UPDATE (Philippines): Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded 

Dear friends,

Further to our previous appeal (UA-34-2005) regarding the killings of human rights defenders and workers in Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac, Philippines, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) about another killing of a priest who supported workers on strike in Hacienda Luisita.

Fr. William Tadena of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) is the tenth victim to be killed since the bloody crackdown by the police and military on the workers demanding their rights on 16 November 2004. Fr. Tadena’s killing occurred 13 March 2005 just nine days after the murder of Abelardo Ladera, Tarlac City Councilor and vocal supporter of the striking workers.

Your urgent action is required to pressure the Government of Philippines to intervene and stop the ongoing killings and harassment of the workers in Hacienda Luisita. Please ask the local authorities to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators who were involved in the killings of Fr. Tadena, Councilor Ladera and Marcing Beltran. Please also urge them to provide immediate protection to the workers and human rights defenders who are supporting the workers’ strike.

Urgent Appeals Desk
AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim/s:
Killed: Fr. William Tadena (37), a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and a human rights defender
Wounded: Carlos Barsolaso (38) and Charlie Gabriel (24)
Date of the incident: 13 March 2004
Place of the incident: IFI church, Brgy. Guevarra, La Paz, Tarlac
Alleged perpetrators: two unidentified men

Fr. William Tadena (37), a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), was shot dead by two unidentified armed men who were riding on a motorcycle in IFI church, Brgy. Guevarra, La Paz, Tarlac on 13 March 2005. Fr. Tadena died of multiple gun shot wounds on his head and torso. He was in a jeep with his three companions at the time of the incident. Two of them, Carlos Barsolaso (38) and Charlie Gabriel (24), were wounded. Barsolaso was hit on the head by a bullet and is in critical condition while Gabriel was inquired on his right leg. The third companion, Ervina Domingo (20), was unharmed. According to the victims, they were attacked by gunmen on their way home to Victoria town after finishing a mass at a plaza in Barangay Guevarra.

Fr. William Tadena of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) is the tenth victim to be killed since the bloody crackdown by the police and military on the workers demanding their rights on 16 November 2004. Fr. Tadena’s killing occurred just nine days after the murder of Abelardo Ladera, Tarlac City Councilor and outspoken supporter of the striking workers in Hacienda Luisita, on 4 March 2005. On 8 December 2004, a farm workers’ leader, Marcing Beltran, was also assassinated.

The AHRC is deeply concerned by the ongoing killings and harassment against the workers in Hacienda Luisita and human rights defenders who are fighting for their labour and land rights. We strongly urge the Government of Philippines to take immediate action to prevent further killings related to this matter and provide urgent protection to the workers and concerned human rights defenders. The AHRC particularly urges the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately take action by conducting a thorough and impartial investigation in this matter. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in particular the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom), must be investigated by independent government agency to find whether they had any involvement in these cases.

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