Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you about the disappearance of a man and his son in Maguindanao. They were last seen by a witness at a military checkpoint. The military claim they had released the two after talking to them. However, they have not been located as yet.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP))
On 3 July 2014, at 2pm, Abdulkarim Mohammad and his 15-year-old son, Mihad Mohammad, left their house in Dapiawan, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao. They went to the municipality of Shariff Aguak to sell their copra (a coconut kernel used to extract oil).
More than an hour later, Jahara Mohammad, Abdulkarim’s wife, was contacted by Mahdi Omar. He informed her that her husband and her son were stopped by the military. It was at a checkpoint near the military detachment of 45th Infantry Battalion – Alpha Company in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.
Omar said that at 3:45pm he was following Mohammad’s motorcycle coming from Shariff Aguak. When they reached the checkpoint, a man wearing plain clothes, and military staff stopped and questioned them. Omar hurriedly drove to Dapiawan to inform Jahara of what he saw.
Mohammad’s relatives, headed by Mariam Acob, went to the checkpoint asking the military about the whereabouts of their loved ones. They were told that they had released them after talking to them. Up to now their family have not located them.
Mohammad’s family sought the help of a local town mayor who telephoned the 45th IB making inquiries about the two missing persons. The military denied stopping the Mohammad’s or detaining them in their detachment. Acob reported their disappearance to the police station in Datu Unsay.
The victim’s wife, Jahara, said she could not think of any reason why her husband and son would be taken by the military. Her husband is a farmer. He cannot speak or write the official Filipino language. His 15-year-old son Mihad is a grade six student.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.
The AHRC has informed the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances about this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ……………..,
PHILIPPINES: A man and his son disappear at a military checkpoint
Name of the victims:
1. Abdulkarim Mohammad, farmer
2. Mihad Mohammad (15), grade-six student
Both residents of Dapiawan, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao
Alleged perpetrators: Military agents under 45th Infantry Battalion – Alpha Company in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao
Date of incident: 3 July 2014, 2pm
Place where they were last seen: At the checkpoint near the military detachment of 45th Infantry Battalion – Alpha Company in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.
I am writing to raise my grave concern about the disappearance of a minor and his father.
On 3 July 2014, at 2pm, Abdulkarim Mohammad and his 15-year-old son, Mihad Mohammad, left their house in Dapiawan, Datu Saudi, Maguindanao. They went to the municipality of Shariff Aguak to sell their copra, (a coconut kernel used to extract oil).
More than an hour later, Jahara Mohammad, Abdulkarim’s wife, was contacted by Mahdin Omar. He informed her that her husband and son were stopped by the military. It was at a checkpoint near the military detachment of 45th Infantry Battalion – Alpha Company in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.
Omar said that at 3:45pm he was following Mohammad’s motorcycle driving from Shariff Aguak. When they reached the checkpoint, a man wearing plain clothes, and military staff stopped and questioned them. Omar hurriedly drove to Dapiawan to inform Jahara of what he saw.
Mohammad’s relatives, headed by Mariam Acob, went to the checkpoint asking the military about the whereabouts of their loved ones. The military said they had released them after talking to them. Up to now their family have not located them.
Mohammad’ family sought the help of a local town mayor who telephoned the 45th IB inquiring about the two missing persons. The military denied stopping the Mohammad’s or detaining them in their detachment. Acobd reported their disappearance to the police station in Datu Unsay.
The victim’s wife, Jahara, said she could not think of any reason why her husband and son would be taken by the military. Her husband is a farmer. He cannot speak or write the official Filipino language. His 15-year-old son Mihad is a grade six pupil.
At the time of this writing, Abdulkarim and Mihad’s whereabouts remain unknown. I urge you to exhaust all means to locate the whereabouts of these two victims.
I request you keep his family properly informed and involved in any inquiry or intervention undertaken in this case. Prompt, adequate protection should be afforded the witnesses and their families to guarantee their security.
I especially ask that allegations that agents of the military could have been involved in these disappearances, be taken seriously.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
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
2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Chairperson
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: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
3. Police Director Alan LM Purisima
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
