UPDATE (Philippines): Wounded victim in activist shooting dies 

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UP-61-2005
ISSUES: Extrajudicial killings,

[UA-34-2005 Killing of a labor rights activist for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in Tarlac City; UP-26-2005 Priest supporting for the Hacienda Luisita farm workers in La Paz, Tarlac killed and two others wounded; UP-29-2005 Two more leaders from the Bayan Muna party are killed in Baguio and Tacloban City; UP-59-2005 Another human rights activist killed in Visayas]

Dear friends,

Further to our previous appeal, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information that a person whom we reported wounded during the killing of Rev. Edison Lapuz on 12 May has died. The victim, Alfredo Malinao, was a peasant leader at the time of his death. Lapuz and Malinao were shot dead reportedly by three unidentified gunmen in San Isidto, Leyte.

Lapuz and Malinao became the latest victims of killings against political and human rights activists in Eastern Visayas. For further details please see UP-59-2005UP-29-2005 and UA-30-2005. There has been growing suspicions to the alleged involvement of Major General Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, regarding the killings, harassment and threats against political and human rights activists in the area.

Information received from the Promotion of Church Peoples Response (PCPR) claims that Maj. Gen. Palparan has been quoted in his previous pronouncements as if he was on a crusade to neutralize and eliminate activists. However, there has been no direct evidence to prove such allegations, nor any inquiries conducted to determine the veracity of such claims.

We therefore urge your immediate intervention asking both the Ombudsman for the Military and the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to initiate an inquiry regarding Maj. Gen. Palparan previous statements against the activists. Such pronouncement must be dealt with accordingly. They must also initiate necessary restrictions on Maj. Gen. Palparan once the investigation commences to ensure its impartiality and independence.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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Brief reminder of the case:

Name of the victims: Rev. Edison Lapuz (39) and Alfredo Malinao
Date and place of incident: May 12, 2005 at around 5:30pm in San Isidro, Leyte
Perpetrators: Three unknown gunmen

Rev. Edison Lapuz and Alfredo Malinao were shot dead by three unidentified gunmen on 12 May 2005 around 5:30pm in San Isidro, Leyte.  They were the latest victims of killings against human rights activists in Eastern Visayas.

Rev. Allan Jose Arcebuche, the national chairman of the Promotion of Church Peoples Response (PCPR), believes that the perpetrators behind the killings of human rights lawyer Felidito Dacut and that of Lapuz and Malinao are one.  The name of Lapuz was reportedly included in the military’s Order of Battle and his photo was reportedly seen displayed at the camp of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), a special police unit.

There have been several attacks on human rights activists in the area. On February 18, Fr. Allan Caparro, a priest for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and his wife Aileen, survived an assassination attempt (please see UA-30-2005 for details).

Rev. Arcebuche and his group suspects the killings and harassment of political and human rights activists happening in Eastern Samar, Visayas are in some way connected to Major General Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Catbalogan, Samar. However, there has been no direct evidence yet to prove Palparan’s involvement, though he has been quoted in previous pronouncements as if he was on a crusade to neutralize the activists in his area.

The group’s demand to have Maj. Gen. Palparan, who was accused on 21 April 2003 of the killing of human rights activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy in Mindoro province, investigated over suspicions of involvement in the killings and harassment of human rights activists, has gone unnoticed.

 

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

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear__________,

Re: PHILIPPINES: Wounded victim in activist shooting dies

I am writing to raise my serious concern regarding the killings of yet further human rights activists namely Rev. Edison Lapuz and Alfredo Malinao on 12 May 2005 in San Isidro, Leyte. They have become the latest victims in a string of murders against human rights activists in Eastern Visayas.

I urge your immediate intervention in this case. I was informed that despite a growing suspicion over the alleged involvement of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, chief of the 8 th Infantry Division, Philippine Army of his involvement in these killings, no independent inquiry has been conducted regarding this matter. No action was taken also on Palparan’s previous public pronouncements saying he would neutralize activists in his area.

In this regard, I ask your office to use your authority to order an urgent independent inquiry unto the killings, harassment and threats happening in Eastern Visayas and to have Maj. Gen. Palparan investigated on the grounds of his previous pronouncement against political and human rights activists. Necessary restrictions against Maj. Gen. Palparan must also be put in place once such investigations commenced.

The growing suspicion and allegations against a military official should be dealt with accordingly by the hierarchy of the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They must initiate necessary measures to prove to the victim’s family and the public that it does not condone nor tolerate the killings, harassment and threats happening towards activists.

I trust that you will take immediate action in this serious case.

Respectfully yours,

_________________

SEND A LETTER TO:

1. Ms Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President
Malacanang Palace
J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, NCR 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2-736-2495

2. Commissioner Purificacion Quisumbing
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102/928 0848
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph

3. Secretary Avelino J. Cruz Jr.
Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Bldg.,
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

4. P/DIR Gen. Arturo Lumibao
Chief, Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp Crame, Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 2726 4361/4366/8763
Fax: +63 2724 8763

5. Mr. Paquito Nacino
Regional Director
Commission on Human Rights (CHR VIII)
3rd Floor, R. Yu Salazar Annex Bldg.
Salazar Street, Tacloban City
Philippines
Telefax: +63 53 321 3396/ +63 55 209-3726

6.Mr. Bienvenido C. Blancaflor
Director
Fact-Finding Investigation, Corruption
Prevention and Public Assistance Bureau
Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and
Other Law Enforcement Offices
3rd Floor, Ombudsman Building
Agham Road
Diliman (1104)
Quezon City
Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 926-9032 / 926-8749

7. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi
Room 1-040, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006
E-mail: bmajekodunmi@ohchr.org

8. Mr. Philip Alston
Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Atten: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016, c/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

Thank you
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

 

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Update
Document ID : UP-61-2005
Countries : Philippines,
Campaigns : Stop extra-judicial killings in the Philippines
Issues : Extrajudicial killings,