We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal and absolutely unjustifiable use of force by state agents to quell the people’s legitimate resistance in defense of their homes on December 4, 2013 at Calangahan, Lugait town in Misamis Oriental. This use of excessive force resulted in the death of an individual, the wounding of two others and the violation of the rights of many.

Nexon Togao, the victim slain in the indiscriminate firing, was confirmed dead on arrival after two bullets shot by a plain-clothed police officer tore through his kidney and genital area.  Nexon was merely trying to rescue his son who fainted from the  the tear gas thrown by authorities.  It must be noted that Tongao was not immediately carried towards safety due to the onslaught of bullets. Some residents overheard some police officers saying “shoot them in the head.”

We abhor the absolute disrespect of the police officers of the rights of the residents especially of the women and children. The police officers even hog-tied several women protesters in the heat of the scuffle. One police officer had the gall to tell the resident he pinned down – “we just want you to be resting in the sidelines” while his knee was pinning her to the ground.

We condemn the pronouncements coming from the responding police saying that they only acted in retaliation after residents started throwing rocks at them when in fact it was the other way around. ALBIDEC’s (Alyansa sa mga Biktima sa Demolisyon sa Calangahan or Alliance of Demolition Victims in Calangahan) leaders were intending to confront the local police force and the court sheriff as to why the demolition was so sudden. Residents say that they were only informed about the demolition at 6AM that day. The residents protested, the talks failed, and that instead of answers, the demolition team and the police forces responded by throwing canisters of tear gas at the protesting residents. This blatant twisting of facts and spewing of half-truths only aims at controlling the public opinion to deflect the public’s attention from their accountability in the Hacienda Luisita-like blood bath.

This use of force to slaughter, maim and harass to subdue a civilian populace has no place in a nation that proclaims to be democratic.

We fully understand that the bureaucratic mechanisms prevalent under the current make-up of society prevents the residents from restoring their homes destroyed by individuals whose values have lead them to believe that an individual or corporation’s right to property heavily outweighs an entire community’s right to life.

We cry foul over the persistence of cruelty committed by the corporation claiming the property. As of the moment, tensions in the community are high because the fifteen meters guaranteed by the provincial government to the residents as a temporary area for their shanties is being fenced by the members of the demolition team hired by Achondoa Agro-industrial Corporation. This is deplorable and must be stopped considering that the residents have already been displaced and that no relocation area is readily available.

We recognize that the path to elevate the residents from their bitter plight requires a steadfast, sustained and willful effort. We assert that the target area for relocation must be near the residents’ source of income – the sea, since a majority of them are fisherfolk.

We appeal to the local government to continue providing for the immediate humanitarian concerns of the demolished residents – food and medicines. We challenge them to fully commit to the demands of the people for land, livelihood and decent living.

More importantly, those accountable for the blood shed must face justice. Their blatant abuse of force and severe disregard for human dignity must be halted. The residents will not be cowed.  The residents have lost their homes for a second time. Now, more than ever, they are determined to assert their rights. The victims are more than ready to face the perpetrators in the formal halls, street, parliaments and everywhere needed to put these masquerading butchers behind bars.

For reference:

Wildon C. Barros
Spokesperson
Task Force Lugait

Gary Ben Villocino
Public Information Officer
Task Force Lugait

* Task Force Lugait is an alliance formed after the violent demolition of around 250 shanties in Calangahan, Lugait, Misamis Oriental on 04 December 2013. It will work for the assertion of the right of the demolition victims to land, livelihood and decent living, and will convene an international fact finding mission to probe the violent demolition and file necessary charges against the perpetrators. Task Force Lugait is composed of ALBIDEC, the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPL), and the Northern Mindanao formations of Karapatan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), AMIHAN, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), League of Filipino Students (LFS) and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP).

—

———————————————

National Secretariat
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)
3F Erythrina Building
Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax no.920-6660
Email addresses: nupl2007@gmail.com and nuplphilippines@yahoo.com
Follow us on twitter @nuplphilippines and facebook @https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines
Visit the NUPL website at http://www.nupl.net/

Human Rights Day 2013 — Focus on the Philippines

The 10^th of December 2013 marks the 65^th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This Declaration has encouraged governments, and others, to promote and protect the human rights of people; historic advances have been made in many countries.

At this time, we are mourning the loss of Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest figures in recent history, who gave his life to affirming human dignity and to confronting and fighting against all that belittles and undermines it. We honour and salute Nelson Mandela and we will continue to be inspired by his life, his courage and his commitment to justice.

