PHILIPPINES: Surveillance and a trumped-up criminal case against Human Rights Defender

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to express concern regarding the fabricated charges against Honey May Suazo (Hanimay) and the other 14 leaders of People’s organizations. The charges were filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detention Group (CIDG) last 12 May 2015. It has to do with threats and harassment to the life of Suazo. She is always targeted by the military agent because of the committed work as the human rights advocate.

CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentaion by Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN)

On 11 July 2015 Honey May Suazo (Hanimay) was a Secretary General of Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights ( KARAPATAN) , Southern Mindanao Region. She found out that there is a trumped up criminal charges were filed against her and other leaders of people’s organization who support more than a hundreds of Ata Manobos evacuees from the community of Talaingod, Davao del Norte due to military presence and combat operation.

Suazo led numerous fact-finding and search missions particularly in highly militarized communities in Talaingod, Davao del Norte and Loreto, Agusan del Sur. She has also openly pointed to the culpability of military troops in human rights abuses in the Southern Mindanao region.

A complaint was filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) under docket number XI-02-INV-15-E-1848 filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office, with charges of violation of Republic Act (RA) 267 or Kidnapping, Serious Illegal Detention and RA 9208 or the Anti-trafficking in persons Act of 2003 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-trafficking of Persons Act of 2012. The complaints were filed on 12 May 2015.

The of the leadres of People’s organization whose included in the trumped up charges are: Rev. Jurie Jaime (Promotion of Church People’s Response-Southern Mindanao Region); Sheena Duazo (Bayan Southern Mindanao Region); Ryan Lariba (Bayan Socsksargen); Tony Salubre (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao Region); Mary Ann Sapar (Gabriela Women’s Party-Southern Mindanao Region); Jaja Necosia (RCPA Productions-Broadcasting); Kerlan Fanagel, Sr., (Secretary general of the Lumad group Pasaka); Sr. Stella Matutina(Panalipdan-Mindanao); Sr. Restita Miles (Rural Missionaries of the Philippines); Isidro Indao, (Spokesperson of Pasaka); Kharlo Manano (national Secretary General of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns and spokesperson of the Save Our Schools network); Rius Valle (Children’s Rehabilitation Center-Souhtern Mindanao Region); Jimboy Marciano (SAMA-AKO-KMU); Pedro Arnado (Chairperson of Kilusang Magbubkid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao Region.

On several occasions, we always experienced threats, harassment, or intimidation, and surveillance in the course of our work as a human rights worker in the region, Suazo added.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

On 17 October 2014, Suazo narrowly escaped from a man tracking her. Suazo was aboard to a taxi with Anakbayan organizer Kae Solis from Bangoy St. to Nova Tierra village in Davao City.

At the Nova Tierra Village, Suazo got off to the taxi cab first and went inside her house. Solis had to wait for the change from the driver. When she got off the cab, a tall man pushed her. Solis tried to run but the man pulled her hair from the back as he shouted “Asa ka muadto?! Asa ka? (Where are you going?! Where?).” The perpetrator, who kept pulling Solis’ hair, pushed her to a glass wall of a drug store while asking the same questions. Finally, the man asked, Asa imong mga kauban lagi? Asa si Hanimay Suazo? (Where is your companion? Where is Hanimay Suazo?) Solis was able to push the perpetrator, ran across the highway, and rode a jeep. Solis later relayed to Suazo that a man was after her. 

At 6:30 p.m. on 7 February 2015, Suazo rode a tricycle( a public vehicle of the city) with Mary Ann Sapar (Gabriela Women’s Party-Southern Mindanao Region), Glades Maglungsod (Bayan-Southern Mindanao Region), Arlene Maglunsod and former representative of Anakpawis Partylist Joel Maglungsod (now with Kilusang Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region). All five came from a meeting on the situation of the evacuees from Talaingod, Davao del Norte and the spate of human rights violations of the 10th ID. A few minutes before Crossing Buhangin, Suazo and Sapar noticed a man onboard a motorcycle tailing their tricycle. The man had dark complexion, an army-cut hair wearing a brown jacket over a yellow t-shirt.

