PHILIPPINES: Family members of slain church worker faces security risk 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes with deep concern to inform you that the family of a religious worker, Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa, who was killed on August 3, 2006, is presently facing serious security risks. Sta. Rosa’s wife Sonia and their children fear for their family’s safety since they started to notice suspicious individuals near their home during Pastor Isaias’ wake last Friday, August 11.

On August 3, at around 7:30pm, armed men first entered the house of Pastor Isaias’s brothers, Rey and Jonathan (26). The perpetrators later went to Pastor Isaias’ house taking his brothers with them. When his wife Sonia opened the door, three armed, hooded men barged inside. They ordered all those inside to drop to the floor. They then grabbed Pastor Isaias and threw him against a bamboo bench. He was pushed inside his daughter’s room while his wife and children were taken to the master bedroom.

According to a report from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights), the perpetrators questioned Pastor Isaias and forced him to admit that he was in fact a person named “Elmer” who they were searching for. Pastor Isaias denied being that person and told them to check his identification card.

Pastor Isaias was seen by one of his daughters being tied up by the armed men. He was then taken outside, while his family remained indoors. When his family were certain that the armed men had left, his wife Sonia rushed outside to asked for help from their neighbors who responded instantly when they heard nine gunshots. Sonia, her children and their neighbors then located where the gunshots had come from.

There they found the dead body of Pastor Isaias lying in a nearby creek, some 40-50 meters away from their residence in Barangay (village) Malobago, Daraga, Albay. He suffered six gunshot wounds, three of which hit his chest, two hit his thigh and another one hit his foot. Lying beside him was another dead body, later identified as that of Corporal Lordger Pastrana of the Philippine Army. A .45 caliber pistol with a silencer was found near Pastrana’s body. Pastor Isaias’s wristwatch, his daughter’s cellular phone and a Mission Order on Pastor Isaias dated July 22, 2006 that was signed by a certain Major Earnest Mark Rosal of Camp Matillana, Pili, Camarines Sur, were also recovered from the pocket of Pastrana. The contents of this letter are unknown at present. The presence of a dead military officer at the site of the killing can only bolster the suspicion that the military were involved in the killing of Pastor Isaias, but the circumstances of the officer’s remain unclear at present.

Sonia positively identified Pastrana as the one who gave orders to his companions when they forcibly took her husband from their house. Sonia recalled that Pastrana was the only one with a short and stout body build amongst the group at the time. After the incident, the administrative office of the 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army conducted an investigation and has yet to release its findings regarding the incident.

Sonia said that a man she believed to be from the military, who claimed to be a friend of her husband, has tried to compel her to confirm that she had identified Corporal Pastrana as being one of those who abducted her husband.

According to various sources, Jonathan was robbed of P700 pesos (USD 13) in cash and some cell phones. Reports said that Pastor Isaias’ laptop computer and five cell phones were also stolen. Pastor Isaias was a member of the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol (Farmers’ Movement in Bicol) affiliated with the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Farmers’ Movement of the Philippines).

According to Jonathan’s account, Pastrana was among the 10 armed men who first entered their house at about 8:30p.m, while he was preparing supper. His house is located besides Pastor Isaias’ home. His other brother, Rey, had just arrived from work when the incident took place.

Jonathan reportedly believes that the gunmen were from the military, because of their bearing, the fatigues they were wearing, the high-powered arms they carried and their combat boots. He said that on two occasions men in military uniform, with their nameplates hidden from view, had searched the house of the victim. It is reported that Pastrana was assigned to the Public Affairs Office of the 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, based in Pili, Camarines Sur. Pastrana.

In a separate statement release by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) on August 7, the killing of Pastor Isaias reportedly took place after three activists were killed in separated incidents. In a short span, a number of activists have been killed in the regions of Northern and Central Luzon and Sorsogon province.

One of those killed was Rei Mon Guran, a spokesperson for the League of Filipino Students in Aquinas University in Legazpi City. He was also an active member of the Christian Youth Fellowship of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (CYF-UCCP).

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities below requesting the immediate provision of security and protection to the family of victim Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa’s. An impartial and independent investigation must also be conducted into his killing on August 3, 2006 and the allegations of the possible involvement in this act by the military. If indeed it is found that the military are involved in the victim’s killing, they must be charged accordingly without delay and the government and military, which continue to deny their involvement in the widespread killings, must explain these findings.

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