A MEMBER of the left-leaning peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas was allegedly tortured and murdered by suspected militiamen in Calatrava, Negros Occidental last Oct. 11.

KMP said the body of Alano Clerigo was found, with signs of possible torture, in a cane field a day after he was taken by two armed men, one of whom was identified as a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

The human rights group Karapatan which investigated in the incident said Clerigo was tending to his cow near his home in Sitio Lagoc when he was abducted. One of his abductors was identified as Silvestre Abiso, said to be a Cafgu member. Clerigo’s brother Warlito and two neighbors saw the incident.

The next day, 17 military men and Abiso emerged from a nearby canefield and told Clerigo’s family, which was searching for him, to talk with barangay chairman Ernesto Baynosa. The suspicious family followed the tracks of Clerigo’s abductors and found a freshly dug spot which yielded Clerigo’s body.

Karapatan said Clerigo’s body "bore multiple bruises and burns; the genital was sliced in half; a plastic wrapper was tucked inside his mouth and his head was enveloped with a plastic bag indicating that Alano was severely tortured before he was killed."

Wilfredo Marbella, KMP deputy internal secretary general, said the victim’s family suspects that Alano was tortured by the military and that he was killed to sow fear among the people in the community.

"The cases of extrajudicial killings continue and they are still targeting peasants under KMP. We are holding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directly responsible for this and we are calling on all people to help put a stop to these types of atrocities by the regime," Marbella said in a statement.

Based on the tally of Karapatan, more than 800 cases of extra-judicial killings, victimizing mostly militant activists have occurred since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001.