UPDATE (Philippines): Two more activists killed, one of whom suffered twenty-two gunshot wounds 

[RE: UA-30-2005: Attempt on the life of human rights advocate and his wife in Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines; UA-34-2005: Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City; UP-26-2005: Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded, UP-28-2005: Attempt on the life of a human rights lawyer working for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers; UP-29-2005: Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party are killed in Baguio and Tacloban City; UP-59-2005: Another human rights activist killed in Visayas; UP-61-2005: Wounded victim in activist shooting dies: UP-75-2005: Witnesses of activists?killings in Luzon refuse to give evidence fearing their security; UP-101-2005: Another priest wounded in latest attacks on human rights activist in Visayas; UP-106-2005: Another human rights lawyer killed; wounded priest died while being treated at a hospital FA-27-2005: Another labor leader killed in Calamba City, Luzon; FA-29-2005: A female human rights activist stabbed to death in Bislig City, Mindanao; UP-143-2005: Killing of eight more activists reflects ugly reality of government’s failure to take adequate action
UP-146-2005: Activist couple survives attempt on their life in Cebu, Visayas; UP-156-2005: Unabated killing of activists; killing and threats against witnesses exposes the country’s defective witness protection programme]
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UP-158-2005: PHILIPPINES: Two more activists killed, one of whom suffered twenty-two gunshot wounds

PHILIPPINES: Extra-judicial killings; human rights defenders; inadequate government action; witness protection; impunity; rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission deeply regrets to inform you that two more human rights activists, namely Jose Manegdeg III of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and Albert Terredano of Sinapangan, Bangued Abra, both on the islands of Luzon, Philippines were slain in separate incidents on November 28 and 29 respectively. Manegdeg and Terredano are the latest casualties in the unabated killings targeting human rights and political activists in the country.

In their report, Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), a human rights organisation based in Manila, Philippines revealed that both Manegdeg and Terredano suffered fatal gunshot wounds to their body. Manegdeg was shot by a lone gunman while awaiting a bus at Barangay (village) Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur on the evening of November 28. He was to meet his wife who was arriving from Hong Kong in Manila the following day when he was killed. He suffered twenty-two gunshot wounds to his body. On November 29, another victim, Terredano died while being treated at the Seares Memorial Hospital, Bangued.  He was shot by unidentified gunman riding on a motorcycle while on his way to his office at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bangued, Abra.

At the time of his death, Manegdeg was the predecessor of Romeo Sanchez, the coordinator of party list Bayan Muna (Peoples First) in facilitating their party’s activities and projects in the province of Ilocos. Sanchez was killed on 9 March 2005 in Baguio City, Luzon (please see our previous appeals: UP-29-2005).

The AHRC renews its appeal to call upon those people who are concerned in the worsening human rights situation in the Philippines to urge the Government to initiate adequate action to address this situation, in particular the effective and efficient implementation of the Republic Act 6981, an Act for Witness Protection, Security and Benefit (see full text of the act: RA 6981). It is obvious that the unabated incident of killings and attacks against activists is the result of the Government’s inadequate action to effectively implement this mechanism (please see further our previous appeals: UP-156-2005; AS-74-2005).

We urge your strong intervention in asking the Government to take action based on the concluding observation of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations Committee on 1 December 2003 of the Government’s compliance to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Committee has said in its recommendations, in particular No. 8 (a, b) that the state should adopt legislative and other measures to prevent such violations.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim:  Jose Manegdeg III (37), married with two children, a native of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He was the Regional Coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Ilocos and Cordillera Staff of the Regional Development Center – Katinnulong dagiti Umili iti Amianan (RDC-KADUAMI)
Place of incident: Along the national highway at Barangay Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur, Luzon
Date of incident: 28 November 2005 at around 10:00 pm

Name of the victim: Albert Terredano (43), married with two children, a resident of Sinapangan, Bangued Abra, Luzon. He was a volunteer of the Cordillera Indigenous People’s Legal Center (DINTEG) and President of the Department of Agrarian Reform Employees Association (DAREA).
Place of incident: Bangued, Abra, Luzon
Date of incident: 29 November 2005 at around 8:45 AM

Case details:

On 28 November 2005, at around 10:00pm an unidentified gunman shot dead Jose Manegdeg III in Barangay. Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur.  The shooting took place at a waiting shed along the highway. Manegdeg had just alighted from a tricycle he was riding when a gunman, who emerged from a van, approached him and repeatedly shot him.  The tricycle driver who was in the area during the shooting, sped off for fear of his life. He, however, returned to the resort where Manegdeg came from and informed his companions.

Manegdeg’s colleagues at the resort immediately contacted the police and went to the scene of the killing.  They found his body approximately 15 metres from the waiting shed. The victim’s bag, cell phone and other belongings were missing.  Reports from the province said that his body bore 22 bullet wounds from a .45 semi-automatic pistol.

Manegdeg was on his way home after participating as a speaker-trainer at a Paralegal Training Seminar at the Ursa Major Resort sponsored by the Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA)-KARAPATAN. Manegdeg, or “Pepe” to his colleagues and loved ones, left the training venue that evening to take a bus to go to Manila. There he was to meet his wife who was arriving from Hong Kong the following day.

Manegdeg was also the former coordinator of the Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera Region (RECCORD) and an editorial staff of “Writing on the Wall”, the official publication of the Northern Luzon Forum for Church and Society at the time of his death. His killing took place after his predecessor, Mr. Romy Sanchez, was also summarily executed on 9 March 2005 in Baguio City. It was Manegdeg who took over the responsibilities of Sanchez as facilitator of Bayan Muna-related activities and projects following the death of Sanchez.

Prior to his death Manegdeg was reported to have been spied on and was receiving calls and texts messages on his mobile phone. He also received written messages containing threats on his life. Manegdeg’s body lies in state at the Cathedral of the Resurrection (Episcopal Diocese of North Central Philippines, Magsaysay Ave.). His body will be taken back to Pagudpud, Ilocos Sur for the interment.

On the morning of 29 November 2005, another activist, Albert Terredano, was shot in Bangued, Abra province, Luzon. Terredano was on his way to his office at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) when an unidentified gunman riding on a motorcycle shot him using a .45 semi-automatic pistol (with a silencer).  The authorities, however, have yet to identify and arrest the perpetrators. The gunshot pierced Terredano’s lungs, entered his chest and exited through his left armpit.  He was rushed to the Seares Memorial Hospital, Bangued but died later while being treated.

Terredano’s colleague believed that he may have been targeted by the military because of being an outspoken human rights leader and advocate. He led the campaign against militarisation in the province and was involved in dialogues with the Philippine Army regarding the military operations in the area in October 2005. During that dialogue, a government soldier attending and pretended to be a student but was soon accosted by Terredano’s colleagues for spying on them. The soldier later admitted to his true identity.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send letters to names and agencies listed below and raise your concern regarding the worsening human rights situation in the country, in particular the Government’s inadequate action to effectively implement RA 6981, and its failure to realise the recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations on 1 December 2003 as state party to the ICCPR.

 

 

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