By By Juliane Judilla
ILOILO, Philippines — Two elderly, Mateo Suarez, 72, and Roberto Cabales, 68, were killed in an alleged “encounter” in Brgy. Coto, Lambunao, Iloilo, on the evening of October 5.
Suarez and Cabales had previously been detained on charges that were later dismissed by courts. Suarez had been cleared of murder and firearms possession in 2014, while Cabales had endured state abduction, torture, and illegal detention in the late 1990s.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) alleged that the deaths resulted from a legitimate armed encounter while serving a warrant for rebellion against Cabales.
According to the military’s account, the two “fought back,” prompting government forces to return fire. Suarez and Cabales were reportedly unarmed at the time of their deaths.
However, this version is now under serious scrutiny. Community members and witnesses reported no signs of an exchange of gunfire in the area and no indications that Suarez or Cabales resisted arrest. Human rights advocates fear this is another case of summary execution disguised as a lawful operation.
History of Persecution
Cabales was first arrested on June 11, 1999, by the Military Intelligence Group (MIG), only to be released five days later after it was found that the arrest warrant didn’t bear his name. Later that year, on November 22, he was abducted again—this time with fellow activist Ruben Saluta—and was forcibly disappeared for several days, during which he was allegedly interrogated and threatened.
Saluta was surfaced nearly a month later; Cabales, after three days—thanks to pressure from his family and human rights workers.
Suarez, meanwhile, was imprisoned at the Capiz Rehabilitation Center from 2012 until 2014, when he was cleared of all charges. Since his release, he had lived quietly in Lambunao.
Family Speaks Out: “Our Tatay Was Not Wrong”
In a moving statement, the family of Roberto Cabales rejected the state’s narrative and shared their grief and anger over his killing.
“We refuse to let others tell tales—especially the machinations of those culpable of his murder—about who Roberto Cabales is,” the family said. “His narrative is ours to tell.”
They described Cabales as a dedicated family man—a gentle father, a loving husband, and a doting grandfather—whose revolutionary ideals stemmed from a desire to create a more just society. While acknowledging his political beliefs, the family said they took pride in his convictions and the path he chose.
“To us, he is a dedicated communist, and we are not ashamed of it. Not everyone in our family may agree with the necessity of a civil war to change society, but we all agree that it is an unjust one, and that it needs changing,” they said.
They condemned the labeling of dissenters as “terrorists,” calling it a tactic to suppress legitimate criticism and dissent.
“Before you agree with the military and the police that they did a good job by killing our Tatay, we wanted you to hear our story… Think about it deeply. Our Tatay was not wrong,” the statement concluded.
Call for Accountability
The killings of Suarez and Cabales have reignited calls for justice from local and national human rights defenders.
Human rights group Panay Alliance Karapatan (PAK) reiterated its longstanding critique of the government’s counterinsurgency program, which it claims often targets activists and civilians under the guise of national security.
“The deliberate targeting of elderly and defenseless individuals is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights,” the group said in a statement.
“This incident adds to the long list of extrajudicial killings and attacks against political activists, human rights defenders, and former political prisoners under the AFP’s counterinsurgency campaign,” it added.
PAK has called for an independent and impartial investigation, saying those responsible must be held accountable. They also urged protection for the victims’ families and witnesses, citing a pattern of harassment and intimidation in similar past incidents./PT
