Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an appeal from Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) about another human rights violation on civilians committed by elements of the 66th Infantry Battalion (IB) belonging to the 6th Infantry Division (ID) based in Awang, Cotabato City, of the Philippine army.
According to the information received, a B’laan farmer named Flory Balilid (25) was briefly held and tortured by elements of the 66th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army during a military operation on suspicion of being a commander of the New Peoples Army (NPA) on 12 February 2004. It is reported that on the same day Flory’s elder brother Rogelio and his wife Rosita were also harassed by a group of soldiers. They suffered trauma from accusation of being rebel sympathizers or leaders.
Your urgent action is required to pressure the Government of the Philippines to investigate this matter and punish those responsible for the inhuman torture of the victims. Please also ask the Government of Philippines to strictly regulate its military forces not to illegally arrest, assault and detain innocent civilians during military operations.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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Urgent Appeal
April 27, 2004
3 B’laan farmers harassed, one of them tortured by military in Barangay Sinapulan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat
Victim/s: 1) Flory Balilid (25), 2) Rogelio Balilid (33), Flory’s elder brother 3) Rosita, Rogelio’s wife (all are residents of Barangay Sinapulan, Columbia, Sultan, Kudarat, Philippines)
Alleged perpetrator/s: elements of 66th Infantry Battalion (IB) under the 6th Infantry Division (ID) based in Awang, Cotabato City, of the Philippine Army (PA)
Date of incident: 12 February 2004 at 7:00 a.m.
Motive: suspected as a member or commander of a dissident group (CPP-NPA)
Account of the incident: (based on the victim’s testimony)
A B’laan farmer was briefly held and tortured by elements of the 66th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine army during a military operation on suspicion he was a commander of the New Peoples Army (NPA) in Sitio Malpikat, Barangay Sinapulan, Colombio, Sultan Kudarat on 12 February 2004 at 7:00 a.m. The victim was identified as Flory Balilid, 25 years old and a resident of Barangay Sinapulan, Colombio, Sultan Kudarat.
Flory said he was riding on his horse on the way to Sitio Malpikat from his house to haul corn when he saw about 100 heavily armed soldiers already scattered in the area. One of the soldiers approached him and ordered him to get down. He was asked what was doing. He told the soldier he was hauling corn and going to Poblacion. Flory said the soldiers instead insisted that he was a courier of the NPA. According to Flory, because his uncle Santos Balilid, a barangay chairman of Sinapulan, was tagged by the military as an NPA supporter, eventually they also accused him of supporting the NPA like his uncle.
After that, one of the soldiers suddenly covered Flory’s face with a cloth and started mauling him. The soldier was quoted as saying “Ikaw ang isa ka kumander nga NPA! (You are an NPA commander)” while mauling him. The soldiers hit him with armalite butts on his chest, underarm and punched his neck. Several soldiers assaulted him one after the other.
The soldiers kept forcing Flory to admit that he was an NPA commander. He was then told to remove his T-shirt and stretched both arms side by side. One of the soldiers then pulled down Flory’s briefs to his knee. He heard one of them saying in mockery on him, “I thought you were uncircumcised.” They then removed the cloth tightly covering his face. He noticed that five soldiers were aiming their M-14s and M-203 at him. He said he could identify two of the soldiers.
At that time, Flory took a chance due to the soldiers’ loose security on him and suddenly ran as fast as he could towards Poblacion Barangay Sinapulan. Flory said he no longer thought twice that he might be shot. All he thought was how to escape from the soldiers’ cruelty. About five soldiers ran after him, but he lost them.
Flory said he immediately reported the incident to his uncle, Santos Balilid, who then accompanied Flory to report the incident at the police station in Poblacion Colombio, Sultan Kudarat. Flory then undergone a medical examination and check-up at the clinic of Dr. Salome. They then went back home after reporting the incident.
It is also reported that at around 1:00 p.m. on the same day Flory’s elder brother, Rogelio and his wife Rosita, were also harassed by a group of soldiers. Rogelio said he and his wife had just come from Sitio Malpikat riding on a horse when they were stopped by soldiers. One of the soldiers approached him and ordered him to report to their officer standing nearby. At that time, Rogelio, a barangay police member, was carrying a barangay issued homemade firearm locally called ‘de dose.’ He saw that about 20 soldiers were aiming their firearms at him and his wife.
