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Woman radio broadcaster gunned down in Manila

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By Ronalyn V. Olea, Bulatlat.com

MANILA – A woman radio anchor was shot dead along Solonian street in Maysilo, Malabon at around 9:45 a.m, March 24.

Marlina “Len” Flores-Sumera, 45, of radio station dzME’s “Arangkada 1530,” was about to board a jeepney on her way to work when she was shot at by a lone gunman. Sumera was rushed to the Valenzuela General Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Supt. Rio Gatacillo, Northern Police District public information chief, said the bullet entered Sumera’s nape and exited through her eye. Gatacillo said the gunman was a professional hired killer, noting that the assassin even picked up even the empty shell of an unknown pistol. Gatacillo said the gunman took Sumera’s mobile phone and handbag to make it appear as a robbery.

Sumera, a mother of three, also worked with stations dzXL and dzAR before dzME.

Sumera is the first female journalist slain under President Aquino. Four journalists have been killed since Aquino assumed office in June while the NUJP documents 143 journalists killed since the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. Of these cases, only six gunmen and no masterminds have been convicted.

In a report, Ed Sarto, Sumera’s co-anchor, said the possible motive for the killing is a land dispute. Sumera is the neighborhood association president.

In a statement, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-National Capital Region chapter also raised the angle of land dispute behind Sumera’s killing. The group said Sumera was vocal in her opposition to Malabon City’s proposed road-widening project.

In a separate statement, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan denounced the murder. “Marlina Flores-Sumera’s killing, done in public view and in broad daylight is yet another proof that the culture of impunity continues under President Noynoy Aquino. We strongly denounce this killing and demand that a thorough probe on her death be conducted so that justice may be served immediately.”

“This is an outrage, not just for those in the media but for women as well,” Ilagan added.

Ilagan said he slow conviction rate and the government inaction on media killings embolden those who would like to silence journalists. “It is imperative for the Aquino government to take concrete steps towards the protection of members of the press and show political will in resolving the cases of slain journalists,” Ilagan said.#

Negros rights advocates launch “Free Rogina Quilop Movement”

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By Karl G. Ombion, Bulatlat.Com – BACOLOD City – Rights advocates, kin and friends of detained development worker Rogina Navarro-Quilop launched here early this week the “Free Rogina Quilop Movement” (FRQM) to intensify their coordinated campaign for her release.

Fr. Armand Onion, FRQM coordinator, said during the launching that “the assault on Rogina is an assault on the Filipino people because at the time of her illegal arrest she has dedicated her life in solidarity with the poor.”

“Rogina is a symbol of the struggle of the people for freedom and justice; her freedom will also mean justice for the people,” Fr. Onion added.

Fred Cana, secretary general of Karapatan Negros said Rogina, administrative officer of Bacolod-based non-government service organization Center for People’s Resources and Services (CPRS) and a board director of Ma-ao Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. (MPMPCI), was arrested on March 3 at the Bacolod-Silay airport by fully armed elements of Silay City Police Office, Provincial Police Office and civilian operatives believed to be intelligence members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

She was arrested for alleged arson case on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Katherine Go of San Carlos City Regional Trial Court.

She was arrested in the presence of her children and husband Joe Quilop who fetched her at the airport. They also confiscated her laptop, micro flash drives, and P 5,000 in cash.

The military and police community insisted that Rogina is an underground personality with aliases “Ka Guia”, “Ka Rowena”, and a secretary of the CPP-NPA Negros regional finance bureau.

Rogina came from a seminar-training on Quickbook System in Cebu, sponsored by a partner funding agency, Cana said.

Her husband also denied military allegations, saying that Rogina is a church-based development work, and physically unfit for the rigors of rebel life.

Rogina is now detained at the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail. Her first arraignment is set on March 23 in San Carlos City RTC Branch 59.

Fabricated Case Cana said Rogina’s arrest stemmed from a complaint affidavit by a certain Gordoncillo who lived in the southern city of Himamaylan linking her with 17 members of New People’s Army and 15 John Does who allegedly burned a sugar transloading station in Toboso.
“It is clearly a fabricated case because the complaint alleged that Rogina was in a meeting March 10, 2010, that was to carry out the burning next day; the burning took place six days after the alleged meeting,” Cana said.

Cana also said “ Rogina’s name only came out in the 5th amended warrant of arrest, together with Romulo Bitoon who was arrested April 5, 2010, three other names, and other John Does; and that the warrant of arrest served to her last March 3 only contained hers and Romulo Bitoon.”

“It is a nightmare to think of remaining 13 John Does in Quilop and Bitoon case because it could be 13 more innocent persons depending on who the military would prefer to incriminate among the ranks of either human rights defenders, peasant or labor leaders, and even development workers assisting the poor and marginalized sectors,” Cana stressed.

