Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that an indigenous human rights advocate has been killed. In October 2012, his name was found among those of the 28 individuals described allegedly by military in a leaked document as ‘target persons’.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights (KARAPATAN), Bulatlat and Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR))
On 25 March, 2014 at 7pm, William Bugatti, a human rights defender and member of a Tuwali tribe in Ifugao province, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen along the Ifugao Highway in Bolog, Kiangan. He was on his way home to his family. He sustained three gunshot wounds.
Photo by Karapatan, Bulatlat
Bugatti was an advocate for his community and the people of Ifugao, most of the people he assists come from the marginalized peasants and farmers, in pursuit of their right to land; and protection of their environment arising from mining activities.
According to the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, prior to Bugatti’s killing, on October 2012 his name appeared in list of targets by the military found in a document, titled “Municipality of Tinoc (Target Persons).” The CHRA has managed to secure a copy of this document.
The two-page document, which bears the logo of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the 5th Infantry Division, contain names of 28 civilians, their addresses, their organisations or affiliations and their alleged role in the armed struggle. They qualify their involvement, for example, as those included in:
“nagbibigay ng pagkain sa NPA” (gives food to NPA), “tulugan ng NPA ang kanilang bahay” (where members of NPA sleep), “imbakan ng baril” (storage place for guns), “kumander ng NPA” (NPA commander).
In the list, Bugatti was listed at No. 21 and he was described as both a human rights officer and tagged as “utak ng NPA” (brain of the NPA).
At the time of his death, Bugatti was the regional council member of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance-KARAPATAN; a regional council member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) representing the Ifugao Peasant Movement; and was the provincial coordinator of the Bayan Muna Partylist, a political party.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about this case.
The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on rights of indigenous peoples.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: An indigenous activist described as ‘target persons’ in a leaked military document was killed
Name of killed victims: Mr. William Buggatti, a human rights defender and a member of a Tuwali tribe in Ifugao. Buggatti was the regional council member of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA-Karapatan); a regional council member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) representing the Ifugao Peasant Movement; and was the Provincial Coordinator of Bayan Muna partylist, a political group.
Alleged Perpetrators: Unknown gunmen
Date of incident: 25 March, 2014 at 7pm
Place of incident: Along the Ifugao Highway in Bolog, Kiangan
I am writing to you regarding the killing of Mr. William Buggatti, a human rights defender and member of a Tuwali tribe in Ifugao. On 25 March, 2014 at 7pm, Mr. Bugatti, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen along the Ifugao Highway in Bolog, Kiangan. He was on his way home to his family. He sustained three gunshot wounds.
Bugatti was an advocate for his community and the people of Ifugao, most of them come from the marginalized peasants and farmers, in pursuit of their right to land; and protection of their environment arising from mining activities.
According to the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, prior to Bugatti’s killing, on October 2012 his name appeared in list of targets by the military found in a document, titled “Municipality of Tinoc (Target Persons).” The CHRA has managed to secure a copy of this document.
The two-page document, which bears the logo of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the 5th Infantry Division, contain names of 28 civilians, their addresses, their organizations or affiliations and their alleged role in the armed struggle. They qualify their involvement, for example, as those included in:
“nagbibigay ng pagkain sa NPA” (gives food to NPA), “tulugan ng NPA ang kanilang bahay” (where members of NPA sleep), “imbakan ng baril” (storage place for guns), “kumander ng NPA” (NPA commander).
In the list, Bugatti’s was listed at No. 21 and he was described as both a human rights officer and tagged as “utak ng NPA” (brain of the NPA).
At the time of his death, Bugatti was the regional council member of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance-KARAPATAN; a regional council member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) representing the Ifugao Peasant Movement; and was the provincial coordinator of the Bayan Muna Partylist, a political party.
I urge you to investigate the murder thoroughly and effectively. The investigation must result in the identification of those involved in his murder. Also, to ensure the witnesses and families of the murdered victims, should they decide to prosecute the case, must be guaranteed with adequate security and protection promptly.
Furthermore, the allegations of the involvement by the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the 5th Infantry Division, in the production of a list, titled: “Municipality of Tinoc (Target Persons),” containing names of 28 individuals, one of them being that of Bugatti, must also be investigated.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
2. Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
3. Police Director Alan LM Purisima
Chief, Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
4. Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
5. Cordillera Administrative Region Director
Engineer Sancho S. Buquing
Director IV
National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
2nd and 3rd Floor, Lyman Ogilby Centrum (Annex)
#358 Magsaysay Ave., Baguio City
Tel Fax: (074) 422-41-73
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ua@ahrc.asia)
