Condemn killing of Ka Victor

BOHOLANO sectors altogether gritted their teeth in harshest condemnation over the slaying of Victor Olayvar, provincial chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), after a daring early morning ambush September 7. Boholanos denounced the shooting, which came as a big blow to the advancing peace situation in the province. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) recently decided to hold two days of the National Peace Month celebration here, a feat shared by only two other provinces in the country. Minutes after the fatal shots rang in mountainous Cantubod Danao, Governor Erico Aumentado strongly condemned the senseless killing. Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak who sent his messages via text messages also joined Aumentado's condemnation of the killings. Bishop Tumulak chairs the Local Peace Forum (LPF), which called the militant groups and the police and military to dialog on the alleged threats of “political killings” that happened across the country.

Meanwhile, Provincial Tourism Council Chair Peter Dejaresco who was visibly concerned, also denounced the killing adding it may burst the bubble of the fragile and violence-allergic tourism industry. 302nd Brigade Commander Colonel Arthur Tabaquero, upon whose shoulders are placed the militant group's blame for what they alleged as military operation issued similar denouncement of the killing. For his part, police Provincial Director Arturo Evangelista reportedly said the Olayvar killing was different from other killings in the country. He, however, declined to elaborate why. Bayan Muna Provincial Chair John Ruiz III also joined the chorus through a press statement sent to the Post.

In another press release, Bayan vice chairperson Pepe dela Torre has accused the PNP and the military of staining the Olayvar slay investigations with malicious lies and accusations. Over the hullabaloo and the apparent war of propagandas spawned by the slay, Gov. Aumentado stepped in and vowed to come up with the truth. “I am prepared to elevate the case to the Melo Commission – if necessary – if only to get to the truth,” the governor said.

The condemnations and denouncements came five days after Boholanos formalized an offer of the police and military to provide security to at least four militant leaders allegedly threatened by political killings. Immediately after the incident, the governor, who also sits as LPF vice chair, directed both PSsupt. Arturo Evangelista, police provincial director and Col. Arthur Tabaquero, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, to form an investigative body and submit an initial report [on the killing] within 72 hours. Aumentado added “it saddened him that the killing took place a few days after the LPF sealed a dialogue between the military and the police on one hand and the group of Mr. Olayvar on the other.” Furthermore, the governor also directed the military and the police to secure the leaders of the other militant and cause-oriented groups in Bohol. Feeling the weight of blames from militant leaders who, even before the police scene of the crime operations could finish their investigations, the military and local police have cried unfair over unfounded accusations.

As early as 1:00 pm Thursday, Cebu radio stations apparently fed by adulterated sources started accusing the 15th Infantry Battalion troopers as culprits. Another report said the perpetrators were trained assassins unleashed by Col. Tabaquero. Task Force Karapatan Central Visayas Dennis Abbarientos, Cebu radio reporters quote has accordingly issued accusatory statements even before local Karapatan could mobilize a fact-finding team. Even with the big blow to Bohol peace situation, Aumentado presided over a joint command conference of the police and the military along with concerned sectors. The meeting also took on peace and order issues shaken by robberies and killings that prejudiced the economic takeoff of the province.

In convening the LPF, the governor was confident that together, the civilians, the military, the police and the militant groups can maintain the peace and tranquility – the province's cutting edge or advantage in its economic takeoff. At the LPF, the militant group leaders and Tabaquero and Evangelista exchanged mobile phone numbers to alert the cops and military on suspicious tails. Military and police have even offered both camps as shelter for the militant leaders asking further to notify cops of their trips to coordinate security. But before Olayvar could text or notify the police about his whereabouts that day, he was shot approximately a hundred kilometers from his Panglao home. The Olayvar killing, an incident militants claim as another victim of a national drive to silence administration critics has slanted the blame to military operations – a convenient way to explain his death. But in Olayvar's case, Tabaquero denied military involvement, and so has Evangelista. The Provincial Peace and Order Council has sent a multi-sectoral fact finding team to the site but has yet to present its report to the PPOC which may convene on September 16.

Police theories;

On witness accounts, Evangelista eyed at least five angles in Olayvar's death. With at least one suspect visibly in his mid-50s, police are opening vendetta angle. Olayvar could have caused the execution of an NPA member who could be a relative of the suspect, Evangelista said. Consistent with the Communist Party's Oplan Bushfire, Olayvar could have been suspected of playing double agent with his nod on to localized peace talks; a taboo to the NDF. Olayvar was not registering an objection to a LPF resolution appealing to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-National Democratic Front (NDF) and allow their local structures to address local issues or the resolution urging the NPA to stop the collection of revolutionary taxes.

Third, witnesses said Olayvar and current Humabol head William Boybanting had an altercation outside the conference room after the LPF. Apparently Boybanting was irked when Olayvar shared that Humabol gave P50T quarterly contributions to the NPA and that the current leadership is not transparent over money matters. Another angle, Evangelista said, is some businessman getting back after being extorted big amounts of revolutionary tax. The angle came after Olayvar rounded Talibon, San Miguel and Trinidad towns, possibly for a collection run. (See related story on Page 8)

Former police provincial director Sancho Bernales, Capitol consultant on peace and order said Olayvar himself is a revolutionary tax collector who failed to remit quite a sum. Moreover, Bernales, who hails from Mabini said Julieto Ayag, Olayvar's driver is also a revolutionary tax collector. Initially, Ayag denied knowing Olayvar. Evangelista however said Karapatan-Bohol secretary general Lisa Serenio blasted Ayag's myth when, at Camp Dagohoy, she said she knew both Olayvar and Ayag and that both knew each other. They always came to her office together, the provincial director quoted her as saying. Amidst accusations of unfair investigations, Evangelista, Tabaquero and Teruel vowed there would be no whitewash in their investigations.

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