strong>Human rights violations
On Jan. 25-26, 2008, Rogelio Vilog, an organizer of the peasant group Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (STOP Exploitation) and his family were taken by elements of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to a safe house in Candon City, Ilocos Sur where he was forced to answer a personal information sheet supposedly to “clear” his name from the Order of Battle (OB) list. Vilog, with his wife and children were photographed while they were at the safe house.
A similar incident also happened to Julian Daoa, Chairman Emeritus of STOP Exploitation last March 31-April 1 who was visited by PAF elements at their residence in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur. The PAF supposedly went there to have Daoa clear his name from the OB list.
Daoa, Vilog and Leonardo Sabalo were the peasant leaders who were charged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of arson, robbery, murder, serious physical injuries and direct assault upon a person in authority in 2007. To date, the PAF Force is still locating Sabalo also to “clear” his name from the OB list.
Elizabeth Principe, a peace negotiator for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) who was abducted last November in Quezon City, was secretly transferred by the PNP to Candon City, Ilocos Sur last Jan. 22 supposedly for her arraignment. A case of rebellion was filed against Principe and many others including her husband Leo Velasco, who was also abducted last year and remains missing.
