Justice for 'Raffy Nabre'

Raffy Nabre was an assumed name. Actually, it was his nom de guerre. His real name was Jesus Dillo. 

 

He became an activist during the Martial Law years, as a student organizer at Mindanao State University in Dinaig (MSU-Maguindanao Campus). In the course of his political work, he became “hot” and he was pursued by the fascist military intelligence that he had to assume another name.

 

He became an organizer and a leading cadre in Southern Mindanao until the end of Martial Law with the victory of the people power that ushered in Cory Aquino to the presidency of the Republic. Raffy remained “underground” until the democratic space was entrenched allowing the mainstreaming of the progressive left into the legal political struggle through the party-list system that paved the way for the participation of marginal sectors in the political arena. This was prior to the “bastardization” of the party system by traditional politicians.

 

Raffy and other kindred progressive left in Southern Mindanao formed the Anak Mindanao (AMIN) as a party list to represent the emerging “tri-people consciousness” (Bangsamoro peoples, Indigenous Peoples and Christians) in Mindanao.  

 

AMIN aims to carry progressive agenda in Congress with a particular focus on Mindanao issues like the right to self determination for the Bangsamoro peoples, IPRA for the Indigenous Peoples, and the nationalist agenda for the Christian inhabitants of Mindanao. In short, it is the progressive legal left agenda for Mindanao.  

 

AMIN has been successful in galvanizing the “tri-people” support and they sent one to two representatives in Congress. First was Regional Governor Mujib Hataman who was AMIN’s congressman for three terms, and second was Ariel Hernandez who became the second AMIN representative for almost two years—less than a full term—until 2010.

 

All was not well in AMIN beginning in 2009 when the party got divided on the issue of leadership. The split became deeper when the other faction staged a “coup” that led to the ouster of Raffy as secretary-general and Rep. Mujib Hataman as AMIN chair emeritus. The “renegade” Party Congress elected a “new set” of AMIN officials.  In many ways, the split in AMIN contributed to its electoral defeat in the 2010 elections.  

 

The AMIN leadership led by Raffy and then Rep. Mujib Hataman brought the case to Comelec. About two months ago, the Comelec en banc ruled that the party “Congress” was improperly called and all its acts were nullified and restored the “status quo ante” in the AMIN party list.

 

With the Comelec en banc decision, AMIN is, again, under the leadership of Raffy Nabre as secretary-general and Regional Governor Mujib Hataman as the chair emeritus. There have been a new push and energy in the AMIN that the party is ready and in full gear for the 2013 elections.  

 

Raffy had always stood for three things: unity of all peoples of Mindanao regardless of ethnicity and religions; genuine reforms through progressive agenda for Mindanao; and people empowerment, specifically grassroots political participation in all existing mechanisms for decision and policy-making bodies from barangay councils to municipal and provincial councils.

 

At the prospect of the possible appointment of former AMIN Rep. Mujiv Hataman to the OIC ARMM governorship, Raffy became one of the moving spirits in the Reform Autonomous Region or RAN. And when Mujib was appointed regional governor, he became his closest aide and consultant.  

 

Since December 2011, Raffy became a familiar presence in many consultations and meetings that seek to reform the ARMM. He also became one of the staunchest defenders of ARMM Reforms and of RG Mujiv Hataman in the ARMM Watch and in all fora and platforms.

 

Raffy Nabre was shot on June 27 at about 5:45 p.m. while riding a habal-habal (commuter bike) on his way home somewhere near two restaurants on a very busy street. 

 

No doubt, the killing of Raffy is a political act. All indicators point to hired professional killers. Sad to say, the PNP is, as usual, CLUELESS as to who hired the killers, why, and who benefited from his death. These are the questions that remain unanswered. 

 

The crime lab in the region may have the equipment and the competence for bullet matching, at least in the crimes committed in the region, but the SOP now being followed is a formula for NON-RESOLUTION of the crime. Believe it or not, the “artifacts” in any crime are sent to the national crime lab at Camp Crame for NATIONAL matching. SUS! Before any matching is done, it would take a lifetime. The only hope we have is that it happens in our lifetime and NOT in other people’s lifetime!

 

Meanwhile, we cry for Justice for Raffy Nabre as we continue to hold on to our hope that CRIME DOES NOT PAY!