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PHILIPPINES: Another IFI priest brutally murdered

October 11, 2006

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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal

11 October 2006
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UA-337-2006: PHILIPPINES: Another IFI priest brutally murdered

PHILIPPINES: Extra-judicial killings; systemic perpetration of extra-judicial killings; impunity; collapse of the rule of law
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets to inform you that another priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or the Philippine Independent Church, Fr. Dionisio Ging-Ging (53), was brutally murdered in Barangay Bajao, Tago, Surigao del Sur on 8 October 2006.

According to our sources, three suspects, hooded with bonnets or balaclavas, shot Fr. Ging-Ging dead just outside his house at around 5am, while he was on his way to Sunday mass. It is reported that the victim was brutally stabbed and subsequently hacked after he fell dead to the ground.

In the aftermath of Fr. Ging Ging's murder, although the motive of the killing has yet to be established, the investigating police authorities were quick to conclude that Fr. Ging Ging's murder was the settling of a personal score. At the time of his death, Fr. Ging Ging was described by his colleagues as a "Man of God". He had been actively involved in helping the poor and fighting injustice.

The killing of Fr. Ging Ging took place mere days after IFI Bishop Alberto Ramento was killed in his convent in Tarlac City on October 3 (Please read our previous appeal: UA-331-2006). Members of the IFI have since been the targets of ferocious attacks, while others have been subjected to continuing threats and harassment. All of whom, however, have not been afforded with any adequate protection by the State.

On October 6, another IFI priest, Fr. Antonio Ablon, started receiving threatening messages to his mobile phone. Four other priests have also either been receiving threats or are being harassed. They are Fr. Terry Revollido of Pangasinan, Fr. Romeo Tagud of Negros, Visayas, Fr. Marco Sulayao of Panay Island, Visayas and Fr. Sonny Teleron of Western Mindanao (Please see our previous appeals: UA-334-2006).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Instead of conducting further investigations into the latest string of IFI killings, the Philippine National Police (PNP) continue to make assumptions even before the investigation is completed, and cause only unnecessary anguish to the families of the victims.

In the case of Bishop Ramento's murder, police investigators were quick to conclude his murder as a case of robbery and homicide. Police investigators, in particular, the Tarlac City Police Office (TCPO), were quick to reject Ramento's family's ardent claims that the Bishop was murdered in cold blood. Instead of providing the Ramento family with routine consultations of the ongoing investigations, the police have instead behaved in a rather confrontational and wholly dismissive manner towards the late Bishop’s grieving family. 

The AHRC has expressed its concern regarding this growing trend among police investigators in the Philippines, in shirking their investigative responsibilities, as aptly demonstrated in the case of Bishop Ramento's murder (Please read our statement: AS-244-2006). The AHRC is deeply concerned that should this practice continue unabated, any investigations into further murders will be neither reliable nor credible.

The AHRC believes that whether these killings were politically motivated or not, the government, the judiciary and the police cannot shirk its fundamental responsibilities to its people, as the protectors and enforcers of the Rule-of-Law. By failing to provide protection to those Priests of the IFI who are still targets of continuing harassment and possible attempts on their life, the Philippine State are failing to fulfill its basic functionary obligations of respecting and protecting the sanctity of the lives of its people. Unless the government takes immediate reformative measures, extra-judicial killings will continue to terrorize the civil stability of the Philippines.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send letters to the relevant authorities listed below, expressing your grave concern and ethical denunciation of the brutal murder of Father Dionisio Ging Ging of the IFI. Please also apply the necessary pressure on the Philippine State, in ensuring an impartial and independent investigation into Father Ging Ging’s murder, as well as adequate police protection for those priests of the IFI who are potential and probable targets of further attacks. 

To support this appeal, please click:

Sample letter:

Dear ____________,

PHILIPPINES: Another IFI priest brutally killed

Name of the victim: Father Dionisio Ging-Ging, a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or the Philippine Independent Church. He was a resident of Barangay Bajao, Tago, Surigao del Sur.
Alleged perpetrators: Three armed hooded men
Place of incident: Just outside his home in Barangay Bajao, Tago, Surigao del Sur
Date of incident: 8 October 2006 at 5am

It is my sad duty to inform you of the tragic and brutal murder of yet another priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) or the Philippine Independent Church, Fr. Dionisio Ging-Ging, on 8 October 2006.

According to the information I have received, Fr. Ging Ging had just come out from his residence on his way to hold Sunday mass service when he was attacked. Three armed men, hooded with bonnets, shot him dead and repeatedly stabbed him as he fell dead to the ground. He sustained fatal stab and gunshot wounds to his body.

As you are aware, this is the latest in a string of politically-motivated attacks on religious leaders of the outspoken IFI or PIC. The brutal killing of Father Ging Ging took place not long after IFI Bishop Alberto Ramento was brutally killed in his convent on October 3, and another IFI priest Fr. Antonio Ablon of Cagayan de Oro started receiving threatening messages on his mobile phone. Four other priests have likewise been either receiving threats or have been harassed in separate incidents.

Once again, I am extremely shocked and deeply disturbed by this most recent of atrocities committed against the Church, and the intimidation attempts of a number of priests within the IFI. I am greatly disappointed and appalled by the government’s inability, lack of concern and inadequate action in ensuring the safety and security of these priests, in particular those who fear for their life. The relentless killings and continuing threats against religious leaders, in my interpretation, is a clear manifestation of a collapsed Rule of Law.

When innocent persons are murdered for merely exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression and opinion, the State that has been assigned to protect, is very clearly failing in all aspects of its duty and obligation. Even though the Philippine domestic legislation accommodates the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act (RA 6981), what we are seeing here is an evident failure of legislative implementation.

Also, I am extremely disappointed by the manner in which the ongoing police investigations into the recent spate of IFI murders are being conducted; which has included pre-mature assumptions and conclusions. The police play a central and most vital role in any and all criminal investigations; but by making unnecessary and completely unfounded statements to the public and media when one is not in a position to do so, only creates further civil discontent and causes added anguish to the grieving families of the victim.

I therefore urge you to ensure that an impartial and independent investigation is conducted into Fr. Ging Ging's murder. The police authorities responsible for these investigations must however refrain from making unnecessary statements to the public, unless a thorough investigation has been completed and concluded. This is essential in finding out the truth and in bringing Fr. Ging Ging's murderers to justice. The police should likewise look into whether or not this is part of the ongoing spate of extra-judicial killings that has been plaguing the Philippines of late. They must take all appropriate action if it is so.

I trust that you take immediate action in this case.


Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTER TO:

1. Director General Oscar Calderon
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763
Email: bluetree73@gmail.com 

2. Mr. Raul Gonzalez
Secretary
Department of Justice
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521-1614

3. Ms. Marilyn M. Pintor
Regional Director, CARAGA Region
Commission on Human Rights
2nd Floor, First Consolidated Bank Building
J. Rosales Avenue
Butuan City 8600
PHILIPPINES
Tel. No.: +63 85 815-2247 / 342-5280
Fax No.: +63 85 815 2247
Email: chrcaraga@skyinet.net 

4. Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing
Commissioner
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Email: drpvq@yahoo.com     

5. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Attn: Melinda Ching Simon
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS)
 
6. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Attn: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (ATTN: SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXECUTIONS)
 

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)

Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
UA-337-2006
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.