PHILIPPINES: Forcible disappearance of a young man in Davao City 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding information from the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a human rights non-governmental organization in the Philippines, on the disappearance of Carpit Jimlan (26), at his residence in Upper Sirib, Calinan, Davao City on 30 April 2004. His whereabouts are still unknown. Jimlan is the latest victim of the involuntary disappearances of Muslim residents in Davao City. Your urgent action is required to pressure the local authorities to correct this matter quickly.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact TFDP.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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URGENT APPEALS
June 28, 2004

The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a human rights non-government organization, express grave concern on the case of disappearance that happened in Northern-Southern Mindanao, Philippines.

The victim, Carpit Jimlan, a 26 year old Muslim, remains missing after he was abducted by armed men last April 30, 2004 near his residence in Upper Sirib, Calinan, Davao City. Jimlan, a Muslim who belonged to Tausug tribe that is a tribal minority in this area, was the latest victim of involuntary disappearance of Muslim residents in Davao City.

BACKGROUND:

In April and May 2003, four disappearance cases were reported from Davao City and the four victims still remain missing up to now. They are Sabdura Ala, Lajmar Jumdail, Amil Mokalam and Alimudin Zulkiple and all belong to Muslim community. Even though their disappearances were reported, both the local police and Davao City Administration have failed to conduct an in depth investigation to look into the cases.

These incidents happened at the height of the government’s campaign against terrorism in Davao City in hunting down perpetrators of bombings that happened in March and April 2003, which resulted in deaths of several people.

CASE DETAILS:

Carpit Jimlan (26), a Muslim Tausug, was forcibly abducted by three unidentified heavily armed men for unknown reasons in front of a store at the vicinity of Packing House, Upper Sirib, Calinan, Davao City on April 30, 2004 at around 8:00 a.m.

Saira Jimlan, the victim’s mother, said her son was sitting in front of a store owned by a certain Bisi Bala when the armed men suddenly alighted from a parked L300 Van bearing plate no. LBD 328 and forcibly dragged him at gunpoint going towards the van. The three armed men first ordered Carpit to lie on the ground which he refused to do so, they then forcibly dragged him into the waiting getaway van. After that the abductors heavily armed with long firearms headed towards poblacion area of Guianga, Calinan. The heavily tinted green L300 Van arrived in the area around 6:00 a.m. according to the residents.

Upon seeing the van leave the place, Saira immediately asked a motorcycle (habal-habal) to go after it. However, the motorcycle lost the van when it traversed into the cemented highway at the vicinity of highland in Guinga. Saira then immediately reported the incident to the Calinan Police Station but the police did not take any action to find the fleeing abductors. On May 2, 2004, Carpit ‘s family followed up the case development at the Calinan Police Station, asking whether the police conducted an investigation regarding Carpit’s disappearance or not. They found that the police had no investigation on the case. Saira and her relatives are searching for the whereabouts of Carpit with all their efforts. They went to several different police stations, a local television station and individual figures that might be able to help them to find the whereabouts of her son, however, all their attempts have failed.

According to Saira, the only possible reason of her son’s abduction and disappearance could be mistaken identity. She said that Carpit’s co-tricycle driver, a certain Maadil Sapari, reportedly had a standing warrant of arrest of unknown charges. Saira added that since the person driving the passenger motorcycle at the time of abduction was Carpit not Sapari, he might be mistakenly identified by the abductors as Sapari. Sapari was not in the area at the time of the incident.

Carpit has three children aged four years to two months old. His wife Angelita (23) is now the only one left to look after their children and earn a living. They are now living with Carpit’s relatives.

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Please send a letter, fax and e-mail to the addresses below, particularly to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), City Mayor and City Police Director.

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