Beyond Arson

Rogina’s co-accused, Romulo Bitoon, in an interview with Bulatlat said his case was declared “temporarily dismissed” by Judge Katherine Go in a hearing last March 9 in San Carlos City.

The court decision was given on the basis that the two witnesses and complainant are still nowhere to be found by authorities, said Bitoon.
The “temporary dismissal” is good for two years, after that it could be rendered permanent if witnesses and complainant would still not appear.

When his legal counsel repeatedly insisted for permanent dismissal for lack of a real case, the judge reportedly got angry and was quoted by the counsel as having said that the “there is more to this case, this is beyond the case..”

At that point Bitoon and his counsel said they understood clearly what the judge meant to say, and thus accepted partially the order of “temporary dismissal”.

Bitoon said his case is “clearly a criminal assault on their political beliefs and legitimate work with the people; it is nothing more than political persecution.”

Nothing Changed under the Aquino administration

Cana said the case of Bitoon, the incarceration of Rogina and dozens other political detainees, and thousands being demonized, persecuted and face arrest, are just proof that nothing really substantive has changed in the human rights situation under the Aquino administration despite its promises of political reforms and the AFP and PNP’s declared commitment to human rights protection.

“The fact is that the failed brutal Oplan bantay laya I and II of the AFP continues unrelentlessly under new name Oplan bayanihan,” Cana said.

He stressed that “in Negros it is obvious; there is massive build up of military combat troops in rural areas now almost 5 regular combat battalions including CAFGU and special paramilitary units led by RPA-ABB; ongoing search and destroy operations cloaked in development missions; intensified intelligence operations; vilification and demonization of mass leaders and activists; criminalization of legitimate demands and struggles of the basic masses for right to land, jobs, education, services, peaceful abode and movement.”

He also said that since President Benigno Aquino III assumed power Negros already had two cases of extra judicial killing, more harassment of civilians including children in rural areas, and 14 cases of arrest mostly involving the filing of fabricated cases.

“Assault on human rights is not slowing down as claimed by official sources, instead it is intensifying on all fronts,” he added.

“If I may have to conclude, the human rights situation is bound to worsen because more and more people are rising up and fighting for lands, jobs, education which government does not respond to fairly except by the use of fascist force,” Cana concluded.#

BAYAN USA pays tribute to Attorney Leonard Weinglass, people’s lawyer & friend of the Filipino people

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Press Statement
March 24, 2011

Reference: Bernadette Ellorin, Chairperson, BAYAN USA, email: [email protected]

BAYAN USA sends its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Leonard Weinglass, people’s lawyer, ardent human rights defender, and longtime supporter of the Filipino people’s ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy. Weinglass passed away yesterday in his sleep due to complications with pancreatic cancer. He was 77 years old.

His four-decades long track record in the struggle for justice speaks for itself– defending Mumia Abu-Jamal, The Cuban Five, Angela Davis, The Chicago Seven, Kathy Boudin of the Weather Underground, and even press freedom fighter Julian Assange.

A mainstay figure in the US Civil Rights Movement, Weinglass was also a well-known supporter and advocate for international justice struggles, having been the co-chair of the international committee of the National Lawyers Guild for many years.

As an international human rights lawyer, Weinglass was a well-respected ally and friend of the Filipino people. Having been a vocal opponent to the martial law of the Marcos dictatorship, Weinglass also participated in a fact-finding mission in 1987 with fellow attorney Ramsey Clark to investigate death squads under the first Aquino administration. The mission produced a significant report that conclusively identified the ongoing problem of state repression under the Aquino regime,and particularly the hand of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the Philippine military’s counter-insurgency campaign.

Shortly after the founding of BAYAN USA in 2005, Weinglass was among the US signatories endorsing the Second International Solidarity Mission (ISM) to the Philippines to investigate human rights abuses under the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Weinglass also continuously opened the door to his New York City office  to meet with several human rights activists, lawyers, and abuse survivors from the Philippines over the years as he remained concerned about the human rights situation in the country. In 2009, Weinglass joined the core group of the US-based Never Again to Martial Law (NAML) movement that was formed in response to the Arroyo government’s declaration of a state of martial law in Maguindanao following the Ampatuan Massacre in November 2009.

But it was Weinglass’ most recent support as co-counsel and adviser to Filipina-American abduction and torture survivor, and BAYAN USA member, Melissa Roxas for which BAYAN USA will forever be grateful for. In his final years, Weinglass spoke out publicly in defense of Roxas and met several times with BAYAN USA leaders in his Manhattan office to discuss the campaign to prosecute former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for gross human rights violations. Throughout his lifetime, Atty. Weinglass lent his endorsement as a renowned US political activist and international defender of human rights to the overall Filipino people’s struggle for genuine freedom and democracy.

