 na nagdeklara sa Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas, sa Bagong Hukbong Bayan at ang Pambansang Demokratikong Prente bilang mga ‘Terorista’ sa instigasyon ng amo nitong imperyalismong US,” the CPP-Central Luzon said.

(Fr. Tito Paez is among the first victims of the fascist rule of the Duterte regime. Duterte released in November Presidential Proclamation No. 360 which declared the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front as terrorists at the instigation of its imperialist master the US.)

(READ: Duterte signs proclamation labeling CPP-NPA as terrorist group)

The communist regional party condemned the killing of the retired priest, whom it described as a principled and courageous activist since the Marcos era.

The group criticized Duterte for “arbitrarily” ending the peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front. (READ: Duterte formally ends peace talks with communists)

The communist organization said Duterte considered as a serious threat to his power the underground armed movement and people’s organizations opposed to his war on illegal drugs and the killing of activists.

The group said that government’s forces under President Duterte target even legal democratic movements that promote human rights. 

It said the murder of Fr. Paez was aimed at sowing terror among the residents of Nueva Ecija and the rest of Central Luzon and arrest the growing number of farmers who are fighting for genuine land reform that was actively supported by the retired priest.

The CPP-Central Luzon said it had no other recourse but to advance its armed revolution against the Duterte administration. – Rappler.com