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New Zealand groups call for transparency in disaster assistance to Philippines

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New Zealand groups call for transparency in disaster assistance to Philippines

Auckland Philippines Solidarity

As the Philippines struggle to rise from typhoon Koppu devastation, Filipino-Kiwi solidarity groups are hoping corruption won’t prolong the misery of the poor Filipinos trying to access aid, according to Auckland Philippines Solidarity.

On 12-17 October 2015, Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS), Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa  and Wellington Kiwi-Pinoy  hosted Dr. Efleda Bautista of People Surge, the typhoon Haiyan survivors’ alliance for a speaking tour, in which she described the corruption and neglect that hampered the Haiyan relief effort.

“The government’s ‘Build Back Better’ project, assisted big business to build back better but poor victims’ need for housing and livelihood assistance remain neglected. Almost two years on, many have not yet even received ‘Emergency Shelter Assistance,” said Efleda Bautista.

In Wellington, Bautista met with Members of Parliament (MPs), from the Green Party, Labour Party and NZ First, requesting them to investigate how NZ aid money was spent.

“The Philippine Commission on Audits reported millions of pesos in Haiyan relief donations to the Philippine government are sitting in banks.  There have also been many reports of spoiled food packs and expired medicines in storage.  This tells us the government sees no urgency in delivering much-needed aid for the people,” Bautista noted.

“The poor Filipinos devastated by Koppu and Haiyan, especially those in farming and fishing communities, need urgent livelihood assistance. We hope that increased scrutiny on how international aid is administered will remind the Philippine government of its duty to be accountable to the people,” said Cameron Walker, APS spokesperson.

Katungod Lumad Alert: Ranch guards fire at Higaonons, 2 hurt

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Katungod Lumad Alert: Ranch guards fire at Higaonons, 2 hurt

Opol, Misamis Oriental – On October 16, 2015, at around 9:30 in the morning, five security guards of Denosta’s ranch harassed and fired at 21 members of a Higaonon community in Sitio Inayaw, hurting two individuals. Jessi Ragmac, 27 years old, was hit in the hand while another victim Giovanni Jaudian, 35 years old, was hurt while when he fell during the commotion. The guards allegedly also pointed their guns at the victims’ women companions.

The victims said they were attending to their crops when the guards appeared and demanded who their leader was. The guards reportedly said that Leo Paguidopon, land caretaker, “ordered them to kill anyone” who would enter the ranch.

The village of Bagocboc was first occupied by Higaonon families, and Sitio Inayaw is part of their ancestral domain.

In 1974, a certain Ella Y. Denosta leased the area from the government and converted it into a ranch, now managed by Paguidopon. The area was later fenced, which forced the Higaonon families out to the adjacent areas.  Over the decades, some areas became unused and fences were destroyed.

On October 14, 2014, pushed by hunger, Higaonon families from nearby areas started to till the idle land to survive.

The victims were all members of Pangalasag (Indigenous Shield), a community-based member organisation of Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organisation, which has been active since 2011 in the campaign against expansion of an oil palm plantation in Opol.

Demand justice now!

EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN to the Philippine Government by writing to:

H.E. Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Hon. Leila M. de Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Tel: 523-8481 (loc. 211/214 ), 521-1908
Fax: 524-5936
Email: info@doj.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense  
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193, Fax:+63(2) 911-6213

Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission On Human Rights

Telefax: 929-0102, 928-5655, 926-6188

Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Tel: 373-97-87
Email: chairpersonsoffice@gmail.com

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III
Chair, Justice and Human Rights Committee
Philippine Senate
Trunk Lines: (632) 552-6601 to 70 loc. 5548
Direct Lines: (632) 822-9758
Fax No.: (632) 822-9759
Email: kokopimenteloffice@yahoo.com

Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr.
Chair, Human Rights Committee
House of Representatives
Tel: (632) 931-5001; local 7051, 9518974

Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chair, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Tel.: 373-9942

Hon. Yevgeny Emano
Governor, Province of Misamis Oriental
Tel: +63 88 272 4585

Hon. Maximino B. Seno
Mayor, Municipality of Opol
Tel: (08822) 754-003; (088) 875 4004

Copy furnish your letters to info@rmp-nmr.org

For more information, contact us at:
Higala sa Lumad Network
Room 01, Kalinaw Lanao Center for Interfaith Resources
0016 Bougainvilla Puti, Villaverde
9200 Iligan City, Philippines
T/F: +63 (63) 223 5179
E: info@rmp-nmr.org

Katungod Lumad Alert is published by the ‘Higala sa Lumad’ [Friends of the Lumad] Network.

