PHILIPPINES: Two farm labourers killed; seven others harassed by the military in Tarlac, Luzon 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the killing of Allan Ibasan and his uncle Dante Salgado allegedly by military agents after their arrest on 31 January 2006. Allan was last seen alive by his brother Glen and fellow labourers at a bamboo plantation while being taken by military allegedly attached to the 71st Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac. The victims’ dead bodies were later discovered at a funeral home.

According to information received from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights), a human rights organisation in Quezon City, Allan and Dante were preparing for their breakfast while seven of their companions were starting their work of cutting bamboo. Allan and Dante left to buy more ingredients for the food that they were preparing for breakfast.

A few minutes after they left, a loud burst of gunfire was heard some distance away. The other labourers, namely Glen Ibasan (17), Cesar Andaya (44), Annie Salgado, Reynaldo Reyla, Ricky Salgado, Eduardo Magallanes and Dominic Reyla ran to their employer’s house, Arsenio Asuncion, for safety. It was the second time that a loud burst of gunfire had been heard in the area. Earlier that morning the labourers had been woken by a loud burst of gunfire. By 7am they started their work after the gunfire had disappeared.

It is reported that a fight took place between government troops and rebel group New People’s Army in Pansagwan Valley, Barangay Sta. Ines West, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac between 3 and 4am that day. The military were pursuing the rebels. The fighting lasted until around 3pm the same day.

The group decided to stay at Arsenio’s place until noon. While they were all inside the house, a group of heavily armed military men believed to be attached to the 71st Infantry Battalion arrived. They yelled at those who were inside the house to come out.

When they stepped outside the house, Glen and his companions saw four soldiers pointing their guns at them. They saw one of the soldiers with a nameplate printed with the name “Canlas” on it. They were asked if they were missing companions. When Glen told them that his brother Allan and uncle Dante were not with them, the soldiers produced Allan. Allan appeared to be haggard, tired and unkempt.

Upon seeing his brother, Glen urged the soldiers to release his brother. Glen tried to convince the soldiers to do so by telling them that his father was a retired army man and is still actively enlisted in the military service at the Fort Bonifacio. The military troops, however, ignored his request and refused to release his brother. Glen then went to his employer, Arsenio Asuncion. Glen had sought Arsenio in an effort to affirm his brother’s identity but the soldiers had already left when they arrived.

One of Cesar Andaya’s cousins later told them to leave the place as the rest of them could get into trouble with the military. Glen and his companions went to the house of a Barangay (village) Council member, Granil, to seek refuge. While Granil’s wife was preparing their lunch, Glen saw a military tank with about 20-30 soldiers arrive nearby. Upon seeing it, Glen and his companions hurriedly left and ran to the house of Virgilio, a friend of Cesar where they stayed overnight.

At around 7am on February 1, Glen was informed that his brother was already dead and that the body was at the morgue of Funeraria Corpuz’s funeral home. Allan was half-naked and his body had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Dante’s body was also later identified in the same funeral home by his relatives. Dante had suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and had marks on some parts of his body.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the government agencies listed below asking them to commence an immediate and impartial investigation into the killing of Allan Ibasan and his uncle Dante Salgado. The military unit concerned must be investigated to answer to the allegations against them over their possible involvement in the victim’s death. Immediate restrictions and sanctions must be imposed upon them once the investigation commences. The families of the dead must be afforded with appropriate compensation.

 

 

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