Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern that four human rights activists, all of whom are staff members of the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN) in Cebu City, have been receiving threatening messages on their mobile phones. The message contains warning they will “suffer the consequence” if they do not cease investigating a complaint regarding the disappearance of a man.
CASE DETAILS: (According to the account of the victims)
On August 21 and 24, the four activists, namely Dennis Abarrientos, secretary general of KARAPATAN; Vimarie Arcilla, public information officer; Jean Suarez, research and documentation officer; and Concordia Oyao, direct services officer, simultaneously received threatening messages on their mobile phones. The victims were having a staff meeting on August 21 in Cebu City when they received the messages.
The threatening messages, received from mobile phone numbers +639059393006 and +639096217843, writes: “I know what you are doing HR (human rights). Your time is up!!!” and “Stop your Fault-Finding Missions
or suffer the consequences!!!.” The said messages, according to the victims, were sent by a sender who had the code names of “Joy” and “Benjie” written on them.
The victims said code names “Joy” and “Benjie” are known in the places of Cebu and Bohol as “resource persons” in pulong-pulong (gathering) organized by the 3rd Civil Relations Group and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Military Intelligence Group (ISAFP-MIG).
The threats the victims are continuing to receive began when they conducted an investigation into the abduction and subsequent disappearance of a 46-year-old man, Calixto Alfante, in Barangay (village) Dobdob, Valencia, Negros Oriental on June 11 of this year. Calixto was reportedly a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army.
Since June 18, KARAPATAN have already been assisting the victim’s wife, Lucita Alfante, 36, in locating her husband’s whereabouts. Her husband was alleged to have been abducted by the soldiers attached to the 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IB-PA) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Neri from the village mentioned above.
After Lucita sought their assistance, the group visited various camps, detention centers and other government offices but they could not locate the victim. On June 27 until June 29, the group went to Barangay Dobdob in Valencia, where the victim was reported to have been adducted, spoke with a witness, Catalino Ortega, who confirmed the abduction. Catalino has likewise made a sworn statement regarding the case.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Since KARAPATAN took up Calixto Alfante’s case, the group have since become the object of the soldiers’ needless public criticisms, in particular Colonel Cesar Yano, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB). It is reported that Lt. Col. Neri, whose unit was alleged to have been involved in Calixto’s abduction and disappearance, is under Colonel Yano’s command.
In this July 31 report from Visayan Star, Colonel Yano was reported to have already filed criminal charges against the group for supposedly harassing Catalino Ortega, a witness whom the military said their witness. Catalino is the same person who was interviewed by the group accusing the soldiers’ involvement in Calixto’s disappearance. The soldier said he was their witness against the group.
The soldiers were reported to have filed charges of kidnapping and illegal detention supposedly because they ” brought (Catalino) to a certain place and forced (him) to make a false testimony against operatives of the 79th IB”, which the group denied. One of those named in the charged was Vimarie Arcilla, one of the activists mentioned above receiving threatening messages.
In return, in another report, the group also said it would file charges of malicious persecution, perjury and libel against military officials in Negros Oriental. They denied having Catalino make a false statement and illegally detained. Also, the group was preparing administrative and civil charges against the soldiers whom they claimed were responsible for a “vilification campaign” against them.
The witness’ version of the story, Catalino, was not immediately known. The group said they have also sent a notice to AFP headquarters protesting the treatment on them.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities below calling for their appropriate intervention in this case. An inquiry should be conducted to establish whether or not soldiers are involved in threatening the victims; and that action should be taken if allegations are found to be true. These activists should be given protection and allowed to continue doing their work without fear of being intimidated.
Please be informed that the AHRC is also writing letters to the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN for human rights defenders and the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
PHILIPPINES: Four activists receiving threatening messages for investigating disappearance
Name of activists:
1. Mr. Dennis Abarrientos, secretary-general
2. Ms. Vimarie Arcilla, public information officer
3. Mr. Jean H. Suarez, research-documentation officer
4. Ms. Concordia Oyao, direct-services officer
All of them are staff members of the Alliance of the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) in Central Visayas region based in Cebu City
Army unit allegedly involved into the disappearance of Calixto Alfante: 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IB-PA) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Neri.
Army official involved in making public criticisms: Colonel Cesar Yano, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB). The military unit above is under his command.
I am writing to express my serious concern that four activists, whose names are mentioned above, have been receiving threatening messages on their mobile phones since assisting Lucita Alfante, wife of disappeared victim Calixto Alfante, whom soldiers allegedly abducted in June 11 of this year.
I have learnt that after Lucita sought the group’s assistance, the latter went to the village of Dobdob in Valencia, Negros Oriental, where the Calixto was reported to have been abducted by soldiers attached to 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IB-PA) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Neri.
A witness, Catalino Ortega, whom the group has spoken to, executed an affidavit confirming the soldier’s alleged involvement into the victim’s abduction and subsequent disappearance. It was on June 27 and 29, several days after the victim’s disappeared that the group have been able to speak to Catalino and secured the statement from him regarding the soldier’s alleged involvement.
I am aware of the soldier’s claims, in particular Cesar Yano, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB), that Catalino, a witness whom KARAPATAN has been interviewed earlier accusing the soldiers responsible for Calixto’s disappearance, and is likewise the soldiers’ witness against the group. The group has supposedly made Catalino prepare a false testimony against the soldiers. I am deeply concerned by the manner the soldiers are dealing with these matters. I have learned that the soldiers have filed charges against the group on this matter.
I have learnt that since this conflict between the soldiers and the group after they assisted the wife of the disappeared victim, the activists mentioned above have since already began to receive threatening messages from their mobile phones. The message which writes: “I know what you are doing HR. Your time is up!!!” and “Stop your Fault-Finding Missions
or suffer the consequences!!!.”, are sent from mobile numbers +639059393006 and +639096217843.
According to the victims, the messages are being sent by senders with code names “Joy” and “Benjie”, whose names are already known in Cebu and Bohol, to have been working as “resource persons” in pulong-pulong (gathering) organized by the 3rd Civil Relations Group and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippine Military Intelligence Group (ISAFP-MIG). I therefore urge you to conduct a thorough investigation whether or not the allegations are true and that the soldiers or their agents are held responsible for threatening these activists.
I have learnt that though the activists have already sent a protest to the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the manner of how local military officials are treating them, I am not aware of any progress to their complaint.
I therefore urge your adequate and appropriate intervention to have the allegations of victims thoroughly investigated. I am concerned that the needless criticisms the soldiers are taking are effectively undermining the group from continuously doing their work without fear of being intimidated.
Furthermore, I urge you to consider affording necessary protection, in addition to thoroughly investigating these complaints, for the victims without delay. As you are may be aware, there have been previous killing of activists subsequent to having been subjected to continuing threats.
Yours sincerely,
—————-
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
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph
2. Ms. Leila De Lima
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chr.delima@yahoo.com or mtm_rodulfo@yahoo.com
3. Deputy Director General Avelino Razon
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
E-mail: bluetree73@gmail.com
4. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice (DoJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: agnesdeva@yahoo.com
5. Lt. Gen.Alexander Yano
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
AFP-GHQ Offices, Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 911 6436
Tel: +63 2 911 6001 to 50
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
