PHILIPPINES: Extra-judicial killings, violence against activist; a need for impartial and independent investigation; enforced and involuntary disappearance; torture; collapse of rule of lawTo support this appeal, please click:
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that three more activists were brutally killed while four other persons disappeared in separate incidents in October and November. Labor leader Andrew Iñoza (48) of San Pedro, Laguna was shot dead on 21 November 2006. An organiser for workers, Roderick Aspili (24), of Surigao City was killed inside his house on 20 November 2006. Domingo Marbella (22) of Pilar, Sorsogon was found dead a week after he was abducted on November 13. On 25 October 2006, Nelly Intice (45) and her husband Federico Intice of Maa, Davao City, and their unnamed female companion, disappeared in General Santos City. On 20 November 2006, fisherman Jaime Fernando, also disappeared in Malolos, Bulacan.
CASE DETAILS:
According to a source from the Partido ng Manggagawa (Workers Party-Philippines), an alliance of labor organisations, Iñoza was shot dead by four gunmen at around 7:30a.m. on 21 November 2006, while riding on his motorcycle. He died on the spot. Another person, tricycle driver Ramon Laude was also wounded during the shooting incident. At the time of his death, Iñoza was the president of Alaska Milk Workers Union, a labour union of milk factory Alaska Milk. He was also the provincial chair of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-Partido ng Manggagawa (BMP-PM).
The gunmen attacked Iñoza along Cataquiz 2 Subdivision, Barangay (village) Poblacion, San Pedro, Laguna. They opened fire at him after they blocked his path. Five spent shells of a .45 caliber pistol and five shells of a 9mm pistol were recovered by police investigators from the crime scene.
The attackers took Iñoza’s mobile phone, wallet and other personal belongings placed under his motorcycles seat before fleeing on foot. Although the motive has yet to be determined, his colleagues believe it could be connected to his work as labour leader. Iñoza was a warehouse checker in their factory. He has been the union’s president for about ten years.
In another case, Roderick Aspili (24) was shot dead by four armed men hooded with bonnets at around 6:45pm on 20 November 2006 inside his house in Km. 11, Barangay (village) Trinidad, Surigao City. He was watching television inside his house together with his family when he was attacked. Aspilis wife, and 8-month-old daughter were not harmed.
In a statement issued by the Surigao Del Norte Human Rights Advocates (SUNHRA-KARAPATAN), they reported that Aspili suffered gunshot wounds to the back of his head, right side of his neck and body. A .45 caliber pistol was used in shooting the victim. The attackers fled on board a get-away van after the shooting incident.
At the time of his death Aspili was an organizer for United Workers of Surigao del Norte. He was also an active member of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) in Butuan City and formerly its Secretary-General from 1998 to 2003. Aspili’s colleagues believe that his work as chair of the SCMP could have been the motive for his murder.
In another case, the dead body of disappeared victim Domingo Marbella, who was abducted on November 13, was found in Barangay (village) Lungib, Pilar, Sorsogon on November 21. He suffered gunshot wounds and there were indications that he could have been brutally tortured before he was killed. Marbella was the relative of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasants Movement in the Philippines) unnamed official. He was also one of two farmers forcibly abducted by armed men on November 13. His companion remains missing.
On November 20, the Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD), also reported the disappearance of Jaime Fernando (30). Fernando, a fisherman, was a resident of Wawang Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan. It is reported that at past 12midnight that day, unidentified members of the military had gathered all men in one place in the said village. The military men took pictures of the villagers before they left at around 1am. Soon after the villagers as well left the area.
At around 2 to 2:30am, Fernando was last seen at the Panasahan fish market, which is located near a military barracks. At around 7am, Fernando’s boat was recovered floating near the fish market in Malolos but he was already missing
On October 25, three persons also disappeared and were last seen at a bus terminal General Santos City. An appeal from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP-Mindanao) identified the victims as Nelly Intice (45) and her husband Federico (52), both are residents of Maa, Davao City, and another female whose name is not yet known.
According to Nelly’s son, Bayan, his mother was in General Santos City to visit his father. A person (name withheld for security reasons) was about to meet together with some friends. They, however, do not have further details as to who these friends are and other details in relation to their scheduled meeting that day.
According to Bayan this unnamed person had earlier fetched the couple’s unnamed female companion and took her to the Bulaong bus terminal. Then, he came back and fetched his parents and accompanied them towards the highway. Since then, they have not been able to locate the whereabouts of these three victims.
One of the victims, Nelly, formerly works as a community organizer for the Global Fund for Malaria project attached to the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM). She was formerly assigned in Compostela Valley Province last January 2006. After her contract finished, she engaged in the food catering business, in particular for meeting held by non-government organisation (NGO).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned agencies requesting their intervention to ensure that an effective and impartial investigation is conducted into the killing of Andrew Iñoza, Roderick Aspili and Domingo Marbella. Investigation must lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators without delay. Also, all means must also be exhausted to locate the whereabouts of four disappeared victims.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ____________,
PHILIPPINES: Three more activists killed; four other persons disappeared in separate incidents
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS:
Case 1:
Name of victim killed: Andrew Iñoza (48), a resident of San Pedro, Laguna. He was the president of Alaska Milk Workers Union and also the provincial chair of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-Partido ng Manggagawa (BMP-PM).
