http://www.karapatan.org/BS+Aquino+govt+continues+to+ignore+extrajudicial+killings%E2%80%94Karapatan

Karapatan today called on Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to put meaning to the word JUSTICE in her department and prosecute and punish all the perpetrators of human rights violations. “The BS Aquino government continues to turn a blind eye to the incidents of extrajudicial killings, now with seven victims in the first six weeks of 2014.”

“The trend is alarming and the DOJ is not doing anything about it. We are seeing a repeat of the Oplan Bantay Laya days of Gloria Arroyo,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general, said.

Karapatan slammed the Aquino government on the escalating incidents of extrajudicial killings committed by state security forces. The group has documented 169 victims of extrajudicial killings and 179 frustrated killings under the Aquino regime. The group brought with them seven “corpses” in front of the DOJ to depict the seven victims of extrajudicial killings for this year.

The latest reported killing received by Karapatan is that of a Higaonon datu (tribal chieftain) Rolando Ambungan in Brgy. Lumbuyan, Sitio Balakalan, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on January 31. A certain Eddie Ampiawan aka “commander Bawang” and two other men wearing masks shot Ambungan at around 7:00 p.m. while he was in his house’s veranda.

The killers were identified by Datu Ambungan’s sister who saw Commander Bawang fired an M-14 rifle. Datu Ambungan’s nephew Janmar Sulhayan was also hit during the shooting. Datu Ambungan was brought to a health facility but was declared dead on arrival.

Prior to the killing of Datu Ambungan, “Commander Bawang” tried to convince Datu Ambungan to be on their side and allow a mining company to operate in their community. On January 28, Datu Ambungan received a phone call from Commander Bawang who offered him Php 2 million. When Ambungan declined the offer, Bawang threatened to kill Ambungan. The whole phone conversation was heard on the speaker phone by Datu Ambungan and his sister Merlinda Sulhayan.

The six others killed from the period of January to February were:

• Marcelo Monterona, Barangay Elizalde, Maco town, Compostela Valley, killed January 5.
• Arman Padino, Hacienda Dolores in Pampanga, died on January 13.
• Henry C. Orbina, Cabid-an, Sorsogon City, killed January 30.
• Julieto Lauron, Haindangon, Valencia City, killed February 5.
• Rosauro Rayteran, Brgy. San Pascual, Libon, Albay, killed February 6
• Rasty Rayteran, 18, son of Rosauro, killed February 6

Most of those killed were peasants, indigenous people and a worker.

“With the 169 documented cases of extrajudicial killings under the BS Aquino government, none of the perpetrators were punished. In fact, even the charges against the killers of the Capion family, of Fr. Pops Tentorio, although with witnesses and strong evidence were dismissed. The killing spree continues as the government through its armed forces speeds up the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan,” Palabay said. ###

Reference:
Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Angge Santos
Media Liaison
+63918-9790580

http://www.karapatan.org/Human+rights+abuses+in+PH+abetted+by+US

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance condemns the continuing political persecution of human rights defenders under Oplan Bayanihan.

On 26 February 2014, posters with the heading “Rupa Ken Nagan ti NPA nga Agsusuweldo”  (Faces and Names of the New Peoples Army (NPA) Receiving Salaries) were mounted in markets and waiting sheds in different municipalities of Ifugao by State security forces and their agents.

Unjustly tagged as enemies of the people are Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) Secretary General Jude Baggo, Katribu National Chairperson Beverly Longid, Cordillera Peoples Alliance regional staff member Emerson Soriano, Makabayan leaders Liza Masa, Teddy Casino and Satur Ocampo, National Democratic Front of the Philippines Peace Negotiator Luis Jalandoni  and Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison. Under the photograph of CHRA Secretary General Jude Baggo are the words“NPA BRAIN”, his name and “HUNGDUAN” ( the Ifugao Municipality that he hails from).  The poster stated as well that the  Ifugao Research and Development Center (IRDC) was the house of the NPA in Lagawe. The poster wrongfully accused the people above as troublemakers and that they enjoy a good life from illegitimate means.  In bold letters at the bottom of this material was a warning, “WATCH OUT NPA SYMPATHIZERS AND SUPPORTERS!  THIS IS YOUR FIRST AND LAST WARNING!  WE THE UMILI ARE SICK AND TIRED OF YOU!”.   A certain group “Ifugao People’s Council” is signatory to the poster.

