Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that three human rights activists in Baguio City, Luzon are facing serious threats on their lives. They are Windel Bolinget, secretary general of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), his colleague Joan Carling, and Manny Loste; regional coordinator of a local human rights organization.
The three human rights activists have been experiencing frequent acts of threats and intimidation on their daily lives. In January 2006, Joan Carling was followed by two suspicious-looking persons riding on a motorcycle while on her way home from the office. On February 10, her car was broken into when it was parked outside her house. She also discovered that the door-lock to her house was destroyed. She also fears that her house and workplace are being spied on by suspicious-looking persons.
Meanwhile, Windel Bolinget and Manny Loste also fear that their daily routines are being spied upon, they noticed that they were being followed by several mysterious persons when they were going home. Out of fear for their safety, they reported this to their respective offices. To add to this atmosphere of terrorization and intimidation, an attempt was made to abduct the wife of CPA’s vice chair person, Ampi Mangile. Mangile’s wife was allegedly forced, by military-looking persons, to ride in a van but she resisted.
These threats have been persisting for a long period of time, last year, in October 2005, there was a break-in at the CPA’s office. The perpetrators cut off the electric supply and phone lines. They were about to enter the office block after destroying the gate’s padlock when a member of staff who was sleeping inside the office was awakened by the noise. The perpetrators ran away after they were yelled at. During December 2005, several vans with tinted glass were often seen parked near the office of the CPA and the security guards at the CPA office received several threatening phone calls warning them to leave.
This is yet another instance where activists face serious threats to their lives. What is extremely worrying is that in most of the extra-judicial killing cases in the areas of Luzon, prior to their death, the victims had experiences of being threatened and spied upon before they were killed, such as the cases of killed activists Romeo Sanchez (UP-29-2005), Jose Manegdeg and Albert Terredano (UP-158-2005).
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to concerned government agencies to consider providing adequate protection to activists Joan Carling, Windel Bolinget and Manny Loste without delay. An immediate and impartial investigation must be instigated in order to identify the alleged perpetrators and to look into the possible involvement of the military agents.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Three more activists face serious threats to their lives
Name of activists facing threats:
1. Windel Bolinget, secretary general of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA)
2. Joan Carling, Bolinget’s colleague
3. Wife of CPA staff member Ampi Mangile
3. Manny Loste, Bayan Muna Cordillera region coordinator
Alleged perpetrators: unidentified persons believed to have connections with the military
Date of incidents: Several occasions in December- January 2005 and on 10 February 2006
Place of incident: Baguio City, Luzon
I am writing to draw your attention to the threats made on the lives of human rights activists Windel Bolinget and Joan Carling from a local human rights organisation called Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), and also on Manny Loste, regional coordinator of Bayan Muna Cordillera. I have also learned of an attempt to abduct the wife of another CPA staff member, Ampi Mangile.
According to the information I have received, on January 2006, while on her way home from the office, Joan Carling was followed by two persons riding on a motorcycle. Furthermore, on February 10, a break-in took place in her car parked outside her house. Since January, she has noticed numerous suspicious-looking persons spying on her house and workplace.
Meanwhile, Bolinget and Loste have also experienced been threatened by persons spying on their daily routine. Several suspicious-looking persons were noticed following them when they were going home. Out of fear for their safety, they reported this to their respective offices. More over, an attempt was made to abduct the wife of a CPA staff member, Ampi Mangile. Mangile’s wife was forced by military-looking persons to ride on a van, luckily she resisted.
These threats have been persisting for a long period of time, last year, in October 2005, a break-in took place at the CPA’s office. The perpetrators cut-off the electric supply and telephone connection, they then proceeded to enter the office block after destroying the gate’s padlock when a staff member sleeping inside the office was awakened by the noise. Furthermore, on December 2005, several vans with heavily tinted glass were often seen parked outside the CPA office. The security guards at the CPA office have received threatening phone calls warning them to leave.
I am deeply concerned about the security and safety of these three activists. I am aware that in most cases preceding the murder of activists, they have had experiences of being threatened and spied upon prior to their death. I ask for your immediate intervention in this matter, adequate protection and security needs to be provided for these persons concerned without further delay. An immediate and impartial investigation must be instigated to identify the alleged perpetrators.
Furthermore, I urge concerned government agencies to seriously consider this matter. I am extremely disappointed with the government’s inadequate action, in particular the law enforcement agencies have failed to ensure protection to activists facing serious threats. I would like to remind you of the case of murdered human rights lawyer Norman Bocar of Eastern Samar. Bocar was not offered security and protection although he made numerous requests to local police authorities prior to his killing on 1 September 2005.
I trust that you will take immediate action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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SEND LETTERS TO:
1. Charlemagne Alejandrino
Police Chief Superintendent
Deputy Director
Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
2. Atty. Jocelyn Castillo
Regional Director, Commission on Human Rights
Cordillera Administrative Region
3rd floor SSS Baguio Branch Bldg., Harrison Road
2600 Baguio City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 074 619 9088/ 074 619 9089
3. Ms. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 928-5655/926-6188
Fax: +63 2 929-0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph
4. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malaca?ang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
5.P/DIR Gen. Arturo Lumibao
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Attn: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
E-mail: MChingSimon@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme (ua@ahrchk.org)
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