The office for the UN Commissioner for Human Rights lists twenty great advances that have been made over the years. “Human rights have become central to the global conversation regarding peace, security and development”. Special mention is given to the rights of women, children, LGBT people and victims of torture and it is emphasised that there is a “global consensus that serious violations of human rights must not go unpunished. … There is heightened awareness and growing demand … for greater transparency and accountability from government”. Much has been achieved throughout the world but there is still a very long way to go.

The Philippines was one of the first countries to sign the UDHR but, sadly, has an appalling record in relation to observing both the letter and the spirit of this momentous Declaration.

In a damning report in April 2008, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Philip Alston, highlighted evidence that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other government agencies, had been implicated directly or indirectly in assassinations including of trade union activists, ministers of religion, people from indigenous communities, lawyers, journalists, human rights campaigners and farmers’ rights activists. Alston investigated 96 cases himself. He reported that witnesses had been intimidated, harassed and even murdered.

The picture painted by Alston was familiar to many who were concerned about human rights violations in the Philippines. One might have hoped that this world-wide publicity might have embarrassed the Arroyo Administration and its international allies to take some positive action to rectify this appalling state of affairs. Sadly, this was not to be so – but this failure only reconfirms the need for people throughout the world to speak out loudly about the continuing human rights abuses in the Philippines and the corruption at all levels of governance. This is the very least we can do for our Filipino brothers and sisters who regularly face the hostility of the state as they stand up for their basic human rights.

The picture in 2013 is as bleak as it has been for many a year. Of profound concern is the continuing culture of impunity that is perpetuated by the lethargy, lack of interest and connivance of successive Presidencies.

November 2013 saw the 9^th anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre of workers, the 4^th anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre of journalists and others – in neither case have those responsible been convicted of these heinous murders. On top of this there are hundreds of other cases of murder, abduction and torture that remain unpunished. The Aquino Administration may deny there is a culture of impunity but the facts are clear for all to see. Notorious abusers of human rights, such as Jovito Palparan, the Butcher of Mindoro, remain at liberty despite an arrest warrant, and other military officers with tarnished reputations are promoted rather than reprimanded.

The promotion of Gen. John Bonafos as commander of the Central Command of the AFP to operate in the Visayas coupled with the recent appointment of former police general Panfilo Lacson as rehabilitation czar in Samar-Leyte are seen by many to be Aquino’s move to give priority to his counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan (a simple re-naming of the insidious and malicious Oplan Bantay Laya of his predecessor Macapagal-Arroyo), with its associated human rights abuses, rather than to rebuilding the lives and homes of the victims of Yolanda.

This year Human Rights Activists throughout the world have emphasised, among other issues, the rights of women, yet in the Philippines child protection systems are almost non-existent and women and children continue to suffer abuse as a result. Since President Benigno Aquino III came to power, 18 women have been victims of extra-judicial killings (KARAPATAN), there have been attacks against women human rights defenders and 23 women have been arrested and detained.

In the past few days there has been several news reports on the clearance and destruction of homes in Lugait, Misamis Oriental, with the connivance of police officers without ID markings. They were serving the Achondoa Agro-industrial Corporation’s lust for profit and lack of concern about the lives of ordinary families, and in this demolition one young man was killed and many others made homeless.

Sadly, such events are not isolated and indicate yet again, how those in power, the wealthy, have such little regard for the basic human rights of the masses, hiding behind the “letter of the law” to carry out their anti-people activities. The abuse of children’s rights continues to be documented through the work of people and organisations such as the Children’s Rehabilitation Center with regional partner Association for the Rights of Children in South East Asia (ARCSEA), Father Shay Cullen and the Preda Foundation, among others.

A recent KARAPATAN report noted that under the administration of Benigno Aquino III extra-judicial killings had reached 152 by August of this year, there had been 18 cases of enforced disappearances, 80 torture complaints by political activists filed between July 2010 and August 2013, 608 political activists had been illegally arrested and 214 were victims of illegal search and seizure. The national chairperson of KARAPATAN said that in spite of all his words to the contrary “his administration is no different from that of previous Presidents as far as human rights abuses are concerned”.

This International Human Rights Day is yet another important opportunity to highlight the state of affairs in the Philippines with regard to continuing human rights violations, the failure to bring those responsible to justice, and the collusion and indifference of the Administration of President Benigno Aquino III and those governments which continue to turn a blind eye to this rampant abuse.

