PHILIPPINES: Another social activist killed; two others facing threats 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that a member of a fishermen’s group was killed while two other activists are facing serious threats. Orlando Rivera (40) was shot dead in front of his family by armed, hooded men inside his house in Obando, Bulacan at 1am on August 16, 2006. The two other activists, Roman Polintan and Joseph Canlas were threatened in public by a military general, who made remarks that he wants them out of his area of jurisdiction.

According to a source from the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP) – a human rights non-governmental organisation in Quezon City, Metro Manila – Rivera was with his wife at the time, inside their house, when they heard somebody knocking at their door. When Rivera opened the door to check who was knocking, he was shot several times. His wife later noticed the armed men leaving after the shooting incident.

Rivera was formerly a member of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a group of fishermen in the area, according to reports. Rivera died from three gunshot wounds to his body from a .45 caliber pistol.

In another case, Roman Polintan and Joseph Canlas, chairs of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Gitnang Luson (BAYAN-GL) and Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luson (AMGL) respectively, have expressed serious concerns for their safety following a remark made by Major General Jovito Palparan Jr., the notorious commander of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. According to a report, Palparan’s remarks were quoted in a report published on August 14 in the Philippine Star, a national daily newspaper as: “I want Roman Polintan and Joseph Canlas out of Central Luzon”.

Both Polintan and Canlas have been actively involved in their work in Central Luzon. Regardless of how Palparan made his remarks against the two, their groups believe that these remarks “constitute a grave threat to the lives of [their] regional leaders”.

The groups have had experience of the violence that Palparan and his subordinates use against the villagers in the area following his assignment as head of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in September 2005. Since Palparan assumed his post, there have been a number of incidents of extra-judicial killings and attacks against village officials, villagers and activists. These include the killing of Barangay (village) chair Victorina Gomez and her Kagawad (council member) Romeo Atienza of Parian, Mexico, as well as the wounding of kagawad Reynaldo Macabali following an attack on 15 December 2005. Jess Alcantara, a municipal coordinator for Bayan Muna (People First) in Barangay (village) Pinaod San Ildefonso, Bulacan was also killed by two gunmen riding on a motorcycle.

It is also reported that Palparan’s men could also be to blame for the death of 50 year old Rolando Senangelo, a Barangay Kagawad in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, who reportedly lost his sanity and committed suicide after he was allegedly tortured by Palparan’s men. Senangelo was arrested and subjected to interrogation to force him into admitting that he was a supporter of a rebel group.

Polintan and Canlas have been critical of Palparan, in particular of his units’ effort to enforce a strict ID system in several towns in Nueva Ecija, Central Luzon, by requiring residents to produce identity cards or Cedula (community tax certificate) to soldiers who are conducting patrol operations. When soldiers conduct operations to locate communist rebels, often they are highly suspicious of individuals who cannot present ID cards or Cedulas. On instances like this, the soldiers would then invite them for questioning on suspicions they are either rebels or their supporters.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to concerned agencies requesting them to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into Orlando Rivera’s case. Rivera’s wife should also be afforded with adequate security while the investigation is being conducted. Appropriate protection must also be afforded to Roman Polintan and Joseph Canlas. The security arrangements must be made with their consent. Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. and his men must be investigated regarding the allegations against them.

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