SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan—The secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
(Bayan) in Pangasinan was gunned down while his younger brother was wounded
after two unidentified suspects shot them while they were on their way home
around 10:30 a.m. yesterday in barangay Camanggaan this town.
Inspector Fernando Paneda, police chief here told local newsmen that
the fatality, Jose Doton, 62, also president of Timpuyog Ti Mannalon a
Mangwayawaya (TIMMAWA) An Association of Farmers Seeking to Free Agno River)
bore three gunshot wounds, two in his breast and one in the head that led to
his instant death.
His companion who is his younger brother, Diosdado alias Cancio,
57, sustained two gunshot wounds at the back of his body. Diosdado was
driving the motorcycle when the incident happened. The two went together at
the town proper and were on their way home to barangay Cabuloan but the
suspects wearing helmet shot them from behind in a close range.
He was rushed to nearby Tayug Family Hospital where he underwent
operation. As of press time, he is still under observation.

The police recovered six empty shells and one slug of caliber .45 at
the crime scene. They immediately set up checkpoints but the suspects fled
along a forested area.
Paneda said he was assigned as security officer at the San Roque Dam
in 2004 when he was still with the Provincial Mobile Group based in Tayug
but was not aware of any threat against Doton for his crusade.
Senior Superintendent Alan Purisima, police provincial director
immediately formed Task Force Doton for the speedy solution of the case.
Doton was unrelenting in his crusade to stop the operation of the
San Roque Dam, second largest dam in Asia built in this town and in San
Manuel area.
He is also president of the association of gold panners and
vigorously fought for them especially those displaced due to the
construction of the dam.
Every year, Doton’s group holds protest rally in Dagupan City and in
other towns seeking to stop San Roque Dam operation.
Laida Doton, daughter of Cancio, said the two victims are very close
to each other.
She said her uncle Jose had a meeting with a farmers’ group that
morning and her father went with him as he was also to get his salary as
bulldozer operator in the municipal government of San Nicolas.
Laida was also with the two brothers prior to the incident but
decided to ride in another tricycle. She said she was also traveling the
same road when the crime happened and saw two motorcyle- riding men wearing
helmet along the road.
It was Laida and her other companions who brought Cancio to the
hospital.
The police could not yet establish the motive of the crime. They
said they were not aware that the slain victim was a ranking leader of Bayan.
Meanwhile, Fr. Terry Revollido, chairman of Bayan Pangasinan said they will
form a fact finding mission about the incident together with Karapatang
Pangasinan and Promotion of Church for People’s Response.