‘Higala sa Lumad’ Network is a support group composed of a broad range of interfaith personalities/representative of organizations synergizing relevant capacities and resources for Lumad communities under attack. ‘Higala’ also serves as an informal monitoring network for Lumad human rights. ‘Higala’ has been established as a component of the ‘Healing the Hurt’ Project.

Published with support from the European Commission.

Killings continue as the case of Tentorio and Capion remain in the dustbin

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Killings continue as the case of Tentorio and Capion remain in the dustbin

“Four years after Fr. Fausto Tentorio was killed on October 17, 2011, the schools he helped build for the Lumad are now the targets of military operations and are targets for closure. Three years after the Capion massacre on October 18,  four more massacres followed. Meanwhile, the cases filed against the perpetrators of the killing and the massacre are not moving. Worse, the AFP-backed paramilitary forces continue to multiply and spread like plague in Lumad communities,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.

“This is what the Aquino regime means when it said it is ‘working tirelessly to ensure their (Lumad) safety and to protect them from unnecessary acts of violence’ as a response to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The BS Aquino government has provided the Lumad communities with “peace and development”, a euphemism for deaths, disruption of livelihood and intrusion in the children’s schooling,” Palabay chided Malacanang.

Three years after the murder of Fr. Tentorio, on February 4, 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the Special Investigating Team for Unsolved Cases (SITU) under Administrative Order 35 to wrap up its investigations within 30 days. However, the final SITU report was submitted only in May 26, 2015, 15 months later.

“The SITU report recommended the filing of charges against Jimmy and Robert Ato and Jan Corbala, alias Kumader Iring (cat) of the Bagani paramilitary group. on several occasions, Iring attempted to kill Fr. Tentorio. Despite victimizing countless others after Fr. Tentorio, the Bagani group is still on a rampage,” said Palabay.

In October, the Fr. Pops Tentorio Memorial School run by the Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc. when the Brgy. Captain in White Culaman, Kitaotao, Bukidnon threatened to close down the school, upon the prodding of the 8th and 23rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army.

A year after the killing of Fr. Tentorio, five-month pregnant, Juvy Capion, and her two sons were massacred when elements of the 27th IB sprayed bullets at their hut. The soldiers were in pursuit of Daguil Capion, Juvy’s husband who was among the leaders of the Blaan tribe in their resistance against the incursion of the SMI-XStrata Inc.’s mining project in their ancestral land. A year later, Daguil’s brother Kitari was also killed.

In 2013, Office of the Provincial Prosecutor found no probable cause against soldiers Lt. Col. Alexis Bravo, Lt. Dante Jimenez and 14 members of the 27th IB for the murder of Capion and sons. Later, the DOJ conducted the investigation and filed charges against 13 soldiers, but they exonerated Bravo and Jimenez from any command responsibility, despite their roles as commanders . The DOJ told the Provincial Prosecutor to file information for three counts of murder and one count of frustrated murder and violation of International Humanitarian Law. No arrests have been made, as per Karapatan’s information.

On July 16, 2015,  Daguil Capion was arrested for charges of multiple murder, frustrated murder and robbery. He is now detained in the Tampakan Municipal Police.

“The impudence of the military and paramilitaries despite calls for pullout and disbandment stems from the pervading injustice and climate of impunity in this country, perpetrated by no other than their commander in chief,” Palabay said.

“This US-Aquino regime is mistaken to even think that killing Lumad, their supporters, and anti-mining activists will stop the Lumad from fighting for their rights and land. The people are more tireless in waging the struggle against the tuwid na daan, and in paving the road to justice and peace,” Palabay ended.

http://www.karapatan.org/Killings+continue+as+the+case+of+Tentorio+and+Capion+remain+in+the+dustbin

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

Angge Santos,
Media Liaison,
+63918-9790580

———————————————————————
PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
publicinfo@karapatan.org
———————————————————————

Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
2nd Flr. 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.