Paalam Len, and thank you for your invaluable solidarity and friendship with the Filipino people. You will be sorely missed. May your selfless example as a people’s lawyer and activist inspire others to continue in the same path.

MABUHAY ANG DIWA NI LEONARD WEINGLASS!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

Human rights volunteers harassed, arbitrarily arrested and detained in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, Philippines

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UA No: 2011-03-05
(initial report)

UA Date :
20 March 2011

UA Case :
Threat/Harassment/Intimidation; Illegal arrest and Detention

Victim/s :
Christopher Solano, 18 years old
Althea Villagonzalo, 18years old
Whelgester Paglinawan, 21 years old
Manuel Bentillo, 51, member of Bayan Muna

all are volunteers of Karapatan – Central Visayas Human Rights Monitoring Team

Place of Incident :
Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental

Date of Incident :
17 March 2011

Alleged Perpetrator(s) :
Some members of the Alpha Company of the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA)

Account of the Incident:

On March 17, 2011, the five-man HR Team of Karapatan-Central Visayas went to the village of Barangay Nagbinlod, municipality of Sta. Catalina in Negros Oriental, to document reported human rights abuses of the state security forces following an alleged clash between the military and the New People’s Army (NPA).

The HR Team was in Sta. Catalina since February 14, 2011, documenting human rights violations in the militarized communities of the municipality. On March 17, local farmers reported to the HR Team that Marvin Villegas, 18, a village resident, was shot by members of the 1st Scout Rangers Battalion while the youth was taking the family’s carabao to the fields. The HR Team and 11 farmers were assisting Villegas to get medical help, when they were all arrested by members of the Alpha Company of the 79th IBPA.

The victims were held in custody by the soldiers along the village road side of Bgy. Nagbinlod, and questioned by the military.

Nine of the local farmers were later released, while the rest were brought to the Sta. Catalina Municipal Police Station, and guarded by soldiers led by 1st Lt. Tagle. The soldiers accused the HR Team and Villegas as members of the NPA. Villegas, together with his mother, was later taken away by the soldiers, purportedly to Dumaguete City.

Until this writing, no charges were filed against the victims who are being accused by the soldiers as members of the NPA.

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

The immediate release of Christopher Solano, Althea Villagonzalo, Whelgester Paglinawan, and Manuel Bantillo from detention.

The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the incident and illegal arrest and detention of the human rights workers.

The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”

The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians

The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

The investigation of the shooting of Marvin Villegas as well as the illegal arrest and detention of the human rights defenders and filing of charges against the perpetrators.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
[email protected]

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: [email protected]

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email:  [email protected]

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
[email protected]

Burgos family urges government, AFP to surface Jonas after CHR found Army culpable

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MANILA – While the family of missing activist Jonas Burgos welcomes the latest report of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) implicating the military in the abduction, Jonas’s mother Edita said the real measure of success is the recovery of her son. Jonas’s brother JL, meanwhile, said the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

“Our theory has been right all along. The evidence gathered by the CHR confirms our family’s theory that the Philippine Army is involved in the abduction of my son and elements of the police and military are participating in a cover up to hide the identity of the abductors and those involved,” Mrs. Burgos said in a statement.

Jonas, son of press freedom icon Jose “Joe” Burgos Jr., was abducted on April 28, 2007 at the Ever Gotesco mall in Commonwealth, Quezon City by suspected elements of the Philippine Army. He remains missing to this day.

The CHR investigation led by Commissioner Jose Mamauag found that the abduction of Jonas is “not a simple case of kidnapping done by some individuals within the military, but is, in fact, a part of the entire counter-insurgency program of the past administration wherein both military and police forces played a crucial role in its enforcement.”

The CHR was tasked [2] by the Supreme Court to investigate the abduction of Jonas. In its resolution, the high court noted that there were “significant lapses” in the police investigation. The Burgos family filed a petition seeking the reversal of the decision of the Court of Appeals denying their petition for writ of amparo and absolving police and military officials implicated in the Burgos case.

In the report signed by Mamauag, the CHR has asked the Supreme Court to direct Army Lt. Harry Baliaga Jr. to produce Jonas. Baliaga was known to have been assigned to the 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan. The license plate of one of the vehicles used in Burgos’ abduction was traced to a vehicle under the custody of the Army battalion.

The CHR recommended the filing of kidnapping charges against Baliaga who was identified by two witnesses as among those who abducted Jonas. The commission also urged the high court to grant the petition for writ of amparo filed by Mrs. Burgos.

“After almost four years of waiting, we finally see a glimmer of hope…” Mrs. Burgos said. “While we seem to have won this battle, the real measure of success is the recovery of my son. We shall continue the fight until Jonas is returned to us, alive and well and justice is served.”

