UPDATE (Philippines): Another priest wounded in latest attacks on human rights activist in Visayas 

[RE: UA-34-2005: Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City; UA-30-2005: Attempt on the life of human rights advocate and his wife in Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines; UP-59-2005: Another human rights activist killed in Visayas; UP-61-2005: Wounded victim in activist shooting dies]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) regarding another incident of an attempt on the life of a priest in Palawan, Visayas on 20 August 2005. The victim, Rev. Raul Domingo, suffered four gunshot wounds. Domingo is a pastor for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of a human rights group in Karapatan.

The attempt on Rev. Domingo’s life is yet another instance of attacks against human rights activists in the Philippines. The AHRC has previously reported incidents of attempts on the lives and extra-judicial killings of church leaders. This includes the attempt on the lives of Fr. Allan Caparro and his wife Aileen (UA-30-2005), and the killing of Rev. Edison Lapuz (UP-59-2005) and Fr. William Tadena (UA-34-2005).

Although the Philippine government has assured it will investigate and prosecute perpetrators of these incidents, the unabated attacks suggest that it has not done enough to prevent further violence against activists from occurring. The attack on Rev. Domingo was reportedly intended to silence him from exposing and opposing abuses by the military, and criticizing the presence of mining companies and projects affecting poor peasants and minorities in the area.

We request your intervention to ask the Philippine government, in particular the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the case of Rev. Domingo. It must also closely coordinate with concerned government agencies in identifying, arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators. Also, please ask for an immediate provision of medical assistance and protection for Rev. Domingo.

Further, please also ask the Philippine government to take appropriate actions in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights Defenders as adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). Any actions to address issues of security and protection of activist must be in accordance with the declaration.

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

Name of the victim: Rev. Raul Domingo (35), a pastor for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of human rights group Karapatan
Date and place of incident: 20 August 2005, at around 12:30 pm. in Barangay San Jose, Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan, Visayas
Alleged perpetrators: Two unidentified gunmen

Account of the incident:

On 20 August 2005 at around 12:30pm, Rev. Raul Domingo was alighting from a passenger jeep on his way home when shot by one of the two armed men riding on a motorcycle in Barangay San Jose, Puerto Prinsesa City, Palawan, Visayas. The suspect immediately fled from the scene of incident. Domingo suffered four gunshot wounds to his back and was rushed to a nearby Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. He is now in a stable condition.

Rev. Domingo, a father of five children, is presently the key minister of the Palawan Associate Conference of the UCCP. It was believed that the attempt on his life is meant to silence him from exposing and opposing abuses committed by the military, and criticizing the presence of mining companies and other projects in Palawan that are affecting the poor peasants and minorities in the province.

Rev. Domingo was the former Deputy Conference Minister of the Palawan Associate Conference (PAC-UCCP).  He is also part of the PAC-CWO (Church Workers Organization) at Christian Witness and Service (CWS) program of the UCCP in Palawan.

The attack on Rev. Domingo happened just after an International Solidarity Mission (ISM), a fact-finding mission and people’s tribunal investigating the cases of human rights violation in the country concluded its mission. This is yet another instance of the unabated attacks carried out on church leaders and human rights activists. Among these are the attempt on the life of Fr. Allan Caparro and his wife Aileen, and the killing of Rev. Edison Lapuz and Fr. William Tadena.

The leaders of the UCCP – Southern Luzon Jurisdiction Area (SLJA) headed by Bishop Eliezer Pascua has condemned the attack on Rev. Domingo. Pascue saying that what happened to Rev. Domingo has similar patterns to the brutal killing of Rev. Edison Lapuz and other church leaders who were also killed.

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