Kalikasan leader tailed, harassed by suspected military agents

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Kalikasan leader tailed, harassed by suspected military agents

We vehemently condemn the recent surveillance and harassment to Clemente Bautista, our national coordinator in the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE), by suspected military intelligence operatives yesterday on October 12.

The suspicious activity started in the afternoon, when Bautista noticed two suspicious individuals alternately loitering and roaming outside the office of the Advocates of Science & Technology for the People (AGHAM) in Scout Fuentebella Quezon City where he was in a meeting with AGHAM’s volunteer scientists.

When Bautista returned to Kalikasan PNE’s office in Matulungin Street, Barangay Central, Quezon City around mid-afternoon, the national secretariat staff barely noticed anyone suspicious loitering in the area until in the early evening. The tailing started at around 6:45 PM when Bautista left the Kalikasan office on his car, when he noticed a car and two motorcycle following him.

Bautista was in the area of Ayala Avenue, Makati City at around 7:30 PM where he parked, hoping to shake off the suspected intelligence operatives. But the suspects, who repeatedly refused to identify themselves, waited patiently just around the parking exit until 10:30PM, even after the parking security confronted them.

Bautista was able to take photos of the suspects and was able to note the car and motorcycles’ plate numbers WTO-294, ZK 2550, and NE 24909, respectively.

We can think of no other entity with motive to harass a known leader-activist but the intelligence assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, notorious for harassing and repressing advocates and activists who have opposed the national government’s various reprehensible policies and programs.

Bautista and the rest of the advocates in our network have recently led massive protest mobilizations and other actions in support of anti-mining and anti-coal communities in Batangas, Mindoro, and across the rest of the Southern Tagalog region. They have also been in high-profile actions and have conducted various forms of support for the #StopLumadKillings campaign against the militarization and plunder of the ancestral lands of the Lumad in Mindanao and Igorots in Nueva Vizcaya.

We all know about the continuing war of plunder by the military in Mindanao. Less known is the fact that our colleagues from BUKAL, our provincial counterpart in Batangas province, have also recently experienced heightened militarization and harassment. Some 200 soldiers from the Philippine Army have been reported to have been deployed in areas with land struggles across Batangas, while elements of the Philippine Air Force were reportedly going on a house-to-house campaign around Lobo Town, a biodiversity-rich municipality threatened by the large-scale mining project of Australian-Canadian firm Egerton Gold Philippines, to vilify BUKAL.

Indeed, even environmental advocates are not safe from the intensifying political repression inflicted by the AFP against the people’s movement. This latest attack against an environmental defender is clearly part and parcel of the war of plunder under the AFP’s Oplan Bayanihan, targeting critics and opponents of destructive large-scale mining and other forms development aggression to clear the way to areas ripe for resource plunder.

We will not be cowed by the mounting human rights violations thrown at the environmental movement by the Aquino government and its rabid military dogs. The protection of our environment, the conservation of our natural resources, and the genuine development for our people are just causes that not even the threat of death can ever intimidate.

Thus we reiterate to Aquino and the military: stop the war of plunder and hands off our environmental and human rights defenders—scrap the fascist Oplan Bayanihan!

Reference:
Clemente Bautista
National Coordinator
+63922 844 9787

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment
26 Matulungin Street
Central District, Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines 1100
Tel: +63 (2) 433 0184
E-mail: secretariat@kalikasan.net
Site: www.kalikasan.net

Cagayan Valley leaders, activists falsely charged with kidnapping and homicide

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Cagayan Valley leaders, activists falsely charged with kidnapping and homicide

Appeal for Action

Dear Friends,

Pease join us in our call to stop the criminalization of human rights work, a tactic that the BS Aquino regime has repeatedly used against activists and leaders of progressive people’s organizations.

The same tyrannical act the BS Aquino regime used in Mindanao, among leaders of people’s organizations in Davao City and General Santos City, is now used against the 69 leaders and activists in the Cagayan Valley region in an attempt to suppress the people’s voice against the rising cases of military abuses in the region.

