Bayan Leader in Pangasinan Killed

from: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Another activist was killed while his brother was seriously injured in an ambush in Pangasinan province today.

Jose Doton, 70, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general for Pangasinan, is the fifth activist to be killed in a week, the 67th so far this year and the 585th since 2001, according to the human rights group Karapatan.

Reports said Jose and his brother Diosdado were on their way to the San Nicolas town proper at past 9:30 a.m. when they were attacked. Doton died instantly due to bullet wounds to the head. Diosdado was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Doton was also chairman of the farmers group Timpuyog ti Mannalon a Mangwayawaya ti Agno (Timmawa).

Roman Polintan, chairman of Bayan Central Luzon, said that Jose was the 27th leader of Bayan in Central Luzon killed since January 2006. He added that 20 others have remained missing.

The group has recorded 49 deaths in Central Luzon last year, said Polintan.