PHILIPPINES: Another IFI priest receives a death threat 

[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Philippine authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Philippine authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]

PHILIPPINES: Threats to human rights defenders; urgent need for witness protection; systemic perpetration of extra-judicial killings; impunity; collapse of the rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that another priest, Fr. Antonio Ablon of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), or Philippine Independent Church, received a death threat on 6 October 2006 following the killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento of the IFI on 3 October 2006 (To see our appeal regarding Bishop Ramento’s killing, please go to: UA-331-2006). We are afraid that Fr. Ablon may be the next victim of the extra-judicial killing. We call for your immediate intervention in this matter. Please write to the Philippine government demanding protection for Fr. Ablon.

At around 4:45pm on 6 October 2006, Fr. Antonio Ablon, a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) based in Cagayan de Oro, received a death threat via SMS (short message service) message from a mobile phone whose number appeared as 09203546270. The message read: “Fr. Ablon, patay gani ang supreme bishop ikaw pa kaha i sample ka namo dinhi sa CDO. (Fr. Ablon, even the supreme bishop was killed. we will make you an example here in Cagayan de Oro.)”

Fr. Ablon has been actively engaged in human rights work as a National Council Member of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) and the secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan in the region. Fr. Ablon is also an outspoken critic of the Arroyo government and has been receiving several death threats due to advocating for human rights. The aforementioned incident is the latest threat to his life.

We are appalled by the fact that this incident occurred only three days after the killing of a prominent human rights defender Bishop Alberto Ramento of the IFI in Tarlac City on 3 October 2006. His work was similar to that of Fr. Ablon. Bishop Ramento was also outspoken critic of the Arroyo government for their failure to stop the killings in the country and launch a genuinely independent investigation into them.  He was also a provincial leader of the human rights group Karapatan (See further: UA-331-2006).

Moreover, the AHRC acknowledge this incident as a real death threat to Fr. Ablon and believes his life is in great danger. We have already reported several cases of extra-judicial killings where the victims had received SMS death threatening messages prior to their killings. For example, two slain activists George and Maricel Vigo (husband and wife) had reportedly received threats via SMS two weeks before their killing on 19 June 2006. (See further: UA-205-2006). In another case, four activists received threats via SMS one after another in General Santos City, Mindanao on 5 July 2006 (See further: UA-228-2006). The AHRC is deeply concerned that the series of incidents is a serious attack on the government critics.

To date, 23 priests, pastors and church members, including Bishop Ramento, have been reportedly killed under the Arroyo government. We were also informed that several other priests of IFI have been under threat due to their activities for human rights, anti-corruption and campaigns against the government policies. They include; Fr. Terry Revollido of PCPR and Bayan leader and faculty member of the Aglipayan seminary in Pangasinan, Fr. Romeo Tagud of PCPR and Bayan Negros member who was harassed by motorcycle-riding armed men, Fr. Marco Sulayao of PCPR and Bayan Panay whose convent was raided by suspected military agents and Fr. Sonny Teleron of PCPR and Bayan member in Western Mindanao.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the Philippine government authorities listed below and express your deep concern about this matter. Please urge them to provide effective protection to Fr. Ablon and inquire about the alleged threats and bring those responsible to justice.

 

 

 

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