The filing of trumped-up criminal charges was used during Arroyo’s Oplan Bantay Laya through the Inter-agency Legal Action Group (IALAG). Years since the IALAG was abolished, the practice continues under Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan. Aquino is using the same legal offensive against those who expose the abuses of State security forces.

Charges vs activists and leaders of people’s organizations

In July 2015,  29 individuals, mostly from the Aggay and Malaweg tribes, were charged with three counts of kidnapping with homicide merely based on the suspicion that they are members/supporters of the New People’s Army. Sgt. Arsenio Villar Capili of the 17th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) accused the 29 of kidnapping and killing two army intelligence agents and a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) on February 25, 2015.

Three of the 29 individuals were abducted on July 20, 2015 by elements of the 17th IB-PA. Marlon Baganay, Mendo Bisiotan and Lando Daryuin were surfaced three days later, on July 23, at a military camp in Lasam, Cagayan Valley. The 70-year old Daryuin is partially blind. Currently, they are detained at the Cagayan Provincial Jail.

On September 21, Romella Liquigan, regional coordinator of Karapatan-Cagayan Valley, reported that when they filed the counter-affidavits of seven of the 29 persons charged at the Tuguegarao prosecutor’s office, they learned that 40 more individuals were falsely charged in the same case. Liquigan was among them.

Aside from Liquigan, included in the 40 individuals who were charged of the same crime were: Isabelo Adviento, chairperson of Kagimungan peasant organization and Anakpawis partylist nominee; Femie Galapon, chairperson of National Union of Students in the Philippine-Cagayan Valley and convenor of Rise for Education alliance; Randy Malayao, convenor of Bayan Cagayan Valley and Makabayan vice president for Luzon; and, Agnes Mesina, regional coordinator of Save the Valley network and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.

A number of the accused are unknown to the leaders of people’s organizations, while some were participants in the two fact-finding missions held in the town of Rizal in Zinundangan Valley. Elements of the 17th IB-PA under the 5th Infantry Division have been conducting military operations in the communities since February 2015.

The operations resulted in abuses and human rights violations such as extrajudicial killing, torture, abduction and illegal detention, illegal searches, encampment in barangay halls, health centers and civilian houses. The indigenous groups of Aggay, Malaweg, and Kalinga are among the most affected by the military operations.

Prior to the filing of charges against the leaders and activists in Cagayan Valley, participants of the the two fact-finding missions conducted in Rizal town already experienced military harassment as they were blocked by members of the Cagayan Provincial Public Safety Company, 3rd Manuever Platoon. The men took pictures of the vehicles used by the mission participants.

Abducted member of Aggay tribe

On October 1, Mennong Danao (earlier reported as Lenor Danao), an Aggay, was abducted by about 25 elements of the 17th IB-PA in the presence of his family. The soldiers brought Danao with them, after they illegally searched his hut. A few minutes later, the soldiers claimed they found a rifle outside Danao’s hut.

Danao was found on October 3, in the custody of the Philippine National Police-Rizal, Cagayan after he was turned over by the military. He now faces charges for violation of RA 10591 or illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Danao  was with his wife and three children when he abducted.

The regime has been filing false charges against members of progressive organizations in an attempt to silence opposition and prevent them from amplifying the people’s demand for justice amid intensifying human rights violations in the country.

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages to call on Pres. Benigno Aquino to:

  1. Withdraw the false charges against the 69 leaders and activists of people’s organizations in Cagayan Valley.
  2. Immediately pull out the 17th Infantry Battalion in the Zinundungan Valley.
  3. Form an independent investigative body composed of representatives of human rights groups, churches, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the series of human rights violations in Zinundungan Valley due to military operations.
  4. Withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
  5. Respect and observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all other human rights instruments that it is signatory to.

You may send your communication 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: op@president.gov.ph

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
stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-1908
Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.211/214
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email:  lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com
lmdelima.doj@gmail.com

Hon. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, (+632) 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
E-mail: comsec@chr.gov.ph

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
National Office
2/F Erythrina Building
#1 Maaralin cor Matatag Streets
Brgy. Central, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Email: urgentaction@karapatan.org
Website: www.karapatan.org

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