UPDATE (Philippines): Jail authorities failing to ensure adequate security despite grave danger torture victims are facing 

[RE: UA-082-2006: PHILIPPINES: Brutal torture of 11 persons and subsequent filing of fabricated charges against them; UP-063-2006: PHILIPPINES: Lawyers for 11 torture victims file motion to withdraw charges against them; UP-067-2006: PHILIPPINES: Torture victims file charges against policemen; UP-092-2006: PHILIPPINES: Plot to kill torture victims in jail]
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UP-099-2006: PHILIPPINES: Jail authorities failing to ensure adequate security despite grave danger torture victims are facing

PHILIPPINES: Torture; illegal arrest and detention; denial of adequate medical and trauma treatment; security and protection concerns; detention of minors together with adult detainees; complete collapse of rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) writes to inform you that jail authorities in La Trinidad, Benguet where 9 of the 11 torture victims are presently detained are still failing to ensure security and protection to two inmates who are in grave danger. It is reported that although they are aware of the plot and threats on torture victims Jefferson dela Rosa and Rundren Lao inside the jail, there have been no significant improvements to ensure their security and protection.

In addition to our appeal on 25 April 2006 regarding a plot to kill torture victim Lao, (Please see our previous appeal: UP-092-2006) his fellow inmate has informed him that sometime in April was offered P100,000.00 (USD 1,946) to kill him. The money was placed in an envelope along with a knife. The inmate, however, refused to accept the offer and instead warned Lao to take precautions as others may have also been requested to execute the killing.

Although the names of those six persons who made the offer have not been identified, there are indications that they could be military men. It is reported when the offer took place, the inmate was given clear instructions to kill Lao as he was responsible for the death of a military man in Cabiten, Mankayan, Benguet whose camp was attacked on 10 February 2006. There are also suspicions the killing could be to silence Lao and his peers in connection with the case they filed against the six policemen of the 1604th Police Provincial Mobile Group (PPMG) for violation of the Republic Act 7438. (Please see our previous appeal: UP-067-2006)

According to a reliable source Lao has already been warned of the plot on his life. He was also warned to be cautious and not to eat foods coming from outside the jail as they may contain poison. Lao and his peers have been receiving visits from persons whom they do not know–sometime being accompanied by Benguet Provincial Jail Warden James Simon.

On March 17 three persons went inside the jail purposely to visit each of the victims who are detained in separate detention cells. Jail warden Simon accompanied those three persons without properly explaining to the victims who those persons were and what was the purpose of their visits. The victims suspect they are being spied on and that the jail authorities are unable to ensure their safety even with improved security and protection measures.

One of the torture victims, Jefferson dela Rosa noticed that the movements of one of his fellow inmates in detention cell number 3 were suspicious. The said inmate was remanded on April 24, the same day that some suspicious looking persons also made visits to the jail. In one incident, dela Rosa was frightened because he caught the inmate staring at him while he was sleeping. He likewise added the person had been questioning him about their case, he had been allowed discreet visits outside the jail premises and not within the visiting schedule and other privileges were afforded to him that were not usual to other inmates inside the jail.

It was learned that this inmate has yet to be transferred to an alternative detention centre, despire his suspicious movements. As a result, dela Rosa is living in fear and is unable to sleep. It is also reported that the other inmate, who was reported earlier to have received the offer to kill Lao but refused to, was again transferred to dela Rosa’s detention center.

On April 29, another torture victim, Aldoz Christian Manoza, noticed suspicious movements by one of the visitors coming inside the jail. Manoza believed the person might be spying on him in his detention cell number 9 and his peers detained in other detention cells. The suspicious looking person, however, reportedly left shortly after without even visiting any inmates inside the jail.

The victim’s lawyers and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), an umbrella of human rights organisations based in Baguio City, have already informed Jail Warden Simon about the threats on the life and plot made on the detained torture victims, in particular Rundren Lao. After the report was made, Simon assured the security of the nine torture victims in jail. Even though Jail Warden Simon has already been informed of the grave danger the torture victims are in, there have been no significant improvements made with regard to the security of the inmates facing serious threats. Further, no investigation has been conducted into the matter.

Meanwhile, the two minor torture victims, Frencess Ann Bernal and Ray Lester Mendoza, are still being detained together with adults at the La Trinidad District Jail, La Trinidad, Benguet. Although the location of the detention centre, which is under the Bureau Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) — Safekeeping Development, is separate to the building where the nine other victims are detained, it was learned that adults were also detained inside the detention centres where the two minors are. Mendoza is detained with seven adult males while Bernal was with 11 female inmates.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please write letters to the concerned agencies listed below, in particular the Office of the Governor of Benguet province and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) requesting for their immediate action in this matter. The Governor must take immediate steps to ensure the security of the inmates. The BJMP should also be requested to relocate the two minors to juvenile detention centres, instead of only separating them from the detention center of their peers. Most importantly, they must not be detained together with adults.

 

 

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