[RE: UA-082-2006: PHILIPPINES: Brutal torture of 11 persons and subsequent filing of fabricated charges against them; UP-063-2006: PHILIPPINES: Lawyers for 11 torture victims file motion to withdraw charges against them; UP-067-2006: PHILIPPINES: Torture victims file charges against policemen; UP-092-2006: PHILIPPINES: Plot to kill torture victims in jail; UP-099-2006: PHILIPPINES: Jail authorities failing to ensure adequate security despite grave danger torture victims are facing]
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UP-100-2006: PHILIPPINES: Further details on plot to kill torture victims
PHILIPPINES: Torture; illegal arrest and detention; denial of adequate medical and trauma treatment; security and protection concerns; detention of minors together with adult detainees; complete collapse of rule of law
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Dear friends,
Since issuing our appeal this morning detailing the grave danger two torture victims face while in detention (please see UP-099-2006), the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has now learned the name of the man believed to have been hired to kill the inmates at the La Trinidad Provincial Jail, Benguet.
According to the latest information, the inmate who was offered money, and was later found to have accepted the money, to kill Rundren Lao and Jefferson dela Rosa is William Pangan, currently detained in cell number 3 at the La Trinidad Provincial Jail. Pangan has already spoken to dela Rosa informing him that he has accepted the money to kill either dela Rosa or Rundren Lao. Pangan was informed that he would receive the gun to kill either of the men today, May 9.
On Sunday May 7, Pangan was transferred to dela Rosas detention cell number 3 from the detention cell which was formerly adjacent to Laos, who continues to fear for his safety. Pangan has already spoken to dela Rosa expressing his willingness to instead cooperate with him and his lawyer as he fears for his own life as well. Pangan fears that he will be killed immediately after he kills either of the two torture victims.
According to the latest reports, Pangan, just recently, stabbed and seriously wounded two inmantes inside the jail following a violent confrontation. It is believed that perhaps because of Pangans involvement in this incident, that those plotting to kill the two torture victims saw the perfect person to do the killing in Pangan.
We have been informed that victims lawyers and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), an umbrella of human rights organisations based in Baguio City, have been informed of Pangans identity and the information he has supplied. It is believed the CHRA then informed the jail authorities of this latest development and are satisfied that no harm will come to the two torture victims.
Presently, dela Rosa and Pangan are confined to the same detention cell number 3. As a result, dela Rosa is living in enormous fear that his life could be taken at any time.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities provided in this mornings update (UP-099-2006) changing the details slightly to include this latest development regarding Pangans identity and his informing the two torture victims that he has been paid to kill them and that the gun will be delivered today.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
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