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[OPIRG-EVENTS] Urgent Action on Human Rights in the Philippines #10
Urgent Action on Human Rights in the Philippines #10
Dear friends,
It has been several months since we have contacted you. Unfortunately our
Human Rights watch on the Philippines continues to uncover ongoing and
seemingly systematic human rights violations occurring in many areas of the
Philippines. This month we have been particularly swamped with Urgent
Action requests that we are only now able to process. I hope that you will
assist us by writing a short note to any of the government officials listed
below. Your awareness of these issues and support can help to prevent
future occurrences.
Sincerely
Douglas Booker
Co-ordinator Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines.
Urgent Action Case X: UA DATE: 23 October 2002
UA CASES - Physical Assault, Harassment, Strafing and Forced Evacuation
I. VICTIMS -Toting Hermosa (physical assault)
§ In his 30's, married
§ Resides in Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu
§ Peasant
Osting Hopia (physical assault)
§ In his 30's, married
§ Resides in Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu
§ Peasant
Diosdado Molina (harassment)
• 44 years old, married
• Resides in Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu
• A Security Guard from Trans Asia
Arsenio and Rufina Derecho (strafing)
• peasants
• residents of Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu
500 individuals belonging to 80 households (forced evacuation)
• residents of Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu
II. PLACE OF INCIDENT - Sitio Kabunihan (Purok 1), Brgy. Baliang,
Danao
City, Cebu
III. DATE OF INCIDENT - 12 October 2002
IV. PERPETRATORS - Lt. Ali Alejo, M/Sgt. Nick Vera Cruz, Sgt. Marong,
CAFGUs Roque Martel and Joey Tundag, and other elements belonging to three
(3) nine (9)-man combat teams from Alpha and Bravo Coys of the 78th Infantry
Battalion Philippine Army (IBPA) based in Brgy. Damolog, Sogod, Cebu.
V. ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT -
On October 10, 2002, at around 1:00 am, residents of Sitio Kabunihan, sawtwo
(2) army trucks filled with soldiers in full battle gear pass by on the way
to neighboring Sitio San Roque, some 4 kms. away.
At around 6:00 am, soldiers were visible all over the barrio
conductingpatrol and interrogating residents. Two residents, namely, Osting
Hopia and Toting Hermosa, were butt-struck and manhandled by soldiers
bearing no name patches. The government troops accused them of being New
People's Army (NPA) sympathizers. "Bakakon mo! Naa diay moy gipangtaguan nga
NPA," (Liars! You've been harboring NPAs all along.), the soldiers charged.
At around 5:00 pm, barangay councilors in Sitio Kabunihan called for
ageneral assembly at the local elementary school. Councilor Gaudioso Molina
explained that the military wanted the people "to vacate their homes in
three days, so that they (military) could work in locating the rebels."
Resident Elijiah Laureto was not surprised as he has heard the soldiers
ordered the councilors to evacuate the residents. Another resident Cherry
Oroy Molina heard the military declare that those who would choose to stay
will be treated as "hostile elements". Many residents entertained that
thought that they would really have to evacuate "for fear of the military
men scouring the area" (according to Councilor Molina, SSD, 10/12/02).
Later that day, Hopia and Hermosa together with their families left the
sitio. Some 150 individuals were also forced to sleep at the local
elementary school that night.
Evacuation intensified on October 11, 2002, after soldiers strafed the house
of Arsenio Derecho at around 3:00 pm. Arsenio and his wife, Rufina were
suspected of taking in NPA rebels.
It was also at that same time that Kabunihan residents heard an exchange of
gunfire coming from Sitio San. Roque. Residents would later learn of a
firefight between government troops and NPA fighters in the said area. At
least one soldier was killed and another wounded in the encounter. No
casualty was reported on the NPA side. Nor were there any rebel arrested.
At about 5:00 pm, elements of the 78th IB called a meeting with the
residents of Kabunihan wherein the troopers informed the people that they
would conduct "clearing operations" in the barangay. Their fear worsened
when they witnessed their neighbor Preming Oliverio being slapped by a
military man for failing to answer his query on the presence of the NPA.
Preming was even asked to run while the military man cocked his gun.
Diosdado "Dodong" Molina, a former CAFGU, reprimanded the military on their
actions but he merely drew an angry retort from a soldier who told him to
shut up.
By the time the assembly was finished, residents were already packing their
bags. Most evacuees transferred to their relatives in other barangays. At
least 500 evacuees left the sitio because they were afraid of "clearing
operations" being conducted by government troops.
When the monitoring team from KARAPATAN and KALINAW arrived in the area at
3:00 pm, Sitio Kabunihan and Sitio San Isidro (a neighboring sitio belonging
to another barangay) were both virtual "ghost towns." Only the soldiers from
the 78th IB were the ghastly figures roaming around at a distance from the
human rights team. According to the interviewees the commanding officer
who refused to give his name, forbade anyone to go to Sitio San Roque.
On the way out, the team saw at the barangay center, in Sitio Sto.
Tomas,three bunkers with checkpoints, which were set up along the road, some
20-30 meters away from each other. A total of at least 40 elements of the
78th IB troopers are stationed in the said area.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
1. 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
harassment, physical assault, strafing of homes and forced evacuation
of the residents of Sitio Kabunihan, Brgy. Baliang, Danao City, Cebu;
2. The prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime physical assault,
strafing, harassment by the elements of the 78th Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army that forced the residents of Sitio Kabunihan to evacuate, as
well as other atrocities committed by other troops of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines;
3. the immediate removal of Government Troops, particularly the 78th
IBPA
from Danao City and other parts of Cebu;
4. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory of
the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to allthe
major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of its
provisions.
You may send your communications to:
H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph / kgma@yahoogroups.com
Hon. Eduardo R. Ermita
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
7F Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City, Philippines
Fax: (+632) 638 2216
Email: ere_papp@opapp.gov.ph
Hon. Angelo T. Reyes
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. de los Santos Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 912-9281
Fax: (+632) 911 6213
And in Canada
Hon. Bill Graham
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0G2
Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official
to our address below.
URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
2852 Grandeur Ave.
Ottawa, Ontario
K2B-6Y9
Emails: ochrp@hotmail.com
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