Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you of the killing of five indigenous persons in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao. The victims were mistaken for New People’s Army rebels by the military.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN))
On 18 August 2015, Herminio Samia, 70, his son Jobert, 20, his grandson Norman, 13 and his nephews Emer and Welmer Somina had lunch at his house at Sitio Mandum, Brgy. Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon. A 15-year-old relative whose name is withheld was also with them.
At 3 p.m., they heard a series of gun fire shots from the forest. Jobert immediately suggested going to a safer place, but Herminio advised otherwise. Being old and blind, Herminio can no longer take long walks. He said they were civilians and they have nothing to do with the fight. The gun fire lasted for more than one hour.
At 5 p.m., when the gun fire had subsided, they heard someone from outside the house shout, “Kayong mga NPA na nandyan sa itaas ng bahay, lumabas kayo diyan at bumaba dito!” (You NPA inside the house get out and get down here!) The boys were forced to come down and immediately saw the soldiers who ordered them to raise their hands. Herminio, on the other hand, explained it is difficult for him to go down because he is blind but a soldier retorted while cursing, “Litse, bakit hindi makababa ay meron namang hagdan!? (How can you not come down when there is a stair). Herminio obliged and struggled to come down the house. Being blind, Herminio did not know where to go and started to stray until he reached a coffee tree. The soldiers shot Herminio. Then they shot his nephew Emer. The eye witness was the next target but he was able to run. He hid behind big rocks, which became his cover until he could reach the house of Orenio Samia, his uncle.
The next day, 27 residents, including barangay councilor Isabero Sulda checked Herminio’s place. When they arrived they saw about 22 soldiers who ordered them to line up. The soldiers took pictures of the 27 villagers and listed down their names. They were also warned not to look at the soldiers as they collected the dead bodies.
They saw five dead bodies in the vicinity of Herminio’s house. Herminio Samia’s body was found near the coffee tree. He was shot in the stomach, his intestines exposed, and had an exit wound at the back. Emer Somina’s body was found near the house’s door. Norman Samia was found a few steps away, with his ear removed from his head and his jaw broken. Welmer’s left hand was cut off from his wrist and had a gunshot on his nose, which disfigured his face. Jobert’s body was found near Welmer’s.
The soldiers provided the residents with plastic canvass to transport the remains. They were ordered to take the bodies to the grassy part on the top of the hill where they will be loaded onto a helicopter. At the hilltop, the residents were told to prepare the area where the helicopter could land. But then it rained. So they were told to move the bodies to the barangay hall at Madum, Mendis. The soldiers went with them.
Since the incident, members of 1st Special Forces Battalion are still encamped at the barangay hall and day care center where the five villagers were killed.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Kindly send letters to the concerned authorities listed below requesting their immediate intervention into this case.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, calling for their intervention into these cases.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
Philippines: Mistaken for rebels, five Manobo killed by military in Northern Mindanao
Name of the victim:
Emer Somina, Male, 17, a Manobo
Welmer Somina, Male, 19, a Manobo farmer
Norman Samia, Male, 14, a Manobo
Herminio Samia, Male, 70, a Manobo farmer
Jobert Samia, Male, 20, a Manobo farmer
Name withheld, 15, a Manobo farmer
Name of Alleged Perpetrator:
3rd Company of the1st Special Forces Battalion under the ground commander Capt. Balatbat; Col. Nasser Lidasan as Battalion Commander
Date of incident: August 18, 3015
Place of Incident: Sitio Mandum, Brgy. Mendis, Pangantucan, Bukidnon
I am writing to raise my concern regarding the killing of 5 Manobo who were mistaken for New People’s Army rebels by the military. On 18 August 2015 at 3 p.m. while the Samia and Somina families were having lunch at Herminio’s house, they heard a series of gun fire shots in the forest for more than an hour. Although they planned to go to a safer place, Herminio had difficulty in walking because he is old blind. He told his companions that they are civilians with nothing to do with the fight, so they would be fine.
At 5 p.m., when the gun fire had subsided, they heard someone from outside the house shout, “Kayong mga NPA na nandyan sa itaas ng bahay, lumabas kayo diyan at bumaba dito!” (You NPA inside the house get out and get down here!) The boys were forced to come down and immediately saw the soldiers who ordered them to raise their hands. Herminio, on the other hand, explained it is difficult for him to go down because he is blind but a soldier retorted while cursing, “Litse, bakit hindi makababa ay meron namang hagdan!? (How can you not come down when there is a stair). Herminio obliged and struggled to come down the house. Being blind, Herminio did not know where to go and started to stray until he reached a coffee tree. The soldiers shot Herminio. Then they shot his nephew Emer. The eye witness was the next target but he was able to run. He hid behind big rocks, which became his cover until he could reach the house of Orenio Samia, his uncle.
The morning after the incident happened, 27 villagers including Isabero Sulda the barangay councilor went to check Herminio’s place and collected the dead bodies. They were ordered to line up so the soldiers could take their pictures and list their names.
I have learned that the witness who escaped from Herminio’s house is now suffering from trauma.
I urge you to ensure that impartial and adequate investigations are conducted into these killings, and that the perpetrators are tried for their crimes. I also urge you to take note of the continuing murder of civilians in places where there is a military presence, and ensure adequate security and protection to the witnesses and families of the victims.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
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
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. Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
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 Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
