PHILIPPINES: Policemen allegedly harass and illegally search a convent of sisters after forced entry 

PHILIPPINES: Harassment, intimidation and illegal searches; violence against the religious community; arbitrary and abusive acts by police officers; collapse of rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the alleged illegal search and harassment at the convent of Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherds (CGS) in Barangay (village) Ampayon, Butuan City on November 1, 2006. Several police intelligence officers led by Senior Police Superintendent Wilfredo Reyes illegally forced their way into the convent without a prior court order. The policemen are believed to be attached to the Police Regional Office (PRO- Caraga).

According to a report widely circulated by the CGS, which was also forwarded by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP-Mindanao), around 8:45pm policemen started arriving at the convent. At the time, Sister Amelia Hendani, an Indonesian national, was practicing songs for the Mass service. Her fellow companions, Sister Laarni Bongato was working on her computer while Sister Geraldine Ostouste was in her room. Sister Ostouste was the acting coordinator for CGS.

It was Sister Bongato who first noticed the arrival of service vehicles at the convent. She then asked Sister Hendani to check who those people were. Soon after Sister Hendani opened the door and asked those who just arrived but they did not answer. Sister Hendani was instead asked to come closer towards the gate. It was only that time that they introduced their selves as police officers. When the policemen started speaking to her in local dialect she could not understand, as she is Indonesian. Sister Hendani told them she would call her fellow Sister Bongato.

Not long after, Sister Hendani noticed the policemen were trying to force their selves into the convent. As Sister Hendani was about to go back inside the convent, Senior Police Superintendent Reyes prevented her from entering. One of the policemen had already started climbing and shaking the buildings bamboo made gate to gain entry. Upon seeing this, Sister Hendani tried calling aloud to the men. The policemen, however, started forcibly pushing the gate. Several armed men, some wearing police uniforms, were seen rushing inside the premises and then barged into the convent’s parlor area. When Sister Bongato stopped them and asked who they were and what they wanted she was only told, “Just let me enter so there will be no trouble”.

When Sister Bongato told the police she would inform the convent’s coordinator–Sister Ostouste, the police ignored her. Sister Ostouste went out of her room after she heard an unusual commotion and was surprised seeing the armed men inside. When Sister Ostouste asked them who they were, she was told they were about to arrest a person allegedly hiding inside the convent. When Sister Ostouste asked who the subject of arrest was, the leader of the armed men showed a warrant of arrest but did not allowed her to read it thoroughly. Sister Ostouste then asked to see identification but the policemen kept on saying “later on sister”.

At the time, some of the policemen were already inside the convent and started opening the doors of the rooms, including the sisters’ private quarters. The sisters then sent an SMS message to the Rector of a Seminary informing him about the presence of armed men. Rev. Fr. Ruel S. Lasco, Rector of Saint Peter College Seminary, then phoned Catholic Bishop Juan de dios Pueblos of the Archdiocese of Butuan. Sister Ostouste tried to call Bishop Pueblos through the telephone but was unable to speak with him as he was talking with somebody at that time. They only left a message for Bishop Pueblos about the incident.

Sister Ostouste once again asked the leader of the group’s name.  He was later identified as Senior Police Superintendent Wilfredo Reyes. Reyes showed Sister Ostouste a warrant of arrest for Jorge Madlos (a.k.a. Ka Oris), who is allegedly the spokesman of the communist rebels. Sister Ostouste asked whether the police were sure that they had come to the right place. When Reyes replied that the subject of their search is the “MSM Sisters”, Sister Ostouste told him “This is not MSM, this is Good Shepherd”, at which point Reyes went out to call someone. Sister Ostouste followed him outside the gate.

Reyes then told Sister Ostouste he has to leave to see Bishop Pueblos. Reyes apologized to Sister Ostouste and to Sister Hendani, saying that he did not know she was Indonesian. Reyes said he would come back the following day to explain. After sometime, Rev. Fr. Lasco and Bishop Pueblos arrived at the convent. Bishop Pueblos then informed the sisters that the policemen made a mistake. Rev. Fr. Lasco and Bishop Pueblos left the convent at around 11:30pm.

On November 2, just after 9:00am, Reyes arrived together with his two officers. Reyes made an apology for the incident. Sister Ostouste then asked Reyes why they did not present a search warrant, but she was told the search warrant is not necessary because they were looking for a person and a warrant of arrest is enough for that purpose. Sister Ostouste told him that the incident did not only affect the three sisters but the whole congregation as well. Reyes was asked to submit an apology in writing; however, he replied that he could not give an apology letter as he was leaving for Manila that day.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities requesting an impartial and immediate investigation into the incident. The policemen involved, in particular Senior Police Superintendent Wilfredo Reyes, must be investigated to answer the allegations made against them. Immediate restrictions must be imposed on them once the investigation commences. If allegations are found to be true, charges must be filed against them.

 

 

 

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