Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), a labour and human rights organisation based in Quezon City, detailing the disappearance of labour leader, Rogelio Concepcion on 6 March 2006. Concepcions family fears that he could have been abducted by elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Concepcion is the officer-in-charge of the Solid Development Corporation Workers Association (SDCWA), a labour union in Barangay (village) Mataas na Parang, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. His wife Marissa is extremely worried that he has not returned home. Marissa reportedly spotted a van with suspicious movement parked near their house on the afternoon of March 6. The van stayed until late that evening. Concepcion’ s family and co-workers believe the military could be responsible for his disappearance. The elements of the 24th IB fall under the 7th Infantry Division (ID) headed by Major Gen. Jovito Palparan.
Prior to the incident, it is reported that on November 2005, elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) entered the factory of the Solid Development Corporation, a thread manufacturing company, and conducted a “military census” amongst the workers. As of now the military are still stationed within the Solid Development Compound.
Concepcion and his colleague, Ador Vasalio, were reportedly to have been being spied on by the military. Their houses are reportedly being watched. Vasalio was the former president of SDCWA. The Kilusan ng Manggagawa sa Bulacan (KMB), a labour organisation, reported that Vasalio was being hunted by the military over suspicions that he could be a member of a rebel group.
Concepcion had been deeply involved with their unions struggle. On May 2005, the union of the SDCWA staged a strike because of the management’s refusal to recognise their union despite a Department of Labor and Employments (DOLE) decision declaring their union as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent.
Concepcions disappearance is yet another instance of harassment and intimidation allegedly perpetrated by elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB). In November 2005, another labour leader, Enrico Estarez, went into hiding for fear of his life after being threatened and harassed by the said military unit. Three of Estarez companions were also reported to have been tortured by the military. Please visit our previous appeal for details on this case: UA-030-2006.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the government agencies listed below requesting for an immediate and impartial investigation into Rogelio Concepcions disappearance. The elements of the 24 Infantry Battalion (IB) must be placed under investigation to answer to the allegations made against them. The concerned authorities, in particular the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) must take effective steps to hold this military unit accountable for their alleged arbitrary use of authority.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear__________,
PHILIPPINES: Labour leader missing in San Ildefonso, Bulacan
Name of victim: Rogelio Concepcion (36), officer-in-charge of Solid Development Corporation Workers Association (SDCWA), a labour union in Barangay (village) Mataas na Parang, San Ildefonso, Bulacan
Name of alleged perpetrators: Elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army
Date of incident: 6 March 2006 to present
It has come to my attention that labour leader, Rogelio Concepcion has been missing since 6 March 2006. Concepcions wife Marissa suspects that he could have been abducted and forcibly disappeared by the military. It is reported that the day Concepcion went missing, there was a van parked in front of his house. The victim failed to come home after his usual working hours from the factory where he is working.
I have learned that prior to the incident, elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army, were reportedly spying on Concepcion. Concepcions colleague, Ador Vasalio had also been spied on. The military are reportedly spying on Vasalio and other leaders over allegations that they could be involved in a rebel movement; an allegation they strongly deny.
I am also aware that in November 2005, elements of the 24th IB conducted a military census amongst workers of Solid Development Corporation, a thread producing company. It is reported that since then, Concepcion has been reportedly subjected to surveillance by the said military unit, including having his house monitored.
I am aware that this is yet another instance of alleged arbitrary use of power by the said military unit. Also in November 2005, another labour leader, Enrico Estarez, went into hiding for fear of his life after receiving threats. Estarez and his family were threatened and harassed allegedly by elements of the 24th IB. It is also reported that three of Estarezs companions were tortured in separate incidents.
I am extremely disappointed and shocked by this and other instances of the arbitrary use of authority by the said military. I urge your immediate intervention to ensure that a thorough and impartial investigation be conducted into Concepcions disappearance. The concerned authorities must exert all means to locate Concepcions whereabouts. The elements of the 24th IB must be placed under investigation to answer to the allegations made against them.
Furthermore, I urge you to use your authority to impose immediate sanctions and disciplinary action against the military unit concerned. They must be suspended to ensure the impartiality of the investigation once it commences. They must also be held accountable for any violations they have committed. Appropriate charges must be filed against them if the allegations are found to be true.
I trust that you will take immediate action in this case.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR 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. 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
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. Gen. Generoso Senga
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
AFP-GHQ Offices, Camp Gen Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
5. 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
6. Mr. Diego Garcia-Sayan,
Chairperson
UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
