PHILIPPINES: Another activist killed; union leader faces serious threat 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that another activist has been killed while a labour union leader faces serious threat to his life. Activist Markus Bangit was killed on 8 June 2006 at a stopover restaurant in Echague, Isabela. He was with his son Banna onboard a passenger bus going to Baguio City when attacked by perpetrators wearing with bonnets. Another passenger, Gloria Casuga, was also killed when she screamed upon seeing the perpetrators shooting at Bangit. On June 10, at around 9:30pm an armed man wearing a bonnet forcibly entered into the house of union leader Vicente Barrios in Purok 2, Valencia, Barangay (village) New Alegria, Compostela town, Compostela Valley Province. The perpetrator, however, said nothing and soon after left.

According to information from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and Muslim Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA), Bangit died from four gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach. The perpetrators escaped onboard a getaway van. Bangit’s son Banna was not hurt. It is reported that the other slain victim, Gloria Casuga was a school principal of Quezon National High School in Quezon town, Isabela.

At the time of his death, Bangit was a leader of an indigenous Malbong tribe. It is believe that his killing could have connections to his involvement with political organisations.  Bangit was a regional officer of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and chairperson of the Binodngan Pongors Organization (BPO). He was also a peace-pact holder.

The CPA is a chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Cordillera region. Bayan was among those tagged as “communist fronts” by the military. The Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Watch and Cordillera Human Rights Alliance marks Bangit the 16th indigenous victim of extra-judicial killings to be killed in Cordillera region since 2001.

Prior to Bangit’s killing, another activist Abe Sungit of Palawan was gunned down in February 2005 by two men wearing bonnets while riding on a motorcycle. Sungit was active in anti-mining campaigns at the time of his death. Another activist Nicanor Delos Santos, who belonged to a Dumagat tribe and a staunch anti-dam activist was also killed allegedly by military forces while preparing for a Human Rights Day mobilisation in December 2001.  It is reported that slain victims Sungit, Delos Santos and Bangit were placed under the “order of battle” allegedly by the military prior to their killings.

According to records by the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP), the government forces, paramilitary groups and private armies have allegedly killed at least 80 indigenous people in recent times.  Most of the killings are related to their defense of ancestral land rights and their struggle for self-determination. The killing of indigenous leaders brought back memories of the death of prominent Kalinga leader Macliing Dulag who was killed in the early 1980s. Dulag was killed for his and his people’s struggle against the Chico Dam.

In another case, according to a report from the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), the threat made on labour leader Barrios is believed to be related to his active involvement in the labour union. According to witnesses, the man who entered into their house was carrying a long firearm while his companion served as a lookout outside the house. Barrios and his wife were in their room at the time. Two of Barrios relatives who were inside the house panicked and ran towards the room where Barrios and his wife were located

Barrios is the president of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (United Workers of Suyapa Farms-NAMASUFA). Barrios is employed at the banana packing plant of the Fresh Banana Agricultural Corporation (FBAC) in Compostela. On separate occasions he has experienced threats to his life. Barrios was shot with a sling shot while riding on a motorcycle on his way home and threatened with guns shown to him while at work. Prior to the June 10 incident, Barrios had also been warned by one of their union members who heard that there was a plot to kill him.

It is learned that the threat could also be related to a case they filed against their management, Fresh Banana Agricultural Corporation (FBAC), before the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) for non-payment of their living cost allowance (COLA), holiday pay, service incentive and non-wage benefits. It is reported that a contractor under the FBAC at Packing Plant 90 had been removed from his position after it was found that he was operating without a license as a result of the case filed by the union.

The threats and intimidation made against workers and labour unions have usually taken place once workers and union leaders have planned to form labour unions in order to collectively negotiate with their management on labour issues. The military forces have been found to have allegedly been involved in busting labour unions. Findings by the International Labor Solidarity Mission (ILSM) held on 2-5 May 2006 revealed an incident involving elements of the 36th and 28th Infantry Battalions, Philippine Army in busting labour unions in Compostela where they operated in 2004 and 2005.

In September 2005, Barrios was called for questioning by elements of the 28th Infantry Battalion (IB). The military accused him of organising rebel group, New Peoples Army. Barrios’ labour union had been falsely accused by the military as being organised by the rebels. There was an instance where the military called for a meeting with the workers at the packing plant telling them not to push through with their labour union and threatened them that the company would be closed should they insist. They likewise accused the labour unions of being a ‘leftist’ group.

There have been incidents where labour leaders have been called for questioning by the military against their will and in the absence of their legal counsel. This is similar to the case of labour leader Enrico Estarez who went into hiding for fear of his and his family’s life. Three of his fellow workers were reportedly tortured after they were invited for questioning by the military (please see our previous appeal: UA-030-2006). Another labour leader, Rogelio Concepcion of San Ildefonso Bulacan was also forcibly abducted by armed men and subsequently disappeared. Rogelio was reported to have been spied upon allegedly by the military prior to his disappearance (please see our previous appeal: UA-087-2006).

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the concerned agencies listed below requesting their appropriate action regarding the killing of activist Markus Bangit and the threat made on labour leader Vicente Barrios. The authorities, in particular the task force created by the government to investigate the killings–Task Force Usig–must exhaust all means to resolve Bangit’s case. Please also request for the provision of appropriate security and protection for Barrios and his family. An independent and effective investigation must also be conducted into his case to identify those who plotted to kill him and made threats on his life.

 

 

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