PHILIPPINES: A human rights worker killed in Albay

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that a human rights defender named Mr. Joel B. Baclao was shot dead outside his house in Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay on 10 November 2004 by an unidentified man. Mr. Baclao’s family suspects that the victim might have been killed by a person linked to the military as the victim was a staunch opponent of military operations against rebels in Albay. 

The family also reported that Mr. Baclao had received several death threats before his killing. The victim had recently been warned that his life was in danger because his name was on a ‘list’. His family believes that the list might be an Order of Battle (OB) released by the military, which contains names of rebels who are wanted by the government. It is also reported that the soldiers attempted to search the victim’s house illegally on September 26. 

Your urgent action is required to urge the Government of the Philippines to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into this incident in order to identify those responsible and bring them to trial. 

For your information, the Friends of the Earth International, an international network of grassroots groups in 70 countries, is doing online petition for Mr. Baclao. If you want to sign on the petition, please visit its website at: http://www.foei.org/cyberaction/baclao.php

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

Name of the victim: Mr. Joel B. Baclao, 40 years old, a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines- Bicol Conference under the South Luzon Jurisdiction (UCCP-SLJ) and the regional coordinator of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)
Date of the incident: 10 November 2004
Place of the incident: His residence in Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay

Account of the incident:

Mr. Joel B. Baclao (40), a human rights worker was shot dead by an unidentified person outside his residence in Barangay Lacag, Daraga, Albay on 10 November 2004. 

According to Mr. Baclao’s wife, at around 8:00pm their dog started to bark so her husband went outside to see whom their dog was barking at. She followed, asking him not to venture too far in the dark. She then heard successive bursts of gunfire and shouts from her husband. When she approached him, she saw an unidentified man armed with an M-16 rifle leaning over her husband and continuing to shoot. Mr. Baclao suffered four gunshots to his head, chest and side. He was killed instantly. His wife said that she could not see the gunman’s face clearly due to the dark. 

It is reported that Mr. Baclao had received several death threats before his killing. According to Mr. Baclao’s family, on the previous night (November 9), their dog was also barking so the victim’s father-in-law went out but could not see anyone. Mr. Baclao’s wife also reported that her husband said that a week before the incident he had been warned to take extra care, because his name was on a ‘list’. His family believes that the list might be an Order of Battle (OB) released by the military, which contains names of rebels who are wanted by the government. In addition, on September 26, soldiers came to search Mr. Baclao’s house but abanlouned as his father-in-law strongly opposed it, requesting they show a search warrant first. 

Under these circumstances, Mr. Baclao’s family suspects that the victim might be killed by a person who is linked to the government military. Mr. Baclao was a staunch opponent of military operations against rebels in Albay. 

Mr. Bacloao was a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines- Bicol Conference under the South Luzon Jurisdiction (UCCP-SLJ) as well as the regional coordinator of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR). He was also a volunteer of Andurog Mayon, the relief and rehabilitation program in Bicol of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. 

The AHRC is deeply concerned by the killing of Mr. Joel B. Baclao. We urge the Government of Philippines to conduct an impartial investigation in the victim’s alleged extra-judicial killing, and bring the responsible person(s) to justice without delay. 

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