Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the disappearance of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultant and her husband. The couple last contacted their relatives and colleagues on 23 February 2018; since then their whereabouts remain unknown.
CASE NARRATIVE: [Based on the documentation by the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN)]
From 19-23 February 2018, Lora Manipis and her husband Jeruel Domingo visited their children in Makilala, North Cotabato.
On board a motorcycle, the couple went to Kidapawan City to arrange for transportation. They were bound for an activity related to the peace process of the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). At around 6pm, they got off along the main street in the city, in front of a bank. They asked a motorcycle driver to negotiate with another driver of a public utility Toyota Hi-Ace van from the Overland Terminal, to bring them to Kabacan, North Cotabato. They also sent messages to a relative taking care of their children that they will be heading to a meeting the following day, February 24.
This was the last time that Lora and Jeruel were seen and heard from. Since then, their families, colleagues and friends have not been able to contact them. On April 8, the NDFP Far Southern Mindanao released a statement on the couple’s disappearance, raising the possibility that both may have already been executed by state forces, or are suffering under intense torture.
Prior to this incident, the eldest daughter of Lora and Jeruel had been harassed by a police officer in 2016. The daughter was interrogated about her mother’s whereabouts. Lora’s family members also reported that they were subjected to military surveillance for the past two years.
Lora T. Manipis is a consultant of the National Democratic Front Philippines in Far Southern Mindanao Region. She was a former student activist before she joined the New People’s Army. As an NDFP consultant, Lora is supposedly immune from arrest and other forms of attacks as stipulated in the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), that is supposed to protect her rights and safety even when peace talks are suspended. Her husband, Jeruel B. Domingo, is a commander of the New People’s Army.
Prior to their disappearances, they were holding activities related to the peace process and investigating the effects of the large-scale mining operations of X-Strata mining corporation in Tampacan, South Cotabato.
According to Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor, while the continuation of the peace talks is a welcome development, attacks against communities and peace consultants should likewise stop. The military’s denial no longer comes as a surprise, the same way they did in the case of Jonas Burgos. Evidence of Burgos in military custody was eventually brought to light several months after his disappearance.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Under the past regimes, NDFP consultants Leo Velasco, Rogelio Calubad, Prudencio Calubid and NDF staff members Philip Lijoco, Leopoldo Ancheta, Federico Intise and his wife Nelly were also victims of enforced disappearances. Their cases remain unsolved.
Peace talks with the communist rebels were terminated by President Duterte last year and formally designate the CPP-NPA a terrorist group.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about the case.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and has informed the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
PHILIPPINES: NDF Consultant and her husband disappeared in Kidapawan City
Name of victims:
1. Lora Manipis, a consultant of the National Democratic Front Philippines in Far Southern Mindanao Region. She was a former student activist before she joined the New People’s Army,
2. Jeruel Domingo, a commander of the New People’s Army. Prior to their disappearances, they were holding activities related to the peace process and investigating the effects of the large-scale mining operations of X-Strata mining corporation in Tampacan, South Cotabato.
Names of alleged perpetrators: Unidentified (believed to be military personnel)
Date of incident: 23 February 2018
Place of incident: Kidapawan City, Cotabato
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the enforced disappearances of Lora Manipis and Jeruel Domingo.
From 19-23 February 2018, Lora Manipis and her husband Jeruel Domingo visited their children in Makilala, North Cotabato.
On board a motorcycle, the couple went to Kidapawan City to arrange for transportation. They were bound for an activity related to the peace process of the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). At around 6pm, they got off along the main street in the city, in front of a bank. They asked a motorcycle driver to negotiate with another driver of a public utility Toyota Hi-Ace van from the Overland Terminal, to bring them to Kabacan, North Cotabato. They also sent messages to a relative taking care of their children that they will be heading to a meeting the following day, February 24.
This was the last time that Lora and Jeruel were seen and heard from. Since then, their families, colleagues and friends have not been able to contact them. On April 8, the NDFP Far Southern Mindanao released a statement on the couple’s disappearance, raising the possibility that both may have already been executed by state forces, or are suffering under intense torture.
Prior to this incident, the eldest daughter of Lora and Jeruel had been harassed by a police officer in 2016. The daughter was interrogated about her mother’s whereabouts. Lora’s family members also reported that they were subjected to military surveillance for the past two years.
Lora T. Manipis is a consultant of the National Democratic Front Philippines in Far Southern Mindanao Region. She was a former student activist before she joined the New People’s Army. As an NDFP consultant, Lora is supposedly immune from arrest and other forms of attacks as stipulated in the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), that is supposed to protect her rights and safety even when peace talks are suspended. Her husband, Jeruel B. Domingo, is a commander of the New People’s Army.
Prior to their disappearances, they were holding activities related to the peace process and investigating the effects of the large-scale mining operations of X-Strata mining corporation in Tampacan, South Cotabato.
I urge you to exhaust all means to locate the whereabouts of the victims. I also request you to ensure that their family is properly informed and involved in any inquiry or intervention done in this case. Furthermore, please consider affording the necessary assistance, without delay, to their family.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte
President
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, 1005
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: op-proper@gov.ph
2. Mr. Jesus Dureza
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Pasig City, 1605
Philippines
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
Email: peace.opapp@gmail.com, feedback@opapp.net
3. Ret. Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana
Secretary
Department of National Defense
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
Quezon City, 1111
Philippines
Fax:+63(2) 982-5600
Email: publicaffairs.dnd@gmail.com
4. Mr. Menardo Guevarra
Secretary
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila, 1004
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: communications@doj.gov.ph
5. Mr. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex, Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chairgascon.chr@gmail.com
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