Command Responsibility

The Burgos family deems that Baliaga “will not act without orders from higher authorities.”

The CHR said the assignment of criminal responsibility must not be confined to the few soldiers who executed the crime. “If ever, they are mere henchmen of the hierarchy of fear that held sway in the past. What is more fundamental is how the principle of command responsibility may be made to bear against the higher-ups who ordered the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, an activist and critic of the former regime,” the CHR said in a statement.

“A judicial determination in line with the facts as found by the CHR investigation can only lead to the conclusion that personalities bigger and more powerful personalities than Lt. Col. Baliaga were responsible for Jonas Burgos’ disappearance, and, in all probability, for the many other cases of enforced disappearance and extra-legal killings in the past administration,” the CHR further said.?

In a phone interview with Bulatlat.com, JL said all those who they named as respondents to their petition before the Supreme Court must be held accountable. They are former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, then AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon; former army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino; Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division that has jurisdiction over the 56th IB; Lt. Cols. Noel Clement and Melquiades Feliciano, former 56th IB commanders; and then Police Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon.

“Arroyo then, as commander in chief of the AFP, had the power to surface Jonas but she did not do it,” JL said.

In a separate statement, Mary Guy Portajada, secretary general of Desaparecidos, said the prosecution of those involved in Jonas’s case should go up to Arroyo.

AFP’s Reaction

In a report, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta denied custody of Jonas. “We don’t have any idea of his [Jonas] whereabouts. We’ve been trying to look for him since day one,” Mabanta said.

JL said the AFP knew since day one where his brother was.

The AFP has created a task force [3] to determine the contents of the CHR report and to “dig deeper” into Jonas’s abduction. The task force is composed of a representative from the office of Inspectorate General, Provost Marshal General, Judge Advocate General’s Office and AFP’s Human Right Office.

JL expressed apprehensions on the task force, noting that members of the task force were allegedly involved in the cover up, citing in particular the Provost Marshal General [4] that refused to release their report on Jonas’s abduction. “They were only compelled to release it after the court threatened to cite them for contempt,” JL said. “Now, they will be the ones who will coordinate with the CHR. I fear that they would muddle the issue,” JL told Bulatlat.com.

JL further revealed that the Provost Marshal General deleted the name of 1st Lt. Jaime Mendaros, a former intelligence officer of the 56th IB, in its report. JL said it was Mendaros who prepared a document citing that Jonas should be neutralized, a military’s euphemism for killing or abduction.

“The CHR recommendations are clear. What else do they [the military] need? They should surface Jonas. From day one, we do not believe that they are searching for him. Release all documents pertaining to Jonas’s abduction. Hold accountable all those involved,” JL said.

Desaparecidos’s Portajada agreed, saying that the AFP should immediately comply with the CHR recommendations, instead of creating a technical panel to study the findings. “It took four long years for a government agency to come out with favorable findings on the Burgos case, we don’t want to add more and lengthen the process by undue processes that would only delay the serving of justice to victims,” Portajada said.

Col. Domingo Tutaan, head of the AFP HRO, said in a news conference that Baliaga had since been promoted to the rank of major. Tutaan did not say, however, where Baliaga is now assigned.

In a statement, CHR chairwoman Loretta Ann Rosales welcomes the AFP’s shift to “human rights-based paradigm from militarist solutions” and expressed confidence that state security reforms will lead to respect for human rights.

“That has yet to be seen. Policies that cause human rights violations are still there. They should first prove that they have the political will to punish perpetrators of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” JL said.

Mrs Burgos challenged the new administration: “We appeal to President Noynoy Aquino. You have always pronounced that the rule of law must prevail. As Commander-in-Chief, it is time to show the military that you will never condone any wrongdoing. Mr. President, the military must be the first to follow the ‘tuwid na daan’ (righteous path).”

Criminalize Enforced Disappearances

Desaparecidos reiterated its call for the passage of the Anti-Enforced Disappearance bill, seeking to criminalize enforced disappearances.

In the absence of a law punishing perpetrators of enforced disappearances, Baliaga, if found guilty, would be charged with kidnapping.

Portajada explained: “Kidnapping is illegally seizing a person by force and against his will; it also involves the use of ransom for the surfacing of the illegally detained person. This eliminates the political motive of the state forces to disappear a person. While with enforced disappearance, a person is disappeared for political reasons by state security forces; thus both state security forces and the commander in chief will be held responsible. This would mean that even former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can be held liable for Jonas’s disappearance and even that of other victims.”

Desaparecidos also said there are still a number of similar cases pending before the Supreme Court, citing the cases of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, the two missing University of the Philippines students, Romulo Robiños and Leo Velasco among others. “We are hoping that the respective courts and government agencies follow suit and come out with favorable responses on the said cases,” she said. (Ronalyn V. Olea, Bulatlat.Com)