PHILIPPINES: Two human rights defenders threatened to be killed

Dear Friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern regarding the continuing threats to two human rights defenders. Both of them have received letters containing messages threatening to kill them in separate incidents. They are being told that their days are numbered and a hireling has been paid to kill them. These threats cannot be taken lightly because in most cases those who had been threatened had been subsequently killed. 

CASE 1: 

In the morning of April 9, 2010, Yolanda Pineda had received a letter given to her by her eldest daughter who found the letter. The letter, which had black ribbon on it, bore the name “Let Pineda”, which is Yolanda’s nickname written on it. The sender was supposedly a certain Ka Diego Magtanggol. The message in the letter, which was written in Tagalog, has been unofficially translated below as:

“We are giving you reasonable time after receiving this notice to clear your name. Your failure to comply would mean you are not interested in clearing your name and it will mean a bold forceful move or DEATH!”

The sender claimed to have known Yolanda and accuses her of having connection with an illegal armed group, the Marxist Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP-RHB / Marxista Leninista Partido ng Pilipinas – Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan), who was giving training and education. The letter further claimed apart from being a member of the group, she also continuously participates in demonstration as a member of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) Movement for Nationalism and Democracy). 

Days after receiving the letter, on April 14 between 6:30to 7pm, about eight houses away from Yolanda’s residence two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached Richard Absalon, a health worker in the Barangay. The two asked him: “Do you know let Pineda? Where does she live?” Richard, replied, “I know Let Pineda, but why should I tell you? I don’t even know you”. The two men left. They were described as wearing camouflage uniforms, civilian clothes and helmets. 

At the time, Yolanda had just taken part in a press conference which the KPD and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) had conducted. The conference was to oppose the heavy military presence in the area. However, it was only two days later, April 16, that Richard informed Yolanda about the incident. 

ABOUT THE VICTIM: 

Yolanda Pineda is a day care teacher for Antonio Day Care Center in Barangay San Antonio, Lubao. When the military established an army detachment adjacent to the day care center where she was teaching, she had been very critical against it since June 2008. Since then she has been actively demanding the removal of the detachment. She had also organized the parents of the preschool students in joining her. 

She also led in the submission of a petition letter the filed with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) which demanded the pull out of the military detachment. It is strongly believed that this was the reason why the army attached to the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) had subjected her to continuing harassment and intimidation. 

The KAISAKA (Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayan/ Unity of Women for Freedom) is a national organization of a group of women and a member organization of KPD. It has organised work in Central Luzon and particularly in Pampanga. It is engage in arousing, organising and mobilising women on issues affecting the sector of women and other issues that directly affect the women and communities. 

CASE 2: 

Below is the full text of the unofficial translation of the hand written sworn statement by the victim, Bernardino Patigas, given to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC): 

I am Bernardino Patigas, nickname Toto, a former organiser of fishermen in one of our districts in the province and now the secretary general of the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights (NNAHRA). 

In November 2009, I have received a letter from a person who claims to have known me. In the letter, it wrote: “Beware because the people led by Efren Amarilla will kill you. Efren is a member of an organisation (Guardians) established by the military”. 

I don’t have the letter with me because I’m already used to this type of threats. I have received many threats; however, in January 2010, I have received another letter containing threat. The letter said that Efren Amarilla, Boy Palabrica, Tolendoy and two others whose names were not mentioned: “My people will kill you.” The letter also attached a mission order from Efren and signed by the chief of the Intelligence Special Action Force (ISAFP). They will be paid 50,000 pesos if Timoteo Ballesteros could kill (me). A member of our organisation had spoken with Boy Palabrica, one of those paid by Tim Ballesteros, and he had admitted that (the letters containing threats) is true. But the person does not want to stand as witness if I decide to file a case. 

I remain vigilant because not only this people had planned to kill me but also the (sugarcane) planters and the military. As of now, there are leaflets that they had distributed in the city showing me carrying coffin towards a person in the mountain carrying firearm. There are also leaflets showing me carrying a firearm stepping on dead bodies. I have received information that I would be included in the charges of arson, robbery in band, multiple murder and others. 

All these did not frighten me. It instead inspires me to continue in awakening the people whom others want to be blinded despite the reality that our rights are being trampled upon by this heartless people, executioner and reactionary government of US-Arroyo. 

Signed: Bernardino Patigas

SUGGESTED ACTION: 
Please write letters to the authorities listed below asking them to have these cases investigated thoroughly and that adequate protection, wherever is possible, are afforded to the victims involved without further delay. 

The AHRC has also written separate letters to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders requesting for her intervention. 

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