Dear friends,
The Asian Human rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that vigilante groups have murdered another 13 persons, two of whom are minors, in separate incidents from February 2 to June 13 of 2008. Of these, ten victims had been murdered in the city of Davao. Investigation into each of these cases has shown no substantial progress. They are similar to the murders we have reported previously.
UPDATED INFORMATION:
In addition to what we have previously reported AHRC-UAU-044-2008, these ten individual cases, listed below, illustrate how vigilante killings have become part of the daily lives of the people. The authorities, particularly the police, remain unable to have these cases effectively investigated and the perpetrators held to account.
Apart from failing to perform their required duties, the police investigators are also practicing an implied tolerance. This occurs by prematurely concluding a victim’s death is due to his criminal record, involvement in gangs, or his background. Investigations are carried out no longer for the purpose of identifying perpetrators but to justify a victims’ death.
1. OSMER TABUCLIN, 28 years old, of Ma-a, Davao City. On February 3, an unidentified man shot Osmer in the right side of his face, killing him instantly. The gunman fled on motorcycle. LOREX ASUNCION, 19 years old, of South Villa Subdivision. On February 2, a Davao City vigilante group reportedly shot dead Lorex in a crowded passenger terminal for jeepneys (small public bus) in Catalunan, Davao. Police prematurely concluded that he was a member of the Bloods Gang.
2. REGINALD, alias DING DONG, of Purok 51, National Housing Authority (NHA) Bangkal, Davao City. On March 15, while he was playing billiards, an unknown gunman suddenly appeared behind him and shot him in the back. As he tried to run, he was shot two more times which finally killed him. The attacker rushed from the scene of the crime after Reginald fell to the ground. Effective police investigation was not instigated.
3. MARLON LARA, 32 years old, of Talomo, Davao City. On March 31, as he was sitting outside a Sari-Sari store, three unknown armed men, at close range, shot him dead. The suspects then fled by motorcycle in an unrecognized direction. Police looked into his background to see whether or not he been involved in any illegal activities which could have contributed to his execution by vigilantes.
4. RICHIE CORDOVA, 26 years old, of Dona Pilar, Davao City. On April 19, as Cordova, a machinist, was driving home, an unknown man on a motorcycle tapped the side mirror of his car before fleeing. He ran after the man and cornered him near a local bank somewhere in Lanang. However, the said person suddenly turned and shot him. The suspect fled by motorcycle and Cordova died on his way to the hospital. In this case there was no substantial investigation by the police.
5. DEXTER JARANILLA, 22 years old, of Arellano Street in Davao City. On May 13, he was stabbed by three unidentified men as he was hanging out with his friends on Jose Abad Santos Street. He died instantly. The three men fled on motorcycle after the incident. Investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) claimed that Jaranilla had been jailed in several cases including gang war, robbery and rape.
6. JUNIE OLORES, 24 years old; of Royal Valley in Bangkal, Davao City. On May 15, when he was crossing the road with his live-in-partner, he was repeatedly shot in multiple places in his body by an unidentified gunman. As he lay dead, the gunman casually walked away from the scene to board a motorcycle waiting for him nearby. His partner had no idea why he had been killed. Again it is noted that adequate police investigation was not taken.
7. JULIUS CANTEROS, alias ODOY, 17 years old; JOHN PHILIP, alias JEPOY,15 years old, Dona Asuncion Village, Davao City. On May 28, they were drinking at a videoke bar when they were attacked by two unidentified men who arrived by motorcycle. One of them entered the bar and started shooting at the two as they were drinking. John was shot in the chest. Julius died on his way to the hospital due to a fatal gunshot wound. The attackers escaped by motorcycle. The police prematurely claimed their deaths had something to do with a gang war because they had previously been involved in a riot. At that time some illegal drugs were allegedly found from the victims’ possession.
8. JERRY NASIAD, a laborer at the public market; of 39.2 FVR Village, General Santos City. Jerry had just been released after having been detained on a charge of murder. On May 29, while he was standing in the public market, two unidentified persons repeatedly stabbed him before fleeing. He suffered at least 18 stab wounds, dying on the way to the hospital. The police claimed to have recovered illegal drugs in the victims’ possession. They prematurely concluded his death had something to do with gang war.
9 TWO UNKNOWN MEN. On June 9, two unidentified male corpses were found at the Reo Grande De Mindanao River in Cotabato City. One of the victims bore gunshot wounds while his body was tied with nylon cord. Another had stab wounds on his back and gunshot wounds to his chest. The head of the Cotabato City Police office claimed that someone came forward and was able to identify the victims. However, the police did not identify this person, nor mention the circumstances relating to how he/she had been able to identify the victims. It has been reported that they had been killed by a vigilante group in Cotabato. This group is reportedly responsible in several cases of murder in which the victims were allegedly involved in criminal activities.
10. ROMEO AGUINALDO, 44 years old, of Hillside subdivision, Davao City. On June 13, he was shot in the shoulder and forehead and killed at close range by unknown gunmen outside his own store. The suspects escaped towards a nearby village in NHA Buhangin. It is reported that the police have not yet identified the attackers. But they were already looking into the victim’s background which could help them in solving the case.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
We once again encourage you to take action as suggested in our previous appeals: AHRC-UAU-032-2008 and AHRC-UAU-044-2008. In addition to seeking intervention and adequate legal action from local officials and police authorities, the head office and the regional offices of the Commission on Human Rights in these places must also be requested to intervene.
As mentioned in an earlier statement AHRC-STM-184-2008, the severity of the conditions and the extent of the fear is so deep that even non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have already stopped documenting these cases. They know that they themselves would become targets once they document or take up these cases.
Thus, it is extremely essential, that the role of the CHRs be: to have each of these cases documented, to have action taken immediately with the possibility of redress for victims and their families. By not doing this, it may then be come difficult for them to intervene. Furthermore, it is the CHR’s ultimate obligation to have cases involving the violation of human rights investigated.
The AHRC will continue to report each of these cases to the UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary, or arbitrary Executions for his intervention.
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Ms. Leila De Lima
Commissioner
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: chr.delima@yahoo.com, mtm_rodulfo@yahoo.com
2. Mr. Alberto Sipaco Jr.
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights, Region 11
Trinity Bldg., Quimpo Boulevard
8000 Davao City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 82 298 3749 / 298 2233
Fax: +63 82 298 3749 / 298 2233
3. Mr. Quinciano V. Bueno
Officer-in-Charge (OIC)
Commission on Human Rights, Region 12
Pascua Building,
Arellano St.
Koronadal City
PHILIPPINES
Telefax: +63 83 520 0615
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