Reference:

Canon Barry Naylor
Chairperson, Global Council
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
Office: +44 (0) 116 261 5371
Mobile: +44 (0) 775 785 3621

Peter Murphy
General Secretary, Global Council
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)
Mobile: +61 418312301

As human rights groups and people’s organizations gear up for the commemoration of the International Human Rights day on 10 December, the BS Aquino government opted to commemorate the event by going on a rampage, resulting to a series of extrajudicial killings committed by State forces, and in violation of human rights and international humanitarian laws.

“We are outraged by the unabated killings committed by the BS Aquino government. Dito magaling ang gobyernong Aquino, sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Pero sa kagalingan ng mahihirap nating kababayan, wala siyang silbi,” (This is where the government of Aquino is good at — in violating human rights. But he is practically inutile when it comes to looking after the people’s welfare.), said Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan.

Two successive cases of extrajudicial killings were presented to the media by the military as a result of an encounter between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the New People’s Army.

On 6 December, 54 year-old Pedro Tinga, a farmer and a leader of the Mansaka tribe, was killed by elements of the 71st Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army at Barangay (village) Malamodao, Maco, Compostela Valley Province. Initial reports from a fact-finding team of Karapatan-Southern Mindanao said Tinga, after he tended his farm early in the morning, was on his way to another piece of land he planted with corn when the soldiers fired at him. He instantly died of gunshot wounds.

Tinga was one of the survivors of typhoon Pablo in 2012, and was among the beneficiaries of Indug Kautawan, an organization of the survivors of typhoon Pablo. Tinga’s death is the 26th documented case of extrajudicial killing in Southern Mindanao, under the Aquino regime.

On 5 December, around 7:00 a.m., Aldrin Briones Rabulan, 44, was found dead around at Purok 2, Barangay Tomagoktok, Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. Soldiers were still around him when a village guard saw Rabulan’s body, lying face down and with gunshot wounds on his back and feet. Residents in this village said they heard gun fires at around 4:00 a.m.

At around 3:00 a.m., some 20 members of the Bravo Coy 49th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army based in Barangay Banga Caves, Ragay, Camarines Sur, entered the house of village councilor Aquino P. Salcedo. The soldiers, led by 1Lt. Howard A. Ardedon, searched the house and found Rabulan. The soldiers immediately tied Rabulan’s hands and feet. Before leaving, the soldiers reprimanded the Salcedos for allowing a member of the NPA to stay with them. Aquino Salcedo retorted they were not aware Rabulan was a member of the NPA. Salcedo said Rabulan requested them to allow him to stay for a night. Rabulan was unarmed.

Rabulan was one of those falsely charged with murder for the death of a certain Corporal Perillo at Barangay Maot, Labo, Camarines Sur. At the time of his killing, the warrant of arrest issued against him by the Regional Trial Court in Camarines Sur was suspended.

Earlier, on 1 December, another member of the indigenous tribe Higaonon, Rolen Langala, 35, died of two gunshot wounds and a still undetermined number of stab wounds while his companion, Ruel Tagupa, survived the attempt on his life. The two were on their way home after attending a town fiesta in Barangay Bagocboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental, when village councilors Nestor Bahian, Eugene Papin, and Ramil Salvan accosted them. Tagupa saw how Bahian shot Langala, who was lying on the ground, already bleeding from stab wounds.

Residents in Barangay Bagocboc knew the councilors who were involved in Langala’s killing as “hitmen” of the village captain.

Langala was a member of Pangalasag, an indigenous people’s organization opposed to the operation of A. Brown, an agribusiness corporation that has a palm oil plantation in Opol. Pangalasag chairperson Gilbert Paborada was gunned down by unidentified men on 3 October 2012.

“We commemorate the International Human Rights Day with rage and protests over the morose record of the US- Aquino regime’s gross human rights violations in the past three years. We hold B. S. Aquino accountable for the extrajudicial killings and frustrated killings, enforced disappearances, illegal arrests and detentions on trumped up charges, tortures and other gross human rights violations  affecting a great number of the peasantry, indigenous people and urban poor dwellers,” said Palabay.

A multi-sectoral protest march is scheduled tomorrow, 10 December from Blumentritt to Mendiola. The group is set to burn the effigy dubbed as “P-Noy Destroyer”, to depict the people’s rage against what it calls the destruction brought about by the Aquino regime on the people’s rights, lives, and livelihood.

For reference:

Cristina “Tinay” Palabay
Secretary General
+63917-3162831

Aya Santos
HR Day Media Liaison
+63908-8121982

Christian Yamson
HR Day Media Liaison
+63915-9758683

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org <publicinfo@karapatan.org>
Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Floor Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets
Central District Diliman, Quezon City,
PHILIPPINES 1101
Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
Web: http://www.karapatan.org

KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign.