ON HIS 10th death anniversary, we come together in remembrance of our beloved Romeo Capalla. Despite those long frustrating years that his killers remained scot-free and shielded by impunity, we continue calling for justice for his killing.
Romy Capalla, an activist and a veteran in the struggle against the martial law of the dictator Marcos became a prominent fair-trade advocate. He led in putting up muscovado mills and assisted small sugarcane farmers in cultivation and production while strengthening and empowering them by helping build their community organizations.
He became a victim of red-tagging, surveillance and threats and was arrested and detained on trumped up charges as a repressive government wanted to stop activists like him. These all did not deter him from his desire to be of service to the people, especially the poor and marginalized, and his commitment to meaningful social change that can end poverty and oppression.
It was in late afternoon on March 15, 2014 when Romy’s life was brutally ended near the entrance of the Public Market of Oton, Iloilo. The gunmen involved in his shooting were believed to be members of an armed group operating under the control of the government’s armed forces.
Romy’s family, friends, co-workers, human rights activists and people’s organizations who were touched by his advocacies and services cried out for justice, demanding that government authorities arrest and prosecute Romy’s killers.
Every anniversary was an occasion for a renewed call for justice. Ten years have passed, but none of the killers was identified.
Instead, we saw a worsening situation of killings and impunity in the country as more activists were being killed and other forms of human rights violations increased. It became clear that the real killer is the tyrannical system of governance that does not tolerate dissent but uses deadly force to muzzle citizens and keep them under control.
Thus, the force of injustice seems formidable but the people have proven time and again since the era of the Spanish colonizers and through the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship that they can resist and topple a tyrannical rule.
In our warmest remembrance of Romy Capalla and his love for the people, we pay our highest tribute to him and renew our commitment to pursue his legacy of serving the people. We will continue empowering the poor and marginalized until they are united into a compelling force that will put an end to all forms of oppression. Only then can we attain justice for Romy Capalla and all others like him. – PANAY ALLIANCE KARAPATAN, SAMAHAN NG MGA EX-DETAINEE LABAN SA DETENSYON AT ARESTO <panaykarapatan@gmail.com>
