For Immediate Release
February 16, 2007
Contact:
Princess R. Bustos
Chairperson
League of Filipino Students
San Francisco State University
lfschair@bayanusa.orgwww.myspace.com/leagueoffilipinostudents Youth and Student Leader Shot Five Times on Valentines Day
(San Francisco, California, USA), The League of Filipino Students San Francisco State University chapter vehemently condemns the malicious murder of yet another youth and student leader in the Bikol Region, Camarines Norte, Philippines. Farly Alcantara II, 23, was on his way home with a professor aboard a motorcycle when an unknown assailant fired at him hitting him in the head five times with a .45 caliber on February 14 at 9:40 pm (Philippines time). Alcantara died immediately after four meters away from the school gate, the professor was not harmed. Alcantara was also the spokesperson for the League of Filipino Students Camarines Norte and a member of the Asian Student Association, an alliance of youth and student activists in Asia. Alcantara was a business administrator major at Camarines Norte State College in Daet and was set to graduate this March.
The League of Filipino Students-SFSU, is outraged by this atrocious and cowardly act. Alcantara like the rest of the 830 victims of political killings before him, were all unarmed civilians, organizing and fighting for the basic needs of the Filipino people. Alcantara is the third LFS member murdered under the fascist and undemocratic puppet of the U.S.-Arroyo regime. Cris Hugo, 19 and Rei Mon Guran 21 were killed last year while another former member of the LFS, Karen Empeno remain missing to this day. The Arroyo administration vowed to investigate all of the political killings and promised to seek justice for all the families of the victims. Unsurprisingly, this promise remains just that, a promise, and ironically more money have been allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their military minions, whom many believed to be the perpetrators of these vulgar and immoral acts of violence.
We, the League of Filipino Students-SFSU grieves the loss of a komrade who sacrificed his life so that others may one day live a better one. We are saddened by the death of kasama Farly especially in such a ruthless manner. But his death will not go in vain. His death inspires us to continue our fervent fight for National Democracy for the Philippines and to serve the needs of our constituents in our local community. Although we live in the belly of the beast, we share a common enemy and we will not give up until victory is won. Kasama Farly is an example of a selfless person who chose to serve the people until his last breath. The resistance and the fight of the Filipino people will not waiver, but instead continue to ignite ever more powerful and determined as countless others will walk the path that he and komrades before him chose to take. Lastly, we would also like to extend our warmest condolences to our komrades in LFS-Camarines Norte and the Alcantara family.
MABUHAY SI KA’FARLY (Long Live Ka’Farly)
MABUHAY ANG PAMBANSA DEMOKRATIKONG PILIPINAS! (Long Live the National Democratic Movement)
JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF POLITICAL KILLINGS AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
STOP THE POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES NOW! ###
League of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University strives to understand the conditions and issues of local Filipino and Filipino American youth/students and that of youth/students in the Philippines with the goal of uncovering the concrete connections between our conditions in the first world and theirs in our shared homeland. We seek to mobilize our Filipino and Filipino American peers and concerned allies through the numerous events, actions, and educational discussions we host to help build the movement for a truly free and democratic Philippines.
LFS-SFSU is an Anti-Imperialist, Pro-People, Pro-National Democracy organization representing the Youth/Students sector and is an international chapter of LFS Philippines and a member organization of BAYAN-USA (www.bayanusa.org) and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (www.ilps-news.com).