Rogelio then went to the officer. The soldiers took his homemade firearm despite his explanation he was a barangay police member. Rogelio said the soldiers whom he talked to belonged to elements of the 66th Infantry Battalion and 7th Infantry Battalion. After talking to a military officer, Rogelio and his wife went home. . It is reported that they suffered trauma from accusations of being rebel sympathizers or leaders.
Separately, it was also reported that 10 B’laan natives, including a 3-year-old girl, were illegally arrested, detained and harassed by elements of the military in Colombio, Sultan Kudarat on February 14, 2004. The victims were wrongfully accused of being members or supporters of the NPA, a communist rebel organization in the Philippines.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters, e-mails and faxes to the addresses below to call for a thorough investigation on the case and/or any form of assistance to the victims. Kindly informe us through mail or e-mail of any interventions you make.
1. Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President, Republic of the Philippines
New Executive Bldg.
Malacanang Palace Compound, J. P. Laurel St.
San Miguel, Manila,
PHILIPPINES
Cel#: (+63) 919 8984622 / 917 8398462
Fax: (+63) 2 929 3968
E-mail: opnet@ops.gov.ph, kgma@yahoogroups.com
2. The Secretary of Justice
The Department of Justice (DOJ) Philippines
Department of National Defense
Camp Gen. Emelio Aguinaldo
Quezon City,
PHILIPPINES
E-mail: osnd@philonline.com
3. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Ave.
U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: (+632) 929 0101 / 928 0848
E-mail: drpvq@chr.gov.ph
4. Atty. Rosalinda Tolosa
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights (CHR 12)
2nd Floor, Hadji Datu Usman Mampen Bldg.
Don Rufino Alonzo St.
Cotabato City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: (+064) 421-6307 / 482-0384
5. Mr. Theo C. van Boven
Special Rapporteur on the Question of Torture
OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9016
Email: secrt.hchr@unog.ch
6. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
c/o Ms Christina Saunders
Room 3-042
OHCHR-UNOG, Palais Wilson,
8-14 Avenue de la Paix,
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
Email: csaunders@ohchr.org
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights
Palais Wilson, Rue des Paquis 52,
Geneva,
SWITZERLAND
Tel: + 41-229179174
Fax: +41-229179174
Sample letter:
Dear Sir/Madam:
Greetings of Peace!
I am writing to raise my concern over reports of human rights violations on B’laan farmers in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat in the Philippines committed by elements of the 66th Infantry Battalion (IB) led by Col. Rolando Picar under the 6th Infantry Division (ID) in Awang, Cotabato, of the Philippine army.
The victims, namely Flory Balilid, his elder brother Rogelio and Rogelio’s wife Rosita, are B’laan native farmers who became victims of the soldiers’ baseless accusations linking them as either leaders or supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA), a communist rebel group. The incident happened in February 12, 2004.
In particular, Flory was subjected into inhuman treatment by the soldiers. He was stripped-of his clothing, physically assaulted, tortured and harassed into admitting he was an NPA commander. His brother Rogelio and wife Rosita did not escape from military harassment. Though they were not harmed by the military they also suffered trauma from accusation of being rebel sympathizers or leaders.
The B’laan natives, who are living in the hinterland, have since been victims of human rights violations mostly by government soldiers. They are mostly caught in between. If not accused by military as rebels they would be accused by rebels groups as military agents.
I call on the Philippine Government to warn its military force, particularly elements of the 66th IB led by Col. Picar of the 6th ID, PA, that they must be very careful in their targets. Lapses on rules of engagements in conducting military operations has no room for excuse particularly if involves lives the innocent civilians.
Likewise, the Philippine government, specially the Commission on Human Rights (CHR 12), must take a decisive move, not only through investigation, but to punish those responsible for these inhuman and unjust acts to innocent victims. The perpetrators must be held responsible and punished for their acts. I am most concern on the victims’ welfare. Justice must be served to them and the perpetrators must be punished.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
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Please inform the undersigned thru emails, danysunstar@yahoo.com, mindanaw@tfdp.org, Or mail at: Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Door No. 2, Guiapal Apartment, #38 Anacleto Badoy Street, Cotabato City, Philippines.
Or call tel. No. (064) 421-33-82 / 09198791829 should you have any interventions made on the matter. We highly appreciate your best effort on this for the protection of human rights.
Thank you and more power.
Danilo A. Reyes
Regional Staff
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
West Central Mindanao Region
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
