Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned of the extra-judicial killing of a 23 year-old business administration student named Farly Alcantara in front of his college in Daet at Camarines Norte, Philippines on February 16, 2007. Alcantara was an active member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS), the president of the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) Business Administration and Economics Society, as well as vice-president of the Grand Student Council. He has become the first student activist killed this year in the Philippines. This is one of hundreds of extra-judicial killings that continue to go unabated throughout the Philippines and shockingly comes at a time when the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions visits the country.
CASE DETAILS:
At around 9:40 pm on February 16, 2007, Alcantara was riding on a motorcycle near his home town Mercedes, when he and his Professor Winfredo Bermejo were fired upon by an unknown gunman who blocked their passage. Alcantara suffered five point-blank gunshot wounds to the head from a 45-caliber pistol. Although the Professor was not hurt, the victims injuries were so severe that he died instantly. The murder took place 300 yards in front of the victims college gate at Camarines Norte State College. Alcantara had returned to the campus late that evening after assisting organizers of the school’s upcoming trade fair. According to several witnesses, the perpetrator was a 55 male wearing navy blue shorts and a white t-shirt.
This murder comes at a time when the United Nations has sent Professor Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, to investigate the current situation on extrajudicial killings in the country. On February 21, 2007, Professor Alston unequivocally acknowledged that extrajudicial killings are taking place and elements of the military are involved.
The AHRC absolutely condemns this murder and demands that justice be served. The AHRC demands that an immediate and independent investigation is conducted. The AHRC also demands that the Government of the Philippines take responsibility for the militarys actions, whether it is rogue elements or sanction factions, extrajudicial killings in the Philippines must end. The AHRC further demands that the Government of the Philippines take steps to provide greater security for student activists in the country.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write the relevant Philippine authorities and demand justice for this victim. Please ask them to launch an immediate and independent investigation and provide immediate security for other student activists in the country.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Student leader extra-judicially murdered in Daet
Name of the victim: Farly Alcantara, 23 year-old student from Mercedes in Daet at Camarines Norte, Philippines
Name of alleged perpetrators: Unknown man, 55 feet tall wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt
Place of incident: 300 yards in front of Camarines Norte State College, Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines.
Date of incident: 16 February 2007
I am writing to voice my total shock and condemnation of the extrajudicial murder of Farly Alcantara, a 23 year-old business administration student from Mercedes in Daet at Camarines Norte, Philippines on February 16, 2007. I understand that Alcantara was an active member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS), the president of the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) Business Administration and Economics Society, as well as vice-president of the Grand Student Council. I am also shocked to learn that he has become the first student activist killed this year in the Philippines, especially during the same week that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions was visiting the country.
According to the information I have received, at around 9:40 pm on February 16, 2007, Alcantara was riding on a motorcycle near his home town Mercedes, when he and his Professor Winfredo Bermejo were fired upon by an unknown gunman who blocked their passage. Alcantara suffered five point-blank gunshot wounds to the head from a 45-caliber pistol. Although the Professor was not hurt, the victims injuries were so severe that he died instantly. The murder took place 300 yards in front of the victims college gate at Camarines Norte State College. Alcantara had returned to the campus late that evening after assisting organizers of the school’s upcoming trade fair. According to several witnesses, the perpetrator was a 55 tall male wearing navy blue shorts and a white t-shirt.
I would also like to point out that on February 21, 2007, Professor Alston unequivocally acknowledged that extrajudicial killings are taking place and elements of the military are involved. It therefore leaves me speechless to think that this murder happened when the UN representative was visiting the country.
I absolutely condemn this murder and ask that justice be served. I urge that an immediate and independent investigation is conducted. I also hope that the Government of the Philippines takes responsibility for the militarys actions, whether it is rogue elements or sanction factions, extrajudicial killings in the Philippines must end. I also plead with you to urge the Government of the Philippines to take appropriate steps in providing greater security for student activists in the country.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
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 2 726 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 1614
5. Mr. Ronaldo V. Puno
Secretary
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
A. Francisco Gold Condominium II
EDSA cor. Mapagmahal St., Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Voice: +63 2 925 0330 / 31
Fax: +63 2 925 0332
Email: rvpuno@dilg.gov.ph
6. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Atten: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
