PHILIPPINES: Three more activists killed; another priest faces serious threats on his life

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that three more activists have been killed, one of whom was a priest, while another priest is facing serious threats on his life in separate incidents in the Philippines. On May 16, activist Jose Doton was killed while his brother Cancio was wounded when gunmen attacked them in San Nicolas, Pangasinan. On May 21, Reverend Andy Pawican was forcibly taken allegedly by military agents after concluding a mass in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. His dead body, which bore torture marks, was found six hours later that day. On May 27, activist Noel Capulong (a.k.a. Noli) was shot dead while driving his service vehicle on his way home in Calamba City. On May 26, Reverend Renato Respicio was reported to have received death threats written on a piece of paper placed in a collection box.

According to a report from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights), at around 11am, Pawican was talking to church members when armed men believed to be military elements attached to the 48th Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army, forcibly seized him in Sitio Maluyon, Barangay (village) Fatima. Pawican and his companions were on their way to the house of their fellow church members–which is about 100 meters away–where they planed to take their lunch when the incident happened. Pawican’s companions, most of whom were women, were shocked when armed men suddenly surfaced and seized him. The armed men told Pawican’s companions to leave and soon after took him with them. They did not know where Pawican was being taken.

At around 5pm that day, villagers within the area heard five gun bursts. Later, Pawican’s dead body was found close to the villagers’ houses. After they learned of the incident, the victim’s relatives reported it to a local police station. But instead of having registered their complaints and account of the incident, the police insisted Pawican’s death was the result of a legitimate encounter in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay Tayabo, San Jose during early dawn that day. This, however, contradicts the witnesses’ accounts.

It is believed that Pawican’s killing could be related to his work in the community. He was known to be active in his community, especially in addressing the concerns of his fellow church members. The village where he was working had been militarized in October 2005. Residents in the community have been complaining of the military’s abuses, in particular of stealing farm animals. These accusations have angered the soldiers, and they resorted to more harassment in the community.

Pawican’s body was taken back to his native place in Ifugao province where an autopsy will be conducted.

In another case, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) reported the killing of its former staff, activist Noel Capulong (a.k.a. Noli). According to them, it was around 6pm when Capulong was on his way home after visiting a “Botica ng Bayan (pharmacy of the people)”, which is a project of party list group Bayan Muna, when gunmen riding on a motorcycle shot him at close range in Barangay Parian, Calamba City, Laguna. He was also about to attend a prayer meeting for his ailing siblings.

At the time, Capulong had just met with the chairman of the said village. According to reports, while he was driving his service vehicle one of the two gunmen hooded with bonnets approached him and opened fired at him. The gunmen then boarded a get-away motorcycle and sped toward the city proper. Capulong suffered fatal gunshot wounds to his jaw, left side of his body and chest. He was immediately taken to nearby St. John Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

At the time of his death, Capulong was the Deputy Secretary General of Bayan Muna TK (Southern Tagalog), regional staff of Bagong Alianza Makabayan, and spokesperson for the Southern Tagalog Environmental Advocacy Movement (STEAM). He is survived by his wife Doyet and children, JR and Marilag.

According to the NCCP, Capulong formerly worked with their International Affairs Desk and later as Coordinator of the Ecology and Environmental Protection Program for Southern Luzon. He served as President of the United Church Men in his church and chaired the Christian Witness and Service Committee for the United Church of Christ in the Philippine (UCCP) North East Southern Tagalog Conference. Capulong was instrumental in promoting ecumenical work and one of those who formed the Southern Tagalog Regional Ecumenical Council. He was a member of the Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN) and convenor of the Christian Movement for Good Government.

Prior to Capulong’s death, another UCCP member, Jose Doton (62) was also killed while his brother Cancio was seriously wounded. On May 16, at around 10:30am Jose and his brother Cancio were riding on their motorcycle when attacked by gunmen riding on another motorcycle. The attackers, who were apparently tailing them, opened fired at them soon after they overtook the victims’ motorcycle. When the motorcycle the victims were riding on fell to the ground, one of the gunmen alighted and shot Jose in the head at close range. The attackers immediately left onboard their get-away motorcycle.  Cancio also suffered two gunshot wounds but soon after recovered from his injuries.

At the time of his death, Jose was the Secretary General of Bayan Muna-Pagasinan and President of Tignayan dagiti Mannalon A Mangwayawaya (TIMMAWA).