Why do we point to the State, its security forces and their agents as accountable for this?

This is not the first time that this was done.

In October 2012, a Target List in Tinoc, Ifugao of the 86^th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, and the 5^th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines classified Baggo as “Utak ng NPA” (brains of the New People’s Army). Baggo was subjected to surveillance, threats and incidents of harassment as well as the 27 others in the list which includes development workers, and members and leaders of people’s organizations. One even became a victim of illegal detention and torture in the same year.

These acts of red-tagging or political vilification are cheap attempts to cow human rights defenders into silence and paralyze their effective work of serving the people.

These are also measures to wrongfully condition the people into thinking that activism and political dissent are illegitimate. This would serve as a premise to justify other human rights violations that may be perpetrated against the people named and other leaders and members of their organizations.

The funds for this smear campaign and the whole policy under which it is being implemented, Oplan Bayanihan, come from the nation’s coffers and are being used by the Aquino government against the people.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance reiterates our demand that the Aquino government and its State security forces should put a stop to the political vilification of human rights defenders and political dissenters. No person’s rights should be violated because of one’s involvement in the defense and assertion of human dignity.

We call for an end to Oplan Bayanihan — the policy that has definitely not resulted to peace and development but has instead resulted to a condemnable record of human rights violations.

For reference:
Atty. Jennifer Asuncion
Vice Chairperson
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
Mobile number:  +639198286247

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Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
55 Ferguson Road, Baguio City, Philippines
telefax: +63. 74. 443. 7159
telephone:  +63 74 304 4239
cp:  +63 918 919 9007
email: chra.karapatan@gmail.com

By John Ian Alenciaga
Media Relations Officer, PAMANGGAS

ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES – Indigenous peoples under TUMANDUK (Indigenous Farmers in Defense of Land and Life) organization held a picket yesterday morning in front of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office at Barangay (village) Tacas, Jaro, Iloilo City, in opposition to the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP2), a.k.a. Jalaur megadam project.

Numbering around 60 individuals, the group was joined by members of Panay and Guimaras-wide peasant alliance PAMANGGAS, women’s group GABRIELA, urban poor settlers KADAMAY, all under the Panay wide alliance of BAYAN-Panay.

“We do not need the dam. What will be left of us when our areas are submerge in waters? Where do we live? What will we plant on waters? And how do we live when our life, culture and livelihood is already gone?,” cried Reynaldo Giganto, a TUMANDUK council member.

According to Giganto, the project is never and will never favor the indigenous peoples. “The offered 17,000 jobs are just temporary. After that, what is left of us is our land floating on waters.”

“And if the jobs come, what jobs are we getting but solely odd jobs like masonry, carpentry, and other low-paying jobs that need not college or high school education,” he added.

On her part, Marevic Aguirre, TUMANDUK chairperson, said that NIA has consistently hidden, limited information and even distorted it in favor of their personal interests.

“In their Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) or in any other meetings, they (NIA) never discussed the issue that tumandok areas will be submerged. But in their submitted feasibility study report to the Korean Export-Import Bank in November 2011, it indicated submerged areas.”

The administration’s counter arguments were heard yesterday afternoon after the Supreme Court issued a Writ of Kalikasan in October 2013. The high court found the petitioner’s case of former Cong. Augusto Syjuco Jr, “sufficient in form and substance”.

Respondents in the petition were the officials from NIA, NCIP, DENR, NEDA, DA, DAR, DPWH and Sen. Frank Drilon, among others.

“While this office is steady-strong in pursuing the project, they will also expect strong and growing opposition not just from us tumandoks, but the entire Ilonggo and Filipino people as well,” Giganto ended.

The hearing made a recess after more than an hour of counter argument presentation. The proponent’s group even tried to nullify and dismiss the case but the Court of Appeals stand by its decision that the petitioner’s case remains legitimate.

The hearing will resume on March 14 in a debate exercise of both sides, in time also for the International Day of Action for Rivers.

Reference:
Media Relations Officer, PAMANGGAS
Mobile No: +639093569372

MAREVIC AGUIRRE
Chairperson, TUMANDUK
Mobile: +639093217274
E-mail: tumandok_panay@yahoo.com

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