UPDATE (Philippines): Another human rights activist killed in Visayas 

[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-29-2005 Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party are killed in Baguio and Tacloban City]

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) that another priest, who is also a human rights activist, was killed in Visayas on 12 May 2005. Rev. Edison Lapuz was shot dead by unknown gunmen, making him the latest victim of killings against human rights activists in the Philippines.

Lapuz, a father of two children and the main convenor of ‘Justice for Atty. Felidito Dacut Alliance’, was the latest victim of killings in Eastern Visayas following the death of human rights lawyer Felidito Dacut in 14 March 2005 (please see also UP-29-2005 for details).

Since March this year, the AHRC has reported on the killings of Lawyer Abelardo Ladera (UA-34-2005), Romeo Sanchez (UP-29-2005), Lawyer Felidito Dacut and Fr. William Tadena (UP-26-2005). Please also see our statements on this phenomenon AS-40-2005and AS-42-2005. So far, only a suspect for Fr. Tadena’s killing has been arrested, while the other cases remain unsolved. Despite this phenomenon the Philippine government has not done enough to afford assistance to victim’s family, provide adequate protection to threatened activists and initiate immediate measures to prevent such incidents from occurring. The process of investigation and to identify the perpetrators is also insufficient.

We therefore urge your immediate intervention asking the government to initiate urgent measures to address the phenomenon of unrestrained killings of political and human rights activists. They must immediately undertake a public policy focused at creating a special body to investigate cases, prosecute perpetrators and implement preventive measures to avert similar incidents. It must actively engage in this undertaking with the victim’s family.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION

Name of the victim: Rev. Edison Lapuz, pastor for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of Bayan Muna in Eastern Visayas chapter
Wounded: Alfredo Malinao, a barangay official
Date and place of incident: May 12, 2005 at around 5:30pm in San Isidro, Leyte
Perpetrators: unknown
Status of incident of killings: Lapuz became the latest human rights activist being killed in Leyte, Visayas.

(Based on the statement by Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, PCPR chairperson)

On 12 May 2005 around 5:30pm, Rev. Edison Lapuz was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while attending burial rites for his father-in-law in San Isidro, Leyte. The shooting also injured Alfredo Malinao, a barangay official, who was also in the area at the time of incident.

Rev. Lapuz became the latest victim of killings against human rights activists in Eastern Visayas following the death of human rights Lawyer Felidito Dacut in 14 March. Being the main convenor of ‘Justice for Atty. Felidito Dacut Alliance’ at the time of his death, an alliance of human rights organization, he had been very vocal against the killings and harassment of activists in the region. Lapuz was also consistent in supporting human rights victims and their families, according to Rev. Fr. Allan Jose Arcebuche, PCPR chairperson.

Rev. Arcebuche believes that the perpetrators behind the brutal killings of Atty. Dacut and Rev. Lapuz are one. It was reported some forces belonging to the military had been closely monitoring Lapuz’ movement prior to his death. Lapuz once reported to the national officers of PCPR regarding the recent harassment by military towards activists and church people in Leyte and Samar.

The name of Lapuz was reportedly included in the military’s Order of Battle and his photo was reportedly seen displayed at the camp of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), a special police unit.

In February 18, Fr. Allan Caparro, a priest for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and his wife Aileen, survived an assassination attempt (please see UA-30-2005 for details). But up to now, an investigation to identify the perpetrators has not yet occurred. Rev. Arcebuche also added that Leo Davis, a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippine (UCCP) in the area, was believed killed by military agents just two weeks past.

Rev. Arcebuche and his group suspects the killings and harassment of political and human rights activists happening in Eastern Samar, Visayas are in some way connected to Major General Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Catbalogan, Samar.

The group’s demand to have Maj. Gen. Palparan, who was accused on 21 April 2003 of the killing of human rights activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy in Mindoro province, investigated over suspicions of involvement in the killings and harassment of human rights activists, have gone unnoticed.

 

 

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