In another case, the Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR), reported of yet further threats made against a priest, this time Reverend Renato Respicio of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. Reverend Respicio was reported to have received death threats written on a piece of paper gathered from collection boxes. On May 26, at around 4pm at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Jerome in Baloc, Reverend Respicio opened a collection box. Normally, Reverend Respicio receives prayer requests from the parishioners, which he reads during Sunday masses but on that day he received death threats written in Tagalog.

The message reads as follows: “Mga Kapatid itigil na ang pag-oorganisa sa mga tao hindi maganda ginagawa nio Wag ninyong gamitin ang mga tao. Pag hindi kau tumigil lahat ng pamilya nio ubusin namin pati mga naglilingkod dito sa cimbahan na ito madadamay lahat, minamanmanan namin lahat ng kilos nio, lalu kan fr. mac-mac pati na mga alagad mo sa cimbahan lahat yan damay. Tigil na di nio mapabababa ci presidente arroyo magpatayan lang tayo. Kaya tigilan na yan.” (Stop organising the people. Don’t use the people. If you will not stop, we will finish all your families and parish workers here. We are watching over your activities, especially Fr. Mac-Mac (Reverend Respicio). Stop what you are doing, you cannot oust President Arroyo so you better stop.”)

Reverend Respicio formerly coordinated the Patriots’ anti-fraud monitoring mission in Nueva Ecija which documented cases of election-related fraud and violence during the 2004 elections. He is an active member of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) and Karapatan and often participates in fact-finding missions to document cases of human rights abuses within the province.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The case of Reverend Respicio is yet another incident of threat made against church leaders. On 30 October 2005, catholic priest Fr. Rolando de Leon of San Andres Apostol Parish, Norzagaray, Bulacan also received death threats in a similar manner. The message sent to Fr. De Leon was also written on a piece of paper placed in an envelope with bullets in it. Please see our previous appeals on this: UA-219-2005. Although the local police have conducted an investigation into the incident, the identities of those who made the threats remain unknown

The AHRC has reported a number of church leaders being killed or who have survived attempts made on their lives in the past. Their cases, however, have not shown any progress in court. The perpetrators remain unknown and those who survived attempts have not been afforded with government-sponsored protection. These cases include the killing of Reverend Raul Domingo of Palawan (UP-106-2005); Reverend Edison Lapuz of Leyte (UP-59-2005); Fr. William Tadena of Tarlac (UA-34-2005); and Reverend Jemias Tinambacan of Oroquieta City (UA-161-2006).

Those who survived attempts on their lives were Tinambacan’s wife Reverend Marilou (UA-161-2006); and Fr. Allan Caparro and his wife Aileen (UA-30-2005) of Abucay, Leyte. Although the authorities are completely aware of the risk these survivors are facing, they are failing to afford them security and protection to ensure their safety, and in order to produced conclusive findings in their investigations. While the police acknowledge a need for victims and witnesses cooperation in their investigation they have failed to provide them security—or even to recommend them or assist them to the Department of Justice (DoJ) to be covered under the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act (RA 6981).

Take the case of activist Elena Mendiola (a.k.a. Baby) of Echague, Isabela. Mendiola had survived an earlier attempt on her life before she was killed together with her partner Ricardo Balauag on May 10 (UP-106-2006). Not only did the authorities fail to provide her appropriate protection after surviving an earlier attempt, they also failed to identify the perpetrators–both those who attempted to take her life and those who killed her and her partner.

Capulong is also the latest activist to be killed in Calamba City, Laguna. Gunmen killed Labour leader Diosdado Fortuna (a.k.a. Ka Fort) in the area on 22 September 2005. Please see our previous appeals: FA-27-2005; UP-009-2006). Despite serious allegations of the possible involvement by the local police as Fortuna had been reported to be the object of their surveillance operation, the police have not been investigated into regarding these allegations. Fortuna’s case has shown no progress and the perpetrators remain unknown.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the agencies listed below and raise your concern regarding these cases. An impartial investigation to look into allegations of the involvement by the military into the killing of Reverend Andy Pawican must be conducted. Those who witnessed Pawican’s forcible abduction before he was found dead must be considered for witness protection should they express interest in testifying. They must be afforded protection without delay once the investigation commences.

An effective investigation must also be conducted into Noel Capulong and Jose Doton’s killings. Doton’s brother Cancio must also be considered for the witness protection programme and be afforded with adequate security. Cancio’s safety and security is essential in order for the police investigators to produce conclusive findings.

Finally, the death threats made against Reverend Renato Respicio must be adequately investigated. He too must be afforded with adequate security without further delay. The authorities must exhaust all means to identify those who made threats on his life.

 

 

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