PHILIPPINES: Missing activist could be in military’s custody 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding suspicions that an activist who was forcibly abducted and reported missing could be in the custody of the military. Activist Ronald Intal (24) was forcibly taken by armed men at around 11am near a motorcycle terminal in Barangay Balete, Hacienda Luisita on 3 April 2006 allegedly by elements of the 70th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army. He was seen being taken towards their headquarters in Aqua Farm of the Barangay village.

According to a report from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights), when the victim’s father Gonzalo went to the military headquarters on April 8 to inquire into his son’s whereabouts, the military denied having him in their custody. Gonzalo and his wife Lourdes then sought the assistance of Tarlac City Vice-Mayor Teresita Cabal to help them locate their son.

Vice Mayor Cabal told the parents that Ronald was being held by elements of the Northern Luzon Command, Philippine Army (Nolcom). She added that Ronald would only be released after Major General Jovito Palparan, the head of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, gave an order to allow this. “Ayaw pa siyang pakawalan ni Gen. Palparan dahil hindi pa daw tapos ang appointment niya (Gen. Palparan will not release him yet because his [Intal’s] appointment is not yet over), Cabal was quoted as saying by Gonzalo.

Ronald is a known active youth leader deeply involved in the struggle of peasant workers inside the Hacienda Luisita. Ronald was also a leader of the Samahan ng mga Kabataang Demokratiko sa Asyenda Luisita (SAKDAL or Association of Democratic Youth in Hacienda Luisita) and the Anak ng Bayan (Sons and Daughters of the People) political party. His abduction and disappearance took place after another labour leader Tirso Cruz, Board of Director of the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) was killed. (Please see the following for further details: UA-101-2006).

It is reported that Vice Mayor Cabal is set to present witnesses into Ronald’s abduction to the Nolcom to prove their claims of the involvement of the military men, and to demand for the victim’s release without delay. However, Colonel Cesar Yano, chief of staff of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command, has publicly announced that they have not received any report from the Barangay (village) or local police officials about the incident.

Rodel Galang, village chief of Balete, reportedly tried to interview other witnesses in connection with Ronald’s disappearance. Although there are reports that the witnesses gave conflicting accounts while others refused to speak, no further investigation has been conducted to determine the victim’s whereabouts. The police have yet to investigate the military men involved to answer to the allegations made against them.

The AHRC has reported a number of incidents to which the military men attached to the command of Major General Palparan are accused of allegedly abusing their authority. In November and December last year, a labour leader went into hiding for fear of his life while his family continues to face serious threat. Three of the labour leader’s colleagues were also tortured, one of whom suffered severe trauma, when illegally subjected to questioning by elements of the 24th Infantry Battalion. (Please see details of this case: UA-030-2006).

On 6 January 2006, two gunmen believed to be military agents and allegedly with connections to 2nd Lt. John Paul Nicolas, head of the 69th Infantry Battalion, also killed a female peasant leader. (Please see for further details: UA-031-2006). On February 13, 19-year-old activist Audie Lucero was found dead after he was last seen with a group of policemen and military men believed to be attached to either the 24th or 64th Infantry Battalion. (Please see for further details: UA-078-2006). The military units involved are under the command of Major General Palparan.

The disappearance of Ronald Intal is yet another case of forcible abduction and enforced disappearance in the country, in particular in the Luzon area. The AHRC has repeatedly raised concerns over the alarming number of disappearances in the country and the absence of an enabling law to adequately address this problem. (Please see our statement on this: AS-043-2006).

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the agencies listed below asking them to conduct an impartial investigation which looks into the allegations that Ronald Intal may be being held illegally by the military. If he is being held by the military and if there are no sufficient grounds to justify his detention, he must be released without delay. If, however, it is established that Ronald is not in the custody of the military, the concerned government agencies must exhaust all means to locate his whereabouts. Major General Jovito Palaparan Jr. must be held accountable for the abuses committed by his men and his inaction to take appropriate sanctions against them. Appropriate criminal charges must also be filed against those responsible for the victim’s abduction and forced disappearance.