PHILIPPINES: Attempt on the life of human rights advocate and his wife in Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Eastern Visayas regarding the attempt on the life of Fr. Allan Caparro (40) and his wife Aileen (34) on 18 February 2005.

The couple survived the attempt but were seriously wounded. Aileen remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as the bullet that hit her has yet to be removed from her body. Fr. Caparro is now out of danger.

The AHRC believes this is an attempt to silence Fr. Caparro, who is a staunch human rights advocate against the continued militarization in Northern and Western Samar. Your intervention is urgently needed to pressure the Philippine Government, and in particular the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an impartial investigation to establish the identity of the perpetrators. The PNP should also ensure the safety of Fr. Caparro and his wife pending the completion of investigation.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Victim/s:
1. Fr. Allan Caparro (40), a clergy of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) assigned in Brgy. Sabang, Calbayog, Western Samar. Founding member of the Promotion of Church People’s Response-N. Samar (PCPR-NS)
2. Aileen C. Caparro (34), wife of Fr. Caparro, Bookkeeper of the Diocesan Council of the Biliran-Leyte-Samar (BILESA) IFI Diocese.
Date of incident: 18 February 2005
Place of incident: Barangay Tagabaca, Abuyog, Leyte, Visayas, Philippines

Case Details: (according to the victim’s statement)

Fr. Allan Caparro and his wife Aileen were shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen at the vicinity of Brgy. Tagabaca, Abuyog, Leyte at around 6:30pm on 18 February 2005 in an apparent attempt to silence Fr. Caparro of ‘exposing and opposing the militarization in Northern and Western Samar due to numerous atrocities committed by military in the area’.

The couple had just attended a three-day meeting called for by the Biliran-Leyte-Samar (BILLESA) Diocese of the Iglesia Filipina Indepiendente (IFI) for a clericus (clergy) and Diocesan Council when they were attacked. They left Padre Burgos at around 4:00pm on their motorcycle with Fr. Allan driving. It was past 5:00pm when they arrived in Mahaplag, Leyte where they stopped to refuel at a gasoline station.

While refueling, Aileen noticed that three men in the gas station near a red motorcycle were staring at them. One of them caught the attention and Fr. Allan, who ignored them.

After they left the gas station, Fr. Caparro was maneuvering a sharp curve road he was shot by one of the three men riding on the red motorcycle that had been apparently tailing them. Fr. Caparro was hit on his back and had to stop the motorcycle. The gunmen continued firing at them as they passed, hitting Aileen in her stomach and on her thigh. The perpetrators then sped towards Dulag, Leyte.

Fr. Allan and his wife Aileen asked for help at a nearby house. They were later brought to Abuyog District Hospital and were given first-aid treatment before being transferred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban City.

Aileen went under surgery to remove the bullet that was that was lodge in one of her kidneys. She remains in the ICU and is being monitored closely.  When she is stable another surgery will need to be performed to remove the bullet that hit her thigh.

Medical reports said the bullet came close to hit Fr. Caparro’s spine, but, that is now out of danger. The gunmen used a .45 caliber pistol.

The perpetrators?identity is yet to be established but circumstances suggest that state agents in particular, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, could be responsible. Fr. Caparro’s involvement in human rights advocacy, his exposure of and opposition to militarization and the numerous atrocities committed by the military in Northern and Western Samar could have angered the military.

Just recently, Fr. Allan together with other church denominations and sectors spearheaded an alliance formation in Calbayog, W. Samar for the protection of the environment against destructive operations such as mining in the island. These mining operations go hand in hand with massive military operations with the purpose of securing the area and containing people’s opposition.

The Abuyog PNP is now conducting the investigation to establish the identity of the perpetrators based on Fr. Allan Caparro statements.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Kindly write to the Philippine government asking them to conduct an impartial investigation into the attempt on the life of Fr. Caparro and his wife Aileen.

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