Human Rights Watch

Church, LGU, International Mission Unite vs. Killings
But violations continue in Central Luzon

Various groups and individuals have formed a sanctuary in Bulacan province in Central Luzon for victims and witnesses of human rights violations as well as a safe haven for those whose lives may be in danger. Based on Karapatan-Central Luzon, 117 persons have been killed in extra-judicial executions and 54 were abducted and remained missing in the region since Arroyo was installed as President in 2001. Half of the abductions occurred in Bulacan in this year alone and about 60 percent of the killings and abductions happened after Gen. Palparan was transferred to Central Luzon in September 2005.

BY ABNER BOLOS
Gitnang Luzon News Service
Posted by Bulatlat 

At about 11 pm in Sitio Tulikan, Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan (41 kms. north of Manila),  Ernesto Santiago, 46, her wife Juliana and their two children were already in bed when two armed men barged into their room.

One of the assailants wore a ski mask and civilian clothes while the other was in military uniform and shirt with the insignia of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). With rifles pointed at them, the three were ordered to lie face down on the floor.

“Anong pangalan mo? Ilang taon ka na? (What is your name? How old are you?) Juliana recalled the two men ask her husband before they took him away at gunpoint.

It was the last time she saw her husband. The abduction occurred on the night of July 24, 2006, barely six hours after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her state-of-the-nation address (SONA) and praised Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, the controversial army commander in Central Luzon who is being blamed by militants for the unabated killings and abductions that has swept the region.

Juliana later learned that four armed men entered their home while about 10 others also in military uniform surrounded their yard which is located in the middle of the rice fields along the village road.

Anti-pollution

Santiago is the 27^th victim of abduction in Bulacan province since January 2006, according to the Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Makataong Karapatan (People’s Alliance for Human Rights or ALMMA-Bulacan).

The first post-SONA victim was a pan de sal (native bread) vendor who was a leader of the Koalisyon Kontra Polusyon (KKP or Coalition Against Pollution), a newly-formed environment watch group in Pulilan.

Assisted by the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB or Bulacan Peasant Alliance), a provincial chapter of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines), KKP is protesting the dumping of toxic waste into the irrigation canal by the Tyson chicken dressing plant, Foster chicken dressing plant, Robsen’s fruit juice company and PM Metal smelting company.

“The dressing plants use formalin and their waste goes into the waterway which is the source of irrigation water for our rice farms and where we catch fish to supplement our meager incomes. This has been going on for more than 10 years,” Ricardo Diaz, AMB spokesperson, said.

“By praising and encouraging Palparan, President Arroyo also made sure that civilians, whose only fault is to defend their rights, will continue to be killed. Instead of stopping the killings, (the President) encouraged the murderers,” Diaz said.

Diaz said that Santiago’s abduction may have been meant to “nip in the bud” the people’s opposition to the factories that dump hazardous waste.   KKP has started organizing only three months ago.

God’s dwelling place

Juliana told her story to members of the Hongkong Human Rights and Peace Mission and local human rights advocates last July 25 at the Domus Dei (God’s Dwelling Place), a sanctuary for victims of human rights violations at the St. James Parish in Plaridel, Bulacan. Domus Dei was inaugurated on that day. 

She was among some 20 victims and kin of victims of human rights violations in Bulacan who were the first to seek refuge and counsel at the sanctuary.

Karapatan-Central Luzon records show that as of July 24, 2006, 117 persons have been killed in extra-judicial executions and 54 were abducted and remained missing in the region since Arroyo was installed as President in 2001.

Half of the abductions occurred in Bulacan province in this year alone. About 60 percent of the killings and abductions happened after Gen. Palparan was transferred to Central Luzon in September 2005, according to KARAPATAN-CL.

The Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties (MCCL-Bulacan), ALMMA, the Religious Inter-faith Dialogue, civic leaders and local government officials in Bulacan worked to establish Domus Dei, Fr. Anacleto Ignacio, parish priest of St. James Parish said during the inaugural ceremony. 

The sanctuary offers a temporary dwelling for victims and witnesses of human rights violations as well as a safe haven for those whose lives may be in danger, Fr. Ignacio said.

The sanctuary also offers counselling and therapy services, as well as legal and para-legal assistance

“Kahanga-hanga ito. (This is highly commendable). This is the first time that a sanctuary for victims of persecution was put in place in a parish,” Bishop Rolando Tria-Tirona told the gathering.

Hongkong mission

The Hongkong Human Rights and Peace Mission, composed of 11 journalists, lawyers, church workers and researchers from Hongkong conducted a fact-finding mission in Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac on July 25 and 26, 2006.

In Barangay San Jose Malino, Mexico, Pampanga the mission went to the wake of  Arnel Guevarra, 42, member of the Aguman Da Reng Maglalautang Capampangan (AMC or Pampanga Peasants Association), who was shot and killed in his home on the night of July 21.   

Conrado Guevara, 65, the victim’s father, told mission members that the assailants first went to his home but he hid and told his wife to tell the armed men that he is not home.

When told that he was not at home, the assailants instead went to his son’s house which is some 20 meters away.

“Nakikita ko sila mula sa aking pinagtaguan. Apat ang nakaunipormeng sundalo at ang isa ay naka-sibilyan at naka-bonnet. Ang naka-bonnet ang bumaril sa aking anak” (I saw them from where I hid. Four were in soldiers’ uniform while one is in civilian clothes and wore a ski mask. The one in ski mask shot my son), Guevara said.

The victim’s 15-year old son, who asked not to be named because of fear and who was inside the house along with his mother on that night said that his father was shot at close range in the face and when he fell down he was shot once again in the back of the head.

Shocking

“It’s shocking. Extra-judicial killing is the worst kind of human rights violation under international humanitarian law. It could not get worse than this,” Michael Anthony, mission spokesperson and program coordinator of the Asian Human Rights Commission told GLNS.

“People are being punished and killed on mere suspicion and based on a military policy that is illegal. Civilians are not legitimate targets under international humanitarian law,” Anthony said.

He said the Philippine government became a member of the United Nations Human Rights Commission only last April. As such, it is expected to abide by universally accepted standards of humanitarian law, Anthony said.

He said he will submit to the UN human rights commission the mission findings and other materials his team was able to gather.

Condemnation

Hagonoy Mayor Tito Ople told the mission members, “The end does not justify the means. We have to respect human rights. They have created clones from top to bottom. I personally and officially condemn all forms of human rights violations.”

Ople was among the local government officials who signed a petition calling for the withdrawal of military troops in Bulacan and for the investigation and prosecution of those accused in the killings and abductions. Eighteen mayors in the province’s 22 towns and two cities have so far signed the petition.

Search

Meanwhile, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, the two University of the Philippines (UP) students who were abducted in Hagonoy, Bulacan along with farmer Manuel Merino last  June 26, have not yet been found.

Karen’s father, Oscar Empeno said that they have gone to practically all military and police camps in the region, filed habeas corpus petitions to the courts and wrote letters even to President Arroyo but their efforts have proven futile.

Karen was doing research on the peasantry for her thesis and as a last requirement for her graduation this year when she was abducted, Empeno said.

A retired bank employee, Empeno is asking authorities to produce her daughter and they are ready to face whatever charges that may be filed in court against her. GLNS/Posted by Bulatlat   

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