Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that two human rights defenders were killed and one wounded by unknown armed men in Negros Oriental. The victims were on their way to the police station to report the harassment they were encountering. The victims were allegedly killed by elements of private enforcers of the local Mayor.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN))
On 28 November 2017, a Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) was launched in San Ramon village, Bayawan, Negros Oriental. It was to investigate and verify reported human rights violations due to military operations in the Bayawan. On their way to the area, 30 members of the FFM team were blocked and harassed, allegedly by elements of the Mayor’s private enforcers. Armed men asked the whereabouts of the team and the purpose of their mission.
At 2:30 p.m., the following persons, Elisa Badayos, member of Karapatan Central Visayas, Elioterio Moises, a village watchman and member of local peasant organization Mantapi Ebwan Farmers Association, and a 23-year-old female, Cebu Kabataan Partylist member (Youth Partylist), decided to report the harassment incident that the team encountered. While on their way to the police station, unknown armed men shot Elisa, Elioterio and a female youth partylist member. The armed men were suspected to be the same armed men that blocked their entrance to the mission site. Elisa and Elioterio were shot dead. The youth partylist member was rushed to Bayawan Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds to her shoulder.
Elisa Badayos is the wife of former labor leader and desaparecidos (disappeared) Jimmy Badayos.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on the situation of human rights defenders.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Two human rights defenders killed and one wounded while conducting a Fact-Finding Mission in Negros Oriental
Names of victims:
1. Elisa Badayos, a member of Karapatan Central Visayas, and the wife of human rights defender Jimmy Badayos, a former labor leader who remains missing.
2. Elioterio Moises, a village watchman. He is a member of the local peasant organization Mantapi Ebwan Farmers Association
3. A 23-year old female Kabataan Partylist member of Cebu (Youth Partylist)
Alleged Perpetrators: Unknown armed men
Date of incident: 28 November, 2017
Place of incident: San Ramon village, Bayawan, Negros Oriental
I am writing to raise my grave concerns over the killing of two human rights defenders and the wounding of a third in Negros Oriental.
On 28 November, 2017, a Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) was launched in San Ramon village, Bayawan, Negros Oriental. It was to investigate and verify reported human rights violations due to military operations in Bayawan. On their way to the area, 30 members of the FFM team were blocked and harassed–allegedly by elements of the Mayor’s private enforcers. Armed men had previously asked the whereabouts of the team and the purpose of its mission.
At 2:30 p.m., the following persons Elisa Badayos, member of Karapatan Central Visayas, Elioterio Moises, a village watchman and member of local peasant organization Mantapi Ebwan Farmers Association and a 23-year old female Cebu Kabataan Partylist member (Youth Partylist) decided to report the harassment incident that the team encountered. On their way to the Police Station, unknown armed men shot Elisa, Elioterio and the female youth partylist member. The armed men were suspected to be the same armed men that blocked their entrance to the mission site. Elisa and Elioterio were shot dead. The youth partylist member was rushed to Bayawan Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds to her shoulder.
Elisa Badayos is the wife of former labor leader and desaparecidos (disappeared) Jimmy Badayos.
I am deeply concerned with the continuous operation of private enforcers despite the call to dismantle private armies and enforcers in the country.
I urge you to conduct a thorough investigation into the killings of the two victims. It is disappointing that one of the victims who is seeking justice for her husband, has become a victim. I further urge you to ensure that the witnesses and families of the victims be given adequate protection should they decide to prosecute. Perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in these cases.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Rodrigo Duterte
President
Republic of the Philippines
New Executive Bldg. Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Mr. Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman 1101
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
3. Police Director Ronald M. Dela Rosa
Chief
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame,
Quezon City 1111
PHILIPPINES
4. Mr. Vitaliano N. Aguirre II
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Telefax: +632 523-9548
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