As soon as their tricycle reached Crossing Buhangin, Suazo and her companions got off the tricycle. The Maglungsod family quickly flagged down and rode a taxi cab, while Suazo and Sapar waited for them to ride off. The two were surprised to see the man on the motorcycle just a meter away from them. He was looking at Suazo directly; he seemed to be holding something in the pocket of his jacket. Both walked quickly to the opposite direction. The man onboard the motorcycle followed them. They ran and crossed the street. Suazo quickly rode a jeepney, while Sapar walked to her home. Both saw the man speeding off to another direction.

At 4 p.m. on 25 February 2015, Suazo attended a dialogue with members of the EastMinCom, the 10th ID, 4thInfantry Division and several attached battalions. The dialogue was facilitated by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as Chairperson of Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Region XI. The meeting was held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.

Maj. Jake Obligado of the 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion- 10th ID attended the dialogue. Obligado approached Suazo and shook hands with her. Suazo said, “Sir, we have finally met.” Obligado asked, “Hanimay, where is Juland (Hanimay’s husband)?”

Juland is Spokesperson and researcher of Panalipdan-Southern Mindanao Region, an environmental group. He is currently working on a research project in Zamboanga. Juland was also a subject of several incidents of threats and harassment, including a harassment suit for supposedly organizing a protest action and barricade of neglected typhoon Pablo survivors at the regional office of the Department of Social Work and Development.

Suazo told Obligado “I thought you knew where he is. He is in Zamboanga, conducting research on the mining companies there. Haven’t you seen him?” Obligado then said “Can I just get your number?” Suazo declined to give her number as Obligado insisted. Suazo told him, “Here is my lawyer, Atty. Fatima Adin. Talk to my lawyer and ask her if I can give my number.” Adin told Obligado “No, you cannot have her number.” Suazo told Obligado, “Why do you ask for my number, when you viciously attack and vilify us on television and radio, calling us communists?” Obligado then insisted to have his picture taken with Suazo, to which she again declined. Obligado told Suazo “You have always been carrying the red flag.” Obligado has consistently and repeatedly tagged Karapatan and Suazo as communist and communist front during his radio and TV interviews.

On 27 April 2015, there are three armed men believed to be elements of the 69th Infantry Battalion under the 10th ID attempted to forcibly enter the Karapatan-SMR in Davao City. Karapatan staff members, leaders of peasant organizations, and victims of human rights violations from Paquibato, Davao City and Bukidnon were in the office at the time. Aida Seisa, secretary general of the Paquibato District Peasants Alliance (PADIPA) and Vice-Chairperson for Internal Affairs, SABOKAHAN Lumad Women Regional Confederation was among them. Seisa recently survived an attempted killing incident by elements of the 69th IB-PA, targeting her and her family. The incident resulted in the massacre of three peasants in Paquibato.

Staff members of the Karapatan-SMR believe that three of their neighbors who are residing beside the office are involved in the surveillance and threats against the Suazo and the staff. Prior to the attempted raid, the staff members noticed two men and a woman who would regularly come out of said house to smoke cigarettes or make calls/text but were always alerted when people go in and out of the office. One of these three persons took pictures of visitors and staff going in the office.

A gadget, which the staff members believe as a listening device, was also placed on the window facing Karapatan office. The staff members also noticed that every day several men pass by and look towards the office. The men would pass by more often when Suazo is in the office.

At 19 June 2015, Karapatan staff Leonora Ricafort called Suazo to dissuade her from coming to the office as they observed two to three men were on stake-out outside the office.

At 9 p.m. on 21 June 2015, Suazo and two male victims of Human Rights Violation (HRV) were walking towards the office when they saw two motorcycles parked on a street corner near the office. Suazo found it unusual that the motorcycles were there as there was not enough space for parking. The three ran fast to reach the gate of Karapatan office. Suazo and her two companions continuously tapped the gate to get the attention of the staff members inside when a man came out from their neighbors’ house and walked towards the parked motorcycles.

Because of the spate of harassment against her, Suazo has since been unable to go neither to the Karapatan-SMR office nor her home.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Kindly send letters to the concerned authorities listed below requesting for their immediate intervention in this case.

Please note that the Asian Human Rights Commission has written separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders.

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