Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you that another human rights activist has been killed while another one has survived an attempt on her life in separate incidents on 10 March 2006 in Luzon, Philippines. Activist Crisanto Teodoro (a.k.a. Santi) was shot dead while driving in a car with his wife Lucila in Malolos, Bulacan while Elena Mendiola (a.k.a. Baby) was shot at by two men in front of her house in Echague, Isabela.
It was around 9pm when Teodoro was shot at while driving with his wife Lucila and colleagues. Lucila suffered injuries to her face after slamming into the cars window following her car being rammed. Teodoro is one among 33 victims of summary execution since January this year, according to a report by Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights). The group added that Teodoro is also the 82nd member of party list Bayan Muna (People First) to be killed since 2001.
Meanwhile, Mendiola survived an attempt on her life when gunmen shooting at her missed. She was in front of her house at around 9:30am in Sillauan Sur, Echague, Isabela when the incident happened. She was able to run for cover behind a wall. The unidentified assailants shot at her three times. The gunmen were believed to have used a .45 caliber pistol when shooting the victim.
Mendiola is herself a leader of Bayan Muna in the province. She was a member of the United Opposition during the National Elections of 2003. She is also a member of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, Justice and Good Governance and a popular defender of peasant rights in Echague, Isabela.
A week before the incident, another activist, Gina Ricardo of Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) in Cagayan Valley Chapter was also harassed. It is reported that an unidentified man pointed a gun at her on March 3.
This is yet another incident of killing and violence of human rights activists in the Philippines. While these incidents are occurring unabated, the response by the concerned authoritys, in particular the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of Justice (DoJ) has been completely inadequate. In most cases the perpetrators have not been identified, arrested and prosecuted.
The AHRC has repeatedly raised serious concerns regarding these issues including in our open letter to Department of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez (AHRC-OL-002-2006) and to Ms Louise Arbour of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (AHRC-OL-08-2005). The ineffective implementation of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act (RA 6981) is among the key factors in failing to address these cases. Most of these cases have either not been filed or have not shown progress in court due to the lack of witnesses. The non-prosecution of perpetrators creates a culture of impunity and violence.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the relevant authorities listed below requesting for a thorough and impartial investigation into the killing of Crisanto Teodoro. The police investigators should exert all means to collect sufficient evidence and to identify the perpetrators and to effectively prosecute them. An inquiry must also commence into the attempt on Elena Mendiolas life. Mendiola must also be afforded with appropriate protection to ensure her safety. Reports of threats and harassment instigated against other activists should also be investigated.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Activist killed and an attempt made on anothers life
Name of victim killed: Crisanto Teodoro (45), married and with children, a resident of Menzyland Subdivision, Malolos, Bulacan. He was the chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)
Place of incident: Menzyland Subdivision, Malolos, Bulacan
Date and time of incident: 10 March 2006 at around 9pm
Name of victim who survived attempt: Elena Mendiola (a.k.a. Baby), a resident of Sillauan Sur, Echague, Isabela. She is the secretary General of Bayan Muna (People First) Isabela Chapter
Place of incident: Echague, Isabela
Date and time of incident: 10 March 2006 at 9am
I am writing to draw your attention to the case of Crisanto Teodoro, a human rights activist who was killed in Malolos, Bulacan and another activist, Elena Mendiola, who survived an attempt on her life in Echague, Isabela in separate incidents on 10 March 2006.
According to the information I received, Teodoro was shot dead by gunmen riding on a motorcycle while he was driving in his car together with his wife Lucila and other colleagues. His wife Lucila suffered injuries to her face when the car they were riding rammed into a roadside following the shooting.
Meanwhile, Elena Mendiola survived an attempt on her life when gunmen riding on a motorcycle narrowly missed her in Echague, Isabela. Mendiola was in front of her house when the gunmen started shooting at her. She was able to run for cover behind a concrete wall.
I am deeply concerned by this, yet another incident of killing and violence against human rights activists in the Philippines. I have learned that the perpetrators of Teodoros killing and those who made an attempt on Mendiolas life have not been identified. Although investigations have been conducted into these cases, they have not reached any conclusive findings to identify, arrest and effectively prosecute those responsible.
I am extremely disappointed by the manner in which the government, in particular the Philippine National Police (PNP) is handling these cases and in previous cases of extra-judicial execution involving human rights and political activists. Although the PNP and the Department of Justice (DoJ) is aware that effective implementation of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act (RA 6981) is among the key factors in addressing these cases, it has not done enough to reach this objective.
The governments inadequate action to address these unrestrained killings and the violence against activists is most disturbing. I therefore urge your intervention to ensure that all means of investigations are exhausted into Teodoro and Mendiolas case. Any further investigation conducted must endeavour to establish who is responsible for these incidents and bring them to justice without delay. Teodoros family must be afforded with appropriate compensation while Mendiola must be provided adequate security to ensure her safety. The government must take a proactive role to ensure their citizens right to life is protected.
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. P/DIR Gen. Arturo Lumibao
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
3. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
Email: sechbp@infocom.com.ph
4. 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
5. Gen. Generoso Senga
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Armed Forces of the Philippines General Headquarters Offices (AFP-GHQ)
Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
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
7. Ms. Yakin Erturk
Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
c/o Ms Vernonica Birga
Room 3-042
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9615
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN)
Email: vbirga@ohchr.org (please also cc: rrico@ohchr.org)
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
