UPDATE (Philippines): Armed men kill female activist in Bataan, Luzon; victim’s colleagues faces serious threat 

[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; UP-158-2005: Two more activists killed, one of whom suffered twenty-two gunshot wounds]
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UP-160-2005: PHILIPPINES: Armed men kill female activist in Bataan, Luzon; victim’s colleagues faces serious threat

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 another activist, Cathy Alcantara (44), was killed by unidentified armed men while participating in a conference of farmers at a resort in Barangay (village) Gabon, Abucay, Bataan, Luzon on 5 December 2005. Alcantara died on her way to the hospital due to fatal gunshot wounds. According to a reliable source, Alcantara and her colleagues in the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD), a national political organisation engaged in the struggle for political and democratic rights, had been receiving threats to their lives and were spied upon by armed men prior to the killing.

Alcantara is survived by her husband, a community organizer of peasants, and her two children. She was the secretary general of the KPD on its chapter in Bataan at the time of her death. In the past, Alcantara actively participated in various people’s struggle in Bataan and nearby regions.  On November 23, she organised a contingent of students and women from different areas in Bataan to demonstrate and demand justice to a Filipino woman allegedly raped by American soldiers in Subic.

Alcantara is yet another victim of these unabated attacks against human rights and political activist all over the country. The AHRC reiterates daily the Government’s responsibility to take adequate action to prevent this violence from reoccurring and to prosecute the perpetrators. The Government has yet to realise the recommendations made by the United Nations Human Rights Committee issued on 1 December 2003 in compliance of its obligation as state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which reads: “No. 8 (a) The State party should adopt legislative and other measures to prevent such violations…”

The Government’s failure to take action is evident in its ineffective implementation of Republic Act 6981, an act ensuring a witness protection, security and benefit program. The AHRC has previously reported the government’s failure to provide security and protection to the activists, the families of the dead and witnesses who face threats to their lives (please see our previous appeals: UP-156-2005; AS-74-2005). It is obvious that the state’s response falls well short of what is urgently required. The rule of law and the basic elements of protection of human rights is seriously being undermined.

We therefore urge your intervention to pressure the Government to take adequate and effective measures to address this problem and prevent it from reoccurring. The Government must exhaust all means in identifying, arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators in a court of law. This will only be achieved through the implementation of an effective investigation into all cases.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Cathy Alcantara (44), secretary general of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) in Bataan, a national political organisation engaged in the struggle for political and democratic rights. She is survived by her two children and husband.
Date and place of incident: 5 December 2005 near the County Resort in Barangay (village) Gabon, Abucay, Bataan, Luzon

Case details:

On 5 December 2005, at around 10:00am Cathy Alcantara (44) was killed by unidentified armed men in Abucay, Bataan province, Luzon, the Philippines. She was declared dead on arrival at the Bataan Provincial Hospital due to fatal gunshot wounds. The incident took place near the vicinity of the County Resort.

Ms Alcantara was attending the Luzon-wide farmers’ conference organised by the Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM), a member organisation of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD). The KPD is a national organisation engaged in the struggle for political and democratic rights and sectoral issues. The conference was attended by farmers from all over the Luzon islands.

According to a reliable source from the KPD there have been threats and intimidation against their colleagues, in particular the community organisers prior to the incident. Ms Alcantara was among them. On several occasions, KPD organisers were spied and monitored upon by unknown armed men. On one occasion two armed men inquired about the whereabouts of their colleagues.

At the time of her death, Ms Alcantara was the regional coordinator and secretary- general of the KPD in Bataan Chapter. Ms Alcantara actively participated in various activities in Bataan and in nearby regions, in particular against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and during the anti-US bases campaign.  On November 23, Ms Alcantara organized the students and women from Bataan to demonstrate and call for justice to a Filipino who was allegedly raped by American soldiers in Subic.

She was survived by her husband, who is an organiser of farmers, and their two children.

The style in the killing of Ms Alcantara is similar to the human rights and political activists slain in Central Luzon in recent times. Alcantara is the first casualty among the members and networks of the KPD.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send letters to concerned government agencies, in particular the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP) asking for an effective investigation into Ms. Alcantara killing. Both agencies must also investigate the threats against the colleagues of Ms. Alcantara’s and provide them with immediate protection.

 

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