Bayan Muna man is 4th killed in Bicol in 3 weeks

A high-ranking leader of Bayan Muna party in Albay was shot dead Sunday afternoon by unidentified armed men, the fourth activist killed in Bicol in three weeks and the 818th since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo became president in 2001. Rodolfo Alvarado, also Bayan Muna regional project coordinator, was gunned down around 5 pm when the assailants stormed his residence in Barangay (village) San Lorenzo, Ligao City. "Hindi talaga tumitigil ang mga death squad ni (President) Gloria (Macapagal Arroyo). Maski holidays pumapatay (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s death squads don’t really know when to stop. Even during the holidays, they kill people)," Carl Ala, information officer of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said in a text message. He said the information was relayed to him by KMP members in the province. On December 21, Francisco Bantog, who was also Bayan Muna provincial auditor in Donsol, Sorsogon, was shot 20 times by three motorcycle-riding gunmen. Bantog, who was also a "Butanding" interaction officer (BIO), was shot around 10 am while he was at the Donsol Tourism Office. Butanding is the local name for whale sharks that frequent the waters off Donsol and have made the town a popular destination for eco-tourists. Donsol municipal police chief Inspector Jigo Lopez said Bantog was with three other BIOs when the assailants, who were wearing motorcycle helmets, struck. On December 11, Bayan Muna member Cris Frivaldo was shot dead by gunmen in Irosin. He was the younger brother of Irosin municipal councilor Max Frivaldo, also a Bayan Muna member, who was killed inside his house earlier this year. On December 12, human rights lawyer Gil Gojol, who was also a former Sorsogon provincial board member, was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen after he had just attended a court hearing. His driver, Danilo France, also died in the attack. Gojol was also a lawyer of Sotero Llamas, a consultant of the rebel National Democratic Front (NDF), who himself was slain last May. -GMANews.TV