Republic of the PhilippinesHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TWELFTH CONGRESSThird Regular Session

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 1226_____________________________________________________________________________________

Introduced by Reps. SATUR C. OCAMPO, CRISPIN B. BELTRAN and LIZA L. MAZA _____________________________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE COLD-BLOODED KILLING OF ENGR. JAKE SORIANO, BAYAN MUNA MEMBER IN JONES,

ISABELA WHO WAS SHOT RIGHT IN HIS HOUSE IN BARANGAY SAN VICENTE, JONES ON MAY 15, 2003 BY ARMED MEN BELIEVED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY FOLLOWING THE RECENT

HOTLY CONTESTED SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT OF ISABELA, BECOMING THE 32ND BAYAN MUNA MEMBER KILLED IN THE COURSE OF LEGITIMATE ORGANIZING WORK

WHEREAS according to the human rights group KARAPATAN in Cagayan Valley, at around 9:00 p.m. last May 15, 2003, three armed men in military fatigue uniform knocked on the house of Jake Soriano, 45, an engineer and barangay captain of San Vicente, Jones, Isabela and a member too of Bayan Muna;

WHEREAS the armed men reportedly said, “Kapitan, may isusurender kami sa inyo” (Barangay captain, we are turning over someone to you). Other men, similarly armed and clad in military uniform, surrounded Soriano’s house;

WHEREAS the three armed men presented to Soriano an unidentified person who was tied up. The men claimed that they were turning over the latter who supposedly figured in a robbing incident in their barangay;

WHEREAS when Soriano stepped out of the house, one of the armed men grabbed him on the shoulder. Soriano, sensing danger, called for his wife and tried to wrestle free. However, the man instantly shot Soriano and pumped two more bullets in his body;

WHEREAS Soriano’s killing is strongly believed to be related to the recent special congressional elections held in the fourth district of Isabela which has been marred by intense controversy. Soriano served as campaign manager in Jones, Isabela of Dr. Siony Abaya, the wife of Rep. Antonio Abaya who ran for the post vacated by her deceased husband; WHEREAS according to Soriano’s cousin Domeng Mamauag, Isabela Governor Faustino Dy Jr. had asked Soriano to meet with him prior to the May 12 special elections. In that meeting, Soriano told Dy that he was campaigning for Abaya. Dy, however, had reportedly fielded Atty. Giogidi Aggabao. Aggabao won the post in a widely contested election deemed by civic organizations and Ilagan Bishop Sergio Utleg as “the most fraudulent in the history of Isabela”;

WHEREAS Jake Soriano is the 32nd member of Bayan Muna killed in the course of undertaking legitimate organizing work for that national political party;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives hereby condemns the cold-blooded killing of Engr. Jake Soriano, Bayan Muna member in Jones, Isabela who was shot right in his house in Barangay San Vicente, Jones on May 15, 2003 by armed men believed to be connected to the Philippine military following the recent hotly contested special congressional elections in the fourth district of Isabela, becoming the 32nd Bayan Muna member killed in the course of legitimate organizing work.

Adopted,

SATUR C. OCAMPO CRISPIN B. BELTRAN LIZA L. MAZABayan Muna–Party-List Bayan Muna–Party-List Bayan Muna–Party-List