UPDATE (Philippines): Social welfare department fails relatives of disappeared victim in Davao City, Mindanao 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that the local social welfare department in Davao City, Mindanao has failed the family of disappeared victim, Sabdurah Abdullah Ala. It was learned that although a personnel from the social welfare department, Alice Torejas, has interviewed Aminah Ala and her daughter Mirriam (13), who suffers from trauma following her father’s disappearance, no assistance has so far been afforded to them as promised.

On 13 October 2005, Torejas interviewed and visited Aminah at their house following their receipt of a letter from the AHRC and other private individuals asking for appropriate assistance to Mirriam and her family. On 24 October, Aminah was informed by her cousin, Rosalinda Darimbang, that a personnel from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) regional office in Davao City said that she should go to the Barangay (community) hall of Ma-a, Davao to meet Torejas to claim the promised assistance.  But when Aminah arrived, Torejas was not there. She was instead told to proceed to the local social welfare department office at nearby Matina, Davao City where Torejas was holding her office.

It was reported that when Aminah and Torejas met at the latter’s office, Aminah was asked to sign several documents, some of which were blank papers, without properly explaining to her what they were, nor and giving her a copy. Aminah admitted that although she can understand and read some English, her understanding of some terms is not strong. The victim’s relatives strongly believe that the documents that Aminah signed could have indicated that they received financial and medical assistance.

Aminah was told to gone back to the social department’s office, but since those scheduled days they asked was the observance of the Islam’s day of fasting, she was not able to follow-up their office. But when a follow-up was made on November 7, it was learned that that the supposed assistance is not yet available to them and they were told that they had to wait further. To date, the 13-year-old trauma victim, Mirriam has not undergone any treatment as promised.

Although the AHRC is in receipt of a letter dated 16 September 2005 from Ruel G. Lucentales, the assistant Secretary for Visayas and Mindanao of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), informing DSWD’s regional office in Davao City to “locate Mirriam and provide her needed assistance”, the reality that the victims have not received such assistance as promised.

We urge your strong intervention to pressure further the Philippine government, in particular the local government of Davao City and its local social welfare and development department to afford the appropriate assistance to Mirriam and her family as promised without delay. An inquiry must also be conducted into reports that the victim, Aminah Ala, was made to sign documents without them properly being explaining to her. If the allegations are true and that it was done purposely to deceived the victims, appropriate sanctions must be carried out against those persons involved.

Further, please ask both the Philippine Congress and Senate to consider the passage of the proposed bill, House Bill 1556 or an Act which defines and penalises the crime of enforced or involuntary disappearance as a priority. The bill, which seeks to criminalise enforced and involuntary disappearance, must be given the highest priority considering the incidents of disappearances in the country.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

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SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to Ruel G. Lucentales, the assistant secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the other persons listed below and express your concern about this case.

 

 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER