Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that 19-year-old activist, Audie Lucero, was found dead in Barangay (village) Capitangan, Abucay, Bataan on 13 February 2006. Lucero suffered fatal gunshot wounds to his back, knee and left hand and his body had traces of torture marks.
According to information from the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (Pahra), a human rights organisation based in Quezon City, Manila, Lucero was seen on February 12 together with seven uniformed policemen who reportedly introduced themselves as members of Balanga Police Station. Lucero was at the time visiting his friend confined at the Immaculate Catalina Medical Center (ICMC) in Balanga, Bataan.
It is reported the police and military questioned Lucero over his relationship with his friend to whom he was visiting. Luceros friend has been accused by the police and military of allegedly being a member of a rebel group.
When the said policemen left, another group of policemen from Lubao Police Station arrived at the hospital. They were accompanied by military men believed to be connected with either the 24th or 64th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. They were seen talking to Lucero before he went missing and was found dead the next day. The location of the village where Luceros body was found was nearby the hospital.
At the time of his death, Lucero was a member of the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy Bataan (YND), the youth arm of the political organisation Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD). Lucero was active in all the YNDs activities and mobilisations.
This is yet another instance of an activist affiliated with the KPD having been killed. On 5 December 2005, Kathy Alcantara was also murdered. (Please visit our previous appeals: UP-160-2005; UP-014-2006). Lucero and Alcantara are visible in all KPDs activities in Bataan and Central Luzon.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned government agencies, in particular the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), asking them to commence an impartial and effective investigation into Luceros death. The police and military men alleged involved should be investigated so as to answer to the allegations made against them.
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To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _________,
PHILIPPINES: Nineteen-year-old activist found dead in Abucay, Bataan
Name of victim: Audie Lucero (19), a member of the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy Bataan (YND), the youth arm of political organisation Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD).
Name of alleged perpetrators: Several policemen attached to Balanga and Lubao police in Bataan; elements of either 24th or 64th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army
Date of incident: 12 and 13 February 2006
Place of incident: Barangay (village) Capitangan, Abucay, Bataan
I am writing to draw your attention to the case of Audie Lucero, an activist who was found dead on 13 February 2006 in Barangay (village) Capitangan, Abucay, Bataan. I have learned that he had suffered fatal gunshot wounds and his body had traces of torture marks when found in the middle of a rice field.
I am aware that Lucero was last seen talking with policemen who introduced themselves as members of Balanga and Lubao police on the evening of February 12 at the Immaculate Catalina Medical Center (ICMC) in Balanga, Bataan. The policemen reportedly questioned Lucero possibly over his involvement with his friend whom he visited at the hospital. The police and military have allegedly accused Luceros friend of being a member a rebel group.
Additionally, I have also learned that military men believed to be attached either with the 24th or 64th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were also last seen talking to Lucero at the same hospital the night before he was found dead. I am deeply concerned that the investigation conducted into Luceros case is completely inadequate. I am extremely disappointed that the allegations against the police and military may have not been dealt with seriously.
I urge your immediate intervention to ensure the conduct of an impartial and effective investigation into Luceros case. The investigation by concerned authorities, in particular the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) should reach conclusive findings to identify the perpetrators of Luceros death.
Furthermore, the police and military men involved should also be investigated to answer to the allegations made against them. They must be suspended from their duty once the investigation commences to ensure impartiality of the investigation. If the allegations are found to be true, appropriate criminal and administrative charges must be filed against them.
I trust that you will take immediate action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:
1. 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
2. Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
3. 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
4. Mr. Orlando Casimiro
Deputy Ombudsman
Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and
Other Law Enforcement Offices
3rd Floor, Ombudsman Bldg., Agham Road, Diliman (1104)
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +632 926 9032
Fax: +63 2 926-8747
5. 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
6. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Atten: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Email: lventre@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
