Letter of Kalinga-Apayao Religious Sector Association

KALINGA-APAYAO RELIGIOUS SECTOR ASSOCIATION (KARSA) Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga “In the harshest possible terms I condemn political killings. Together we will stop extra judicial executions.” Thus declared Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address last July 24, 2006. Exactly a week or seven days after, we have become a witness to the first political killing of its kind in Tabuk in the broad daylight ambush of Dr. Constancio “Chandu” Claver and his family. It happened at 6:30 A.M. along a busy street and in front of a growing educational center where the couple brought one of their school children for classes. The incident resulted in the untimely and tragic of Mrs. Alice Claver-wife of the good doctor who is now being prayed over fervently for his sure and speedy recovery from his gunshot wounds in the wake of the nightmare that has befell his family, inflicted upon them by no ordinary perpetrators. Dr. Chandu touched by miseries of the people and disturbed by the many ills in our society like the many forms of injustice and corruption committed himself to the call for reforms in government, hence his advocacy and leadership in nationalistic, service-oriented, and pro-people programs and organizations. It is for this reason alone, his many supporters and friends believe that he was targeted for summary execution. His family thus is added to the increasing list of victims of political persecution and extra judicial killings. The Kaling-Apayao Religious Sector Association condemns in no uncertain terms the killing of Mrs. Claver and the frustrated murder of the Dr. Chandu. It was meant as an extra judicial execution and therefore is unlawful and utterly reprehensible. Whoever are behind it are people without regard for the sacredness of life and have no respect for the rule of law. Where is now the order of President GMA to stop political killings or extra-judicial executions. What is our understanding of the strong republic that has been alluded to have been achieved in Her Excellency’s SONA last July 24. What we know of a strong republic is one where people are effectively served their basic needs and where they kept free and secure under the equal protection of law and its enforcers, and never that dangerous and fearful state where the authority is the might of the gun. In the interest of justice and peace, we call on the concerned authorities which include the PNP and the Military to conduct an honest speedy investigation which should ultimately lead to the identification and apprehension of the culprits to answer for their heinous crime, whoever they are. Only then will people come to trust the sincerity of the president in her pronouncements and the faithfulness of the government instrumentalities in serving the interest of the people To the Claver Family, their relatives and friends, our most sincere and heartfelt condolence. For Dr. Chandu, we pray for your fast recovery and together with the children, may God’s abiding presence sustain and lift you up in your time of great pain and sorrow over the lose of your faithful wife and devoted mother. May God, our Almighty Father who is the only author of life grant her peace and life everlasting in his heavenly kingdom. Tags: karsa, kalinga, apayao, chandu, claver, alice, doctormagnus