Alleged perpetrators: Four unidentified gunmen
Place of incident: Cataquiz 2 Subdivision, Barangay (village) Poblacion, San Pedro, Laguna
Date of incident: at 7:30am on November 21, 2006
Case 2:
Name of victim killed: Roderick Aspili (24), a resident of Km. 11, Barangay (village) Trinidad, Surigao City.
Alleged perpetrators: Four armed men hooded with bonnets
Place of incident: Barangay (village) Trinidad, Surigao City.
Date of incident: at 6:45pm on November 20, 2006
Case 3:
Name of the victim killed: Domingo Marbella
Alleged perpetrator: unknown
Place of incident: Barangay (village) Lungib, Pilar, Sorsogon
Date of incident: his was abducted by armed men on November 13, 2006 and his body was recovered a week later
ENFORCE DISAPPEARANCE
Case 1:
Name of disappeared victims: Nelly Intice (45) and her husband Federico (52), both are residents of Maa, Davao City, and their unnamed female companion
Alleged perpetrator: unknown
Place of incident: Last monitored at a bus terminal in General Santos City
Date of incident: October 25, 2006
Case 2:
Name of disappeared victim: Jaime Fernando (30), a resident of Wawang Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan
Alleged perpetrators: believed to be military men
Place of incident: Wawang Atlag, Malolos, Bulacan
Date of incident: last seen on November 20, 2006
I am writing once again with extreme shock upon learning of the killings of another three activists and the disappearance of four persons in separate incidents in October and November.
On November 21, labour leader Andrew Iñoza was shot dead by four armed men while riding on his motorcycle in San Pedro, Laguna. He died on the spot. Prior to Iñoza’s killing, two other activists were also killed. Although the motive for Iñoza’s killing has yet to be established, I am deeply concerned that his involvement as a labour could be the reason.
On November 20, Roderick Aspili, an organiser for workers was also shot dead in front of his wife and daughter. I am extremely shocked that victims were killed in front of their families. When attackers could already afford to attack their targets at any given time and place, it indicates a rife culture of impunity.
The dead body of another victim, Domingo Marbella, who was forcibly abducted on November 13 was also found in Pilar, Sorsogon. He had traces of torture that indicate that he could have been tortured before he was killed. Marbella was the latest victim of enforced disappearance that have been found dead.
Prior to the recovery of Marbella’s body, I have also learned of the alleged abduction and enforced disappearance of another three persons in General Santos City on October 25 and one in Malolos, Bulacan on November 20 respectively. The three persons who disappeared in General Santos City were Nelly Intice (45) and her husband Federico (52), both are residents of Maa, Davao City, and their unnamed female companion.
On the other hand, disappeared victim Jaime Fernando of Malolos, Bulacan, has likewise not been found since November 20. He was last seen boating near the fish market, which was also close to the detachment of a military compound. Prior to his disappearance, Fernando was among those men whom the military had gathered altogether in a village. Their pictures taken before they were allowed to leave. Although it cannot be determined yet whether the military is involved, I am deeply concerned that it could have been the case.
I therefore urge you to ensure that an impartial and independent investigation is conducted in these cases of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearance. It is necessary that the authorities, in particular the police investigators exhaust all means possible to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of these killings. The manner by which the police investigates should be efficient and effective in building a strong case in court. Any premature pronouncements, in absence of a thorough investigation, must not and will not be tolerated to prevent undermining the caseand loss of confidence by the victim’s family.
Also, I urge you to ensure that families of the disappeared victims are actively involved and assisted accordingly in locating their relatives. Although I am aware that the police authorities often do not conduct investigation cases involving disappearance, nor afford assistance to families of the disappeared, still I urge you to ensure that they cooperate with the victims’ family. It is the duty of the law enforcement officers to ensure that those seeking their assistance are afforded with.
Please also ensure the security and safety of the families of the dead and the disappeared, in particular the wife of Aspili and his daughter who are also at the same time eye witnesses to the brutal killing of the victim. Their security and protection is very essential in ensuring that the perpetrators are identified, arrested and effectively prosecuted in court. Appropriate compensation must also be afforded to them.
I am looking forward that your immediate actions in these cases is forthcoming.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Email: corres@op.gov.ph
2. Ms. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com
3. Director General Oscar Calderon
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Email: bluetree73@gmail.com
4. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 9548
Tel: +63 2 521 8344
5. Mrs. Esperanza I. Cabral
Secretary
Department of Social Welfare and Development
3/F DSWD Building, Batasang Pambansa Complex,
Constitution Hills
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 931 8191
Tel: +63 2 931 7916 / 931 8068
Email: eicabral@dswd.gov.ph
6. Ms. Marilyn M. Pintor
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights, CARAGA
2nd Floor, First Consolidated Bank Building
J. Rosales Avenue
Butuan City 8600
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 85 815 2247/342 5280
Email: chrcaraga@skyinet.net
7. Ms. Rosalinda Tolosa
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
Sy Compound, Leon Lldio Street
Barangay Lagao
9500 General Santos City
PHILIPPINES
Tel/Fax: +63 83 553 8887
Cotabato City extension Office
Tel: +63 64 482 0384 / +63 64 421 6307
8. Ms. Cresencia V. Pedrosa
Officer-in-Charge
Commisssion on Human Rights (CHR), Region IV
Kian Seng Bldg.
A. Flores St., San Pablo City
PHILIPPINES
9. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Attn: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXECUTIONS)
10. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Attn: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
