CAMBODIA: Four private businessmen allegedly grabbed the 130 hectares of public land in Tang Krasaing commune, Teok Pos district, Kompong Chnang province

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) informs you regarding the further killing of eight persons, six of whom activists, one driver and one journalist, in separate incidents that took place between December 12 to 31, 2006. These cases were received from reliable sources and information from various media sources.

CASE DETAILS:

On December 12, 2006 at around 9:55am, human rights lawyer Gil Gojol and his driver Danilo France were shot dead by four armed men riding on two motorcycles in Barangay (village) Carriedo, Gubat, Sorsogon. Gojol and France had just left the Municipal Trial Court after attending a court hearing when they were ambushed while traveling in their service vehicle.

According information from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights) quoting accounts from a witness, the attackers shot first France which made the van come to a stop. Gojol then tried but failed to escape from his attackers. Both died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds.   The place of the incident is about 200 meters away from the army detachment of the 22nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in San Ignacio of the said town.

Lawyer Gojol was a former local government official who had served as a Provincial Board Member for the 1st District of Sorsogon. He was also a former President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Sorsogon Chapter and a legal counsel for ADLO-KMU (Association of Democratic Labor Organizations-Kilusang Mayo Uno). At the time of his death, Gojol had served as counsel to cases involving defense of the rights of the poor. Gojol was also a legal counsel for Sotero Llamas, a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF) who was also killed in May.

A day before Gojol was killed, 35-year-old Crisanto Frivaldo, a law student at the Aquinas University College of Law, was also shot dead by hooded gunmen inside his house in San Julian, Irosin, Sorsogon. Frivaldo died from five gunshot wounds one to his head and four to his chest. Frivaldo was the younger brother of former Councilor and Bayan Muna Municipal Coordinator Maximo Frivaldo who was also shot dead in January 30, 2006. Frivaldo was tending to his two-month-old baby inside their home when he was murdered.

Also on the same day, at around 6pm Renato Estrella (58), a barangay (village) chief of Atlag, Malolos City, was shot in the head at close range by a gunmen in Sitio Buhangin. Estrella died while being taken to the Santos General Hospital in Malolos City. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

Although the police initially claimed Estrella’s death could have been perpetrated by a rebel “hit squad”, according to the group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) in Central Luzon Estrella had received threats on his life, allegedly from the military. It is reported that Estrella was opposed to the deployment of government troops in his area.

On December 20, 46-year-old Andres Augusta, a radio broadcaster for dzJC Action Radyo, an affiliate network of the Manila Broadcasting Company was brutally stabbed by unknown assailants. Augusta died at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital in Batac at around 10:30pm.

It is reported that Augusta was on his way home after attending a Christmas party when unidentified men stabbed him. He managed to reach the nearest hospital on his own onboard a motorcycle but he died later. The motive behind his killing has yet to be determined.

On December 22, Francisco Bantog, a municipal coordinator for a party-list group Bayan Muna in the province of Sorsogon, was shot dead at around 10am. He was at the Donsol Tourism Office at the time he was attacked. Bantog was also a party-list’ provincial auditor.

It is reported that Bantog was shot 20 times by three motorcycle-riding gunmen. At the time of his death, Bantog was also a “Butanding” interaction officer (BIO). Butanding is the local name for whale sharks. Bantog was with three other BIOs when the assailants, who were wearing motorcycle helmets attacked him. Police have recovered spent .45-caliber cartridges at the scene.

On December 24, 59-year-old Juan Sanggalang was shot dead by soldiers, allegedly attached to the 59th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, who reportedly had sought refuge at the victim’s house a day before in Sitio Pinag-apugan, San Diego, Lian, Batangas. The military unit was believed to be under an officer named Colonel Felix.

It is reported that it was around 4:00 a.m. when Sanggalang and his companion, Roberto Espaldon (57), were attacked. Sanggalang died while Espaldon survived the attack but suffered gunshot wounds to his leg and stomach. At the time of his death, Sanggalang was a member of HABAGAT (Haligi ng Batangenyong Anak Dagat), a local chapter of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), A nationwide federation of fisherfolk organizations.

According to the information received from KARAPATAN-Batangas Chapter, the three soldiers attached to the said military unit sought refuge at Sanggalang’s house on December 23 at around 8:00 p.m. and left the next day, December 24 at around 4:00 a.m. The victims were shocked when the same soldiers opened fired at them. It is reported other soldiers, who were apparently their companions, also positioned themselves beside the victim’s hut and opened fired at the victims.

After the shooting incident, the victims’ family immediately went to Sitio Pinag-apugan, San Diego, Lian, Batangas where the shooting took place to help their relatives. When they arrived in the area, Sanggalang was already lying dead. His companion, Espaldon, managed to run for safety towards a nearby coastal area. The victim’s family even saw the soldiers leaving the crime scene after the shooting.

Soon after, the village’s Chief Carlito Caisip together with policemen from the Lian town arrived in the area. A mobile phone reportedly owned by Colonel Felix was recovered by police investigators beside the victim’s house. The mobile phone was found to belong to Colonel Felix when Caisip tried to make phone calls to the former. The police likewise recovered several items belonging to the military which had been left in the area.

It is reported that some members of the Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), who are also attached to the same military unit, may have attempted to take vital pieces of evidence from the crime scene. They were together with Caisip and the policemen when they were seen to be looking for something. It was found out later that it was their intention to find and retrieve Colonel Felix’ mobile phone had it not been found by the police investigators first.

After the incident, a military officer, General Mesa of the 202nd Brigade, Philippine Army, quickly declared to the media that the shooting incident was an encounter between the New Peoples Armed (NPA) rebels and their troops. Days after the incident, posters and pamphlets appeared containing messages critical of village chief Caisip, Isabelo Alicaya, the town’s vice mayor Roberto Cunamay and Joe Cabadin, accusing them of being supporters of the rebel group scattered in Lian town.

On December 31, a reliable source reported that Rodolfo Alvarado, Jr. (a.k.a. Pong), was shot dead by unidentified armed men at around 5:00 p.m. in his house in Barangay (village) San Lorenzo, Ligao City. Alvarado died from eight gunshot wounds to different parts of the body.

At the time of his death, Alvarado was a regional project coordinator for Bayan Muna, a party-list organisation. He was also the 6th nominee and a potential candidate to represent the party before the House of Representatives.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities requesting their effective intervention into each of these cases. Effective investigation to identify the perpetrators must be conducted and that immediate arrest to those involved must take place. Appropriate protection and assistance must be afforded to the families of the victims, potential witnesses and those who could be of help for the immediate resolution of these cases.

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