PHILIPPINES: Death threats sent to three human rights defenders campaigning against a nuclear power plant

Dear Friends, 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is writing to inform you that the three human rights defenders who are leading a campaign against the operation of a nuclear power plant in the province of Bataan, have received threatening messages on their mobile phones. The threats began when they started assisting three other campaigners who had earlier been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and detained. 

CASE DETAILS: (According to the victims’) 

The defenders currently under threat are Aurora Broquil, chairperson of the Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD) (Movement for Nationalism and Democracy) in Central Luzon; Emily Fajardo, member of KPD and treasurer of the Nuclear-Free Bataan Movement (NFBM); and Francisco Honra, secretary general of the NFBM. 

It was on June 26, at about 7pm that Honra received an SMS (short messaging service) on his mobile phone which read: ‘Dulo ng aming baril ang huli mong makikita! Kayong mga komunista na may mga utang na dugo sa mamamayan ay magbabayad!’ (‘The barrel of our guns will be the last thing that you see! You, communists who have blood debts to the Filipino people will pay for it!’). The number of the sender was +63 9187158404. 

The following day Broquil and Fajardo received similar threatening messages from the same mobile phone number. Broquil received hers at 9:44pm, Fajardo at 10pm. When Honra tried calling the sender he heard the voice of a man on the line whose accent is similar to local persons in Bataan. 

The AHRC today tried calling the mobile number but couldn’t get through. 

On May 27 three of their colleagues, namely Rafael Limcumpao, Domingo Alcantara and Archie Bathan, had been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and held in police custody (for more details, please read: UAC-056-2009). They have been charged for acts of terror under the Human Security Act of 2007 (RA 9372). However it is believed that their arrests, detention and charges are due to their active involvement in the campaign against the nuclear power plant in Bataan. 

Apart from receiving threats, on June 28 Broquil noticed the presence of unknown persons riding on a motorcycle and observing the area around their office. Although they have had threats in the past, the incidents on June 26 and 28 were their first direct threats. The group is now in the process of making a formal complaint to the local police to have the incidents investigated. 

Apart from these activists, a number of leaders from the local transport sector and officials from the local village in Bataan who are also actively supporting the campaign, have reportedly themselves been subjected to threats and harassment. The full details of these are not immediately available. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

The AHRC believes that the threats against these human rights defenders are serious and very real and that they require the immediate attention of the authorities. In the past many similar threats delivered via mobile phones have been documented and more than a few of the recipients have been extra judicially killed within days. 

Take the case of activists George Vigo and his wife, Maricel, who were murdered on 19 June 2006 in Kidapawan City. Two weeks prior to their deaths they also received threatening messages on their mobile phones. (See further: UAC-205-2006). The couple had been involved in development work. 

Threats via mobile phones are common in the Philippines. For example in another case four activists received threats on their mobile phones in General Santos City on 5 July 2006 (see UAC-228-2006), warning them that their days were numbered. It also accused them of being supporters of the communist movement. 

In Cebu City four activists were threatened after they began investigating a disappearance (see UAC-190-2008). The message contained warnings they would ‘suffer the consequences’ if they did not cease investigating the complaint. 

In the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not capable of effectively investigating these threats, and there is little that activists themselves can do. When a SIM card (subscriber identity module) is used they can be discarded in order to avoid detection. 

The AHRC believes that the threats made against Broquil, Fajardo and Horna, are due to their opposition to the operation of the nuclear plant in Bataan province. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which was first completed in 1985, has since been strongly opposed by local residents and rights groups in Bataan because of its adverse environmental impact on the local people. 

When the BNPP had a one day dry-run in late ‘80s after its construction was completed, the local villagers said that they felt the ground shake beneath them and their water supply dried out. They also suffered an electricity blackout. However in recent times there had been efforts to resume its operation regardless of their opposition. 

SUGGESTED ACTION: 

Please write letters to the concerned authorities below requesting their immediate intervention into this case. Appropriate protection and security should also be afforded to those under threat. 

The AHRC has also written letters to the Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders. 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER