May - August 2013 Released by KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights)

he Filipino people seethe with anger and discontent. TThe protest actions that followed the exposé on the PhP10-billion pork barrel scam sent the Aquino government scampering for ways to dissipate the people’s anger, but only in ways that Benigno Simeon Aquino III and the bureaucrats in his government can continue to feast on the pork and drown themselves in pork fat. The people’s anger is not only directed at the 10 billion-peso scam but also against the corruption that goes on with impunity under BS Aquino, who ironically won under an anti-corruption slogan “kung walang kurap, walang mahirap”. The Aquino government could no longer pretend to be clean before the Filipino people. PINOY WEEKLY Neither can it boast of improving the poor people’s lives. The reluctance of Aquino and labor, the country remains allegedly had an encounter with an his allies to do away with the PhP25- backward; the ordinary wage undetermined number of New People’s billion congressional and the PhP earner on a daily Php 446.00 wage Army (NPA) members at Bandong 1.3 –PhP 1.5 trillion presidential plus the recent paltry increase of Hill, Aguid, Sagada province. pork barrel is obvious. BS Aquino’s PhP22 a day; the farmers remain On August 29, two M520 and Huey helicopters of the Philippine stake on the pork barrel is not only landless, the urban poor homeless. Air Force hovered around northern the stability of his rule but also the It is appalling that the BS Sagada and upland Bontoc areas the preservation of the same rotten Aquino-led bureaucrats in the whole day, while the Sagada PNP system that coddles him and his government rob the people, in the conducted foot patrol in the outskirts real bosses – the hacienderos, the guise of serving the people; the of Sagada. bureaucrats and big business, and his same people that they terrorize, A truckload of camouflaged US imperialist masters. arrest, detain, torture, and kill. and fully armed men also arrived The scam bared the gap between at around 7 p.m. Residents of Aguid those in power and the powerless. Abuses against communities reported seeing several men in battle As BS Aquino, his cronies, and gear near the elementary school and conduits like Janet Napoles fill up On August 29, members of the covered court. their pockets, bath tubs, and bed Philippine National Police (PNP) Abra The following morning, on August 30, residents reported mattresses with billions from the Reconnaissance Group, Regional bombs were dropped on the Demang nation’s coffers and out of people’s Police Security Battalion, and Benguet Police Provincial Security Company mountain ranges, affecting the 2 Karapatan Monitor 3 3 May-August 2013 3

TABLE 1: municipalities of Sagada, Besao, Kalambuan (Kasaka) and the pro- TABLE 2: Victims of Extrajudicial Killing & Enforced Disappearance under Noynoy Aquino Gov’t Sadanga, and Bontoc in Mountain Violation of Civil & Political Rights vincial government officials, social by Region (July 2010 to August 2013) Province, and Tubo in Abra. under the Noynoy Aquino Government welfare and development regional Region Extrajudicial Killing Enforced Disappearance The areas are communal hunting coordinator Flor Ubane said their Ilocos 3 0 grounds, forest area, coffee and swid- (July 2010 to August 2013) office did not receive any report on Cordillera Administrative Region 1 0 den farm, and watershed areas of the the evacuation and human rights Cagayan Valley 6 1 five municipalities. Violation No. of victims violations. Ubane urged the evacu- Central Luzon 8 1 The tribes of Fidelesan, Dallic and ees to return to Loreto and use NCR 10 0 Bontoc were affected by the bombing Extrajudicial Killing 152 instead the municipality’s covered Southern Tagalog 21 4 and strafing. A resident reported the Enforced Disappearance 18 court as evacuation center. Ubane Bicol 37 3 helicopters were flying so low that said the evacuees can only avail of Western Visayas 9 4 Torture 80 Central Visayas 1 0 they saw uniformed men with their services from the Municipal Social Eastern Visayas 7 0 high-powered firearms. Rape 3* Work and Development Office Northern Mindanao 7 0* On July 2, some 1,200 indi- Frustrated Extrajudicial Killing 168 when they return to Loreto. Caraga 4 3 viduals, mostly Manobo, from the Vice Governor Santiago Cane, Illegal Arrest without Detention 250 Socsksargen 9 0 villages of Kauswagan, Sabud, San Major Loayon and Major Kanashiro Western Mindanao 3 1 Mariano, Mansanitas, Sto. Niño, and Illegal Arrest and Detention 358 of the 401st Infantry Brigade vis- Southern Mindanao 21 1 Bugdangan were forced to leave their Illegal Search and Seizure 214 ited the evacuation center on the ARMM 5 0 homes because of combat operations same day. The evacuees reiterated Total 152 18 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Physical Assault and Injury 238 their demand for the military and Women 18 0 (AFP) against members of the NPA Demolition 12,843 paramilitary groups to immediately Organized 73 10 who were allegedly in the villages pullout of Loreto. of Sabud and Kauswagan in Loreto Violation of Domicile 397 On August 4, the local PNP *Balangas Anlamit, who disappeared on February 3, 2013 was found dead in March. Thus, the change in the number of disappeared in Northern Mindanao. town, Agusan del Sur. Destruction of Property 11,711 prevented a support group from bring- Almost 500 individuals evacu- Divestment of Property 282 ing medicines to the evacuees. The po- ated to the elementary school in lice barricaded all entry points to the Brgy. Kauswagan, while some sought Forced Evacuation 31,779 capitol. This prompted the evacuees The youths explained that they were and Allan were interrogated and tor- refuge in other communities. The Threat/Harassment/Intimidation 34,901** and human rights workers to march in on their way to the voters’ registra- tured by soldiers and Bagani members. military prevented a number of protest of the PNP action. tion at the local COMELEC office. John was repeatedly beaten up, villagers from the interior sitios Indiscriminate Firing 7,015 On August 6, the evacuees decided Dioganon is the son of Brgy. Captain his upper lip burned with a cigarette (sub-villages) to go to the evacuation Forced/Fake Surrender 54 to transfer to Davao City where they Ramon Dioganon who was killed on and bullets were inserted between his center. The military’s presence inside Forced Labor/Involuntary Servitude 172 stayed at the Bankerohan gym. After July 19 allegedly by the NPA. fingers. The barrel of a gun was put and around the evacuation center two weeks, they decided to return to Hozon tied the hands of John, in Allan’s mouth while he was forced Use of Civilians in Police and/or Military caused anguish among the evacuees. 297 their communities. They were assisted Allan and Rico behind their backs to admit they were members of the Some evacuees reported they were Operations as Guides and/or Shield by Karapatan-Southern Mindanao and and forced them into a dump truck. NPA allegedly involved in the killing interrogated by soldiers. Use of Schools, Medical, Religious and other human rights advocates. But, as Roland, the motorcycle driver, was of barangay captain Dioganon. The Prior to the evacuation, the 26th 29,423 of this writing, soldiers from the 26th also ordered to board the truck. boys collapsed from suffocation after Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Other Public Places for Military Purpose IBPA are still in the villages. While on travel, several Bagani the military covered their heads with Army (IBPA) occupied the barangay Restriction or Violent Dispersal of Mass Six days earlier, on July 22, four members beat up John, Allan and plastic bags. hall, gym, and health center of the 3,231 male Manobo teenagers were on their Rico. Roland was asked if the three The next day, July 23, the two community. The soldiers conducted Actions, Public Assemblies and Gatherings way to register for the Barangay and were members of the NPA. Roland boys were turned over to the police surveys and profiling of households, Sangguniang Kabataan elections at the said no. in Loreto town. The Bagani Force and took photos of residents who, they * All victims are minors Commission on Elections (COMELEC) When the truck carrying the and Dioganon family filed attempted ** Mostly communities in militarized areas said, were on a military list. office at Brgy. Poblacion, in Loreto. teenagers and the Bagani force murder charges against the two mi- Karapatan-Southern Mindanao, They were Roland Sanglid, 19; reached Brgy. Sto. Niño gymnasium, nors. Allan and John are now in the Hustisya, Barug Katawhan, United Rico Basilisco, 18; “John”, 17; and, Roland was seen by his aunt and took custody of the Regional Rehabilitation Church of Christ in the Philippines group, hiked for almost a day from operation in their community and “Allan,” 16. him in custody. Ruel Dioganon, Rico’s Center for Youth of the Department (UCCP) and Exodus for Justice and their village in Loreto to the town of to seek its assistance. The evacuees On their way, the teenagers were uncle, saw how a Bagani member of Social Work and Development in Peace (EJP) assisted the evacuees. On Laak, Compostela Valley province. reported several incidents of hu- stopped by members of the paramili- punched his nephew. Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. July 30, when evacuees from other They then took a bus to Tagum City, man rights abuses by the military tary Bagani Force, led by a certain Jun Ruel immediately claimed Rico In the afternoon of July 7, some Loreto villages were about to be trans- Davao del Norte and stayed at the and paramilitary group Bagani, and Hozon of the 26th IBPA. The four and brought him home. John and residents who evacuated in the morn- ported via the two trucks provided by UCCP chapel. demanded the immediate pull- teenagers were forced to get off from Allan were left aboard the truck with ing went back to Damabalas vil- the EJP, elements of the 26th IBPA On August 2, the evacuees out of the 26th IBPA from their the motorcycle and to line up. the members of the Bagani Force and a lage, Datu Piang, Maguindanao blocked them. travelled to the Provincial Capitol of communities. Maril Dioganon, a Bagani number of soldiers. The two were later to gather their belongings. When they On August 1, 325 Lumad Agusan del Sur to inform the pro- In a dialogue between the member, accused John, Allan and taken to Brgy. Kauswagan where they arrived in the village, bombs were evacuees, accompanied by a support vincial government of the military evacuees, led by Kahugpong alang sa Rico of being members of the NPA. were detained at the village hall. John dropped near them. 4 Karapatan Monitor 5 5 May-August 2013 5

A howitzer bomb fell near village the village of Ganta, Sharif Saidona were approached by armed men who incident backed up the earlier state- another group of soldiers fired at the remains were first brought to the councilor Omar who was injured when Mustapha, Maguindanao where the claimed to be NPA members. They ment of Malibcong mayor Benito Victor, who was hit right away. Victor headquarters of the 10th Infantry shrapnel hit his chest. Another bomb operation took place. asked the residents whom to approach Bacuyag insinuating that the two sustained 18 gunshot wounds. His Division of the Philippine Army fell near Nasser Kamid, Alimundo The residents took refuge in Ganta if they needed food. But, the residents minors were “child soldiers”. abdomen was ripped open and his (IDPA) before it was brought to the Alon, Donna Alon, Fatima Balilid and Elementary School, about a kilometer knew they were soldiers. The Cordillera Human Rights intestines ruptured. funeral parlor. her two year-old daughter. Nasser walk from their houses. The bombing On May 31, two females, 13 and Alliance-Karapatan deemed this state- Victor, his wife Lynlyn Freay, 17, On May 26, farmer and fish was hit by shrapnel on his back; while and firefight in the outskirts of Brgy. 17 years old, were almost hurt during ment irresponsible and insensitive, and their two year-old son Makmak vendor Ricky Nate, 36, was on his Alimundo, Donna, Fatima and her Ganta lasted until the morning of July 8. a combat operation and airstrikes near especially coming from the executive lived at Datu Freay’s house. The three way to sell fish in a nearby village Del daughter were hit on their legs. In the municipality of Santa Cruz, the villages of Barangay Duldulao, office working on the peace process. left the house a few minutes before Rosario, in Camalig, Albay. When Nate The wounded were brought to a Ilocos Sur, members of the 81st IBPA Barangay Aligang and Barangay The children are not child soldiers. the incident to tend to their newly reached Purok 3 (sub-village 3), he saw hospital in Cotabato City at around occupied several communities to con- Lat-ey, Malibcong, Abra. Deles should have called for an imme- harvested corn, some 200 meters two men who looked like they were re- 10 p.m. duct activities under Oplan Bayanihan. The airstrike was conducted by diate investigation and refrained from away from Datu Freay’s house. pairing a motorcycle on the road side. Earlier in the morning, the resi- On June 28, 2013, soldiers arrived the 503rd IBPA, allegedly in pursuit of issuing baseless statements that made Meanwhile, Kiit proceeded to Witnesses saw one of the men dents left their homes after elements at the villages of Casilagan, Nagtenga NPA members in the area. the situation more difficult for the ter- Sitio Atbol, a village next to Bulol shoot Nate. Nate was able to run away of the 7th IBPA and 2nd Mechanized and Palali Norte and used barangay When a bomb was dropped on rorized communities. Kalon, to seek help from the commu- but the assailant caught him and shot Brigade of the Phil. Army arrived halls and a training center as tempo- Brgy. Lat-ey, it exploded approximately nity. At 6:00 a.m., Kiit with relatives him three more times in the head. The and began its operation against the rary camp. Village officials and resi- 40 meters from the two minors who Extrajudicial killings of Datu Anting’s family and other assailant casually walked back to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters dents objected the military’s presence, were near the ricefield of Rommel On August 23, Datu Anting (BIFF). Damabalas village is close to for fear of their safety. Teneza. Teneza was tilling his land at Freay, 60 years old, was killed Soldiers used the Casilagan village that time. The area where the bomb by elements of the 39th IBPA and TABLE 3: as staging point for its combat opera- exploded is 170 meters from the micro- the military composite group Task Victims of Extrajudicial Killing & Enforced Disappearance under Noynoy Aquino Gov’t tions in the adjacent villages of Sevilla, hydroelectric power plant, the com- Force Kitaco at sitio Bulol Kalon, by Sector (July 2010 to August 2013) Paratong, Caparia-an, Villa Garcia and munity’s main source of power. Elders Bong Mal, Kimlawis, Kiblawan, Dili. There were also reports that sol- immediately rushed to secure the two Davao del Sur. Sector Extrajudicial Killing Enforced Disappearance diers had drinking sprees and brought children, who were nearly hit by shrap- At around 4 a.m., Datu Freay Church 3 0 women from other villages. nel. The airstrikes caused profound was awakened by the loud bark of Entrepreneur 4 0 A platoon-sized group of soldiers stress on the community. his dog, He got up and went outside Environmentalist 6 0 arrived at Brgy. Palali Norte, led by The mother of the 17-year old girl the house. The soldiers immedi- Fisherfolk 1 0 PFC Lloyd Chavez. They occupied the lamented that her child did not want ately strafed his house upon seeing Government Employee 3 0 village training center. Chavez met to go back to school anymore because him. Datu Freay was hit at the right Indigenous People 32 1* with village officials and presented a of fear of soldiers. A military detach- cheek, right part of his neck and Media 3 0 list of Oplan Bayanihan activities for ment of the 41st IBPA is near her right leg. He was killed instantly. Minor 18 0 their four-month stay in the village. school. The elders were also appre- Freay’s wife, Kiit, 50, was Peasant 88 13 Their forces, he said, are divided hensive of the military’s presence and awakened by the burst of gunfire. Teacher 1 0 into clusters to cover the villages of the military operations. She went out of their house and was Urban poor 14 1 Buliclic, Sapang and Banbannaba. Elders and children in the com- almost hit by stray bullets when she Human Rights worker 1 0 On June 14, several residents munity said they were easily alarmed opened the door. Worker 7 1 of Palali Sur who are members of by loud sounds. Some could not eat Later, she saw Datu Freay on Youth and Student 4 1 STOP Exploitation – Sta. Lucia and sleep well after the incident. Their the ground, bloodied and lifeless. Moro 4 1 Chapter, an affiliate of the mobility, especially in going to the pas- Kiit shouted at the soldiers, “why Transport 1 0 Kilusang Magbubukid turelands, grazing fields, and swidden did you kill my husband?” One of the *Balangas Anlamit, who disappeared on February 3, 2013 was found dead in March. ng Pilipinas (KMP), farms (uma) are now limited. members of the Civilian Auxiliary Thus, the change in the number of disappeared among indigenous people. The community held meet- Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) ings regarding the incident and responded, “it is our revenge for the came up with a statement calling death of our two colleagues”. community members went back to parked motorcycle and drove away for the strict implementation of Kiit went back inside the house to Sitio Bulol Kalon. But, they were shot with his companion. The assailant the Comprehensive Agreement on wake up her two children. She em- at by the military, apparently to block wore a bonnet while his companion the Respect for Human Rights and braced them when the military and them from getting the bodies of Datu had a helmet on. The incident hap- International Humanitarian Law CAFGU members sprayed bullets again Freay and Victor. They went back to pened about a kilometer from the (CARHRIHL) and the resumption at their house. Kiit and her sons later Sitio Atbol. village center. of the peace talks. They also de- found their way out of their house. It was only the following day The witnesses said the military cided to file complaints against the As they were running away, Kiit when the families of Datu Anting and based in a detachment in Alobo vil- 503rd IBPA. met Victor Freay, 16, Datu Freay’s Victor were able to retrieve the bod- lage, Daraga, Albay were first to arrive The statement released by the son. Victor was on his way to his ies at a funeral parlor in Tampakan, at the site. The soldiers were led by a Presidential Adviser on the Peace father’s house. Kiit warned Victor not South Cotabato. It turned out that certain Lt. Sazon of the 22nd IBPA. Process Teresita “Ging” Deles on the to proceed. But, a few minutes later, 6 Karapatan Monitor 7 7 May-August 2013 7

Soldiers from the Del Rosario village motorcycle was dumped in a nearby (do not vote for [Anakpawis] be- removal of all Illegal Structures and Bignay. Members of the PNP, Rodolfo del Rosario, 77 year-old martial law military detachment arrived later. rice field. cause it is supported by the rebels).” Squatting) of the Quezon City govern- SWAT and around 200 anti- victim and SELDA member, was among those injured during the SONA rally. Nate’s wife narrated that on Cañon’s wife, Ruby, said Eddie left Eddie explained the partylist group ment demolished around 100 houses riot police also arrived. Opposite: Pentagon workers on strike. September 20, 2012 the same Lt. their house at around 7:30 a.m. to ply is a legal organization, accredited at Phase 8, Brgy. North Fairview, Community residents Sazon told Nate to “change” or “itu- his usual route. She learned of Eddie’s by the Commission on Elections Quezon City. negotiated with the city tumba siya nito (he will kill Nate).” Lt. death from two habal-habal drivers (COMELEC). Among those hurt were Sarifa officials and policemen to Sazon linked Nate with the NPA. Nate at past 8 a.m. Ruby immediately went Also in April, soldiers went to Pail Bosoy, 35, and eight months put on hold the demolition. immediately reported the confronta- to the site, which was only about two Cañon’s house after he failed to at- pregnant; Irene Dela Cruz, 64; The residents submitted tion to the police. A few days later, a kilometers from their residence. tend the community meeting called Conchita Jopia, 58; Joselyn an appeal to Mayor Rex dialogue between Nate and Lt. Sazon Cañon had been threatened and by the military. The soldiers in- Mata, 52; Wilma Mantila, 38; Gatchalian, asking for a was called. Camalig vice mayor Ging harassed by the military in the past structed Cañon’s wife to have Eddie Jesica Yangias, 43; Kelsey decent relocation accessible Nebres and acting police chief PCI months before his death. report to the military detachment as Yanguas,19, who was punched by to schools and their sources Frande Echaluce attended the said In February, Dante Ramirez, a soon as he comes home. When Eddie a certain Noel Orpiada, a leader of of livelihood. However, the dialogue where Lt. Sazon said he member of the Military Intelligence showed up at the detachment in the the TF COPRISS. local government represen- would stop threatening Nate. Group (MIG) of the Alpha Company evening, he was ordered to explain According to the residents, a cer- tatives said the decision to Habal-habal (motorcycle) driver of 66th IBPA, repeatedly asked Cañon his whereabouts. tain Ramon Cabile, Chief Inspector of demolish the community is and Anakpawis Partylist municipal about the presence of other armed In May, the military accused Station 5 of the QC Police Department final. The City Government coordinator Eddie Cañon was found groups in the community. Eddie said Cañon of participation in an al- fired an M16 rifle, amid the presence said the community is under dead at around 8:00 a.m. on May 25 he was not aware of any armed group. leged NPA ambush of elements of of children, to threaten the residents. the transmission line of the along the boundary of Sitio San Isidro On March 22, Dante Ramirez the 66th IBPA, which the military Some 100 houses were already National Grid Corporation and Sitio Sta. Monica, Brgy. Nuevo went to Cañon’s residence at past claimed wounded a certain PFC demolished, without a court order. and the land is owned by the Iloco, Mawab, Compostela Valley. midnight. Cañon did not open the door Rey Santiago. City Administrator Tadeo Palma and National Power Corporation. Eddie had nine gunshot wounds in and ignored Ramirez who kept calling. The site where Eddie Cañon was Marlowe Jacutin of the Quezon City The residents said they are different parts of his body, apparently In April, the military called shot dead is the same place where government only issued a court order. willing to relocate but the local from 9mm and .45 caliber pistols. His Eddie to their detachment to ask Alvin Placencia, Anakpawis Municipal The notice of demolition said the resi- government has no concrete who was responsible for posting Coordinator, was shot dead in 2007. dents have no building permit. relocation plan. The local Anakpawis Partylist campaign post- Irene Dela Cruz, one of those hurt government only provided ers. A certain Sgt. Dequilla also told Forced eviction, demolition during the demolition, said most of PhP5,000 financial assistance Cañon not to vote for Anakpawis, and other related rights the residents in the community have to the families displaced during “dili ninyo botaran kay violations been in the area since the 1960’s, the first round of demolition on gisuportahan kini sa On July 25, seven people were saying they developed the place which May 31. mga rebelde injured, including a pregnant woman used to be a grassland. Most of the The demolition team began tear- and an elderly, when 15 members residents are government employees, ing down the houses at 8:00 a.m. They District Station 2 arrived at the barri- of ELITE Force, a private security families of overseas workers and sea- forcibly dispersed the community’s cade. Supt. Pedro Sanchez said they agency, and elements from the men, small entrepreneurs, call center barricade and destroyed all the houses were deployed to clear the road. But, Task Force COPRISS (Control agents, nurses, former members of and structures using a backhoe. the residents refused to dismantle the Prevention and the military and police force, and Ricardo Gagap, a worker at barricade. They knew the policemen jeepney operators. Pentagon Steel Corporation and resi- were there to carry out the demoli- A series of demolition by private dent of Brgy. Bignay, was arbitrarily tion order. security guards backed up by police arrested. Police filed charges of serious Representatives from the men were conducted against the physical injuries and alarm/scandal Commission on Human Rights (CHR) residents at North Fairview in favor of against Gagap. He was detained for initiated a negotiation between the building townhouses by land devel- five days at the Valenzuela City Police police and residents. Supt. Sanchez did opers, that include a businessman station and was released on bail on not agree to the residents’ request for named Angelito Dominguez. July 8. the police to pull out before the resi- The July 25 demolition of houses Residents of Sitio San Roque, dents dismantle the barricade. Instead, was preceded by earlier similar opera- North Triangle, Quezon City, the police men pushed back the human tions on April 19 and July 10. blocked the city’s demolition team shield with their truncheons. In Brgy. Bignay, Valenzuela from tearing down their homes. Some residents were hit by police City, the homes of 216 families On July 1, some 300 residents truncheons, while some tried to defend were demolished on 4 July. At 6:00 and supporters put up a barricade themselves by throwing rocks. In the a.m., more than 200 demolition along Agham Road to prevent the end, the police were able to dismantle personnel, 200 Bantay Bayan vol- entry of a demolition team, backed up the barricade and the human shield of unteers, staff of the City Engineer’s by policemen. the residents. Around 14 individuals were TUDLA PRODUCTIONS Office and around 50 firemen arrived At 10:00 a.m., around 100 police- in Hulo Dulo, Friendsville, Brgy. men from the Quezon City Police hurt during the clash. Pedicab 8 Karapatan Monitor 9 9 May-August 2013 9

Death of a detainee while 47 driver Mario Mesa, 50, TOTAL NDF Consultants others with serious ailments School. The checkpoint was manned Region Women Under PNoy was hit by a police trun- No. of PPs & Staff TOP: Oscar Belleza had an by five soldiers from the 69th IBPA cheon while helping other Cordillera Administrative Region 6 0 0 4 ischemic stroke and underwent who were in full battle gear. a brain operation. While residents. He had a cut on Ilocos 0 0 0 0 recuperating, Belleza was The military unloaded and his forehead and bruises on Cagayan Valley 9 4 0 6 handcuffed on his hospi­tal bed. opened Atienza’s sack. Inside the sack his limbs and was immedi- Central Luzon 11 1 1 1 BELOW: Alison Alcantara died of was a cardboard box wrapped with ately rushed to the hospital Southern Tagalog 26 3 0 6 fatal ar­rhythmia, packaging tape. When the box was Bicol 19 1 0 10 sepsis and health-care for treatment. associated pneumonia. opened, Atienza saw six milk cans At noon, the residents NCR 206 12 8 42 inside. He was immediately arrested Western Visayas 21 2 0 13 regrouped and trooped to by the soldiers. Central Visayas 6 0 1 1 the City Hall for a dialogue Eastern Visayas 24 8 0 17 The military claimed the milk with Mayor Herbert Bautista Northern Mindanao 10 0 2 1 cans were landmines or improvised and to denounce the violent Caraga 12 1 0 9 explosive device (IED). Atienza, in dispersal of the police. But, Socsksargen 25 1 0 10 defense, said he merely picked up they were again dispersed Western Mindanao 18 0 0 14 the package for delivery. He assert- by the police while having a Southern Mindanao 29 2 0 10 ed he did not know the person who protest program in front of ARMM 27 0 0 10 hired him and he is not a member the city hall. Total 449 34 13 154 of the NPA. The 30-day notice to Sickly 48 TABLE 4: Political Prisoners The soldiers took Atienza to the the residents to vacate their Elderly 28 (As of August 30, 2013) headquarters of the 69th IBPA in homes ended on May 30. The Arrested Minor 8 Brgy. Dalisay, Panabo City, Davao del local government did not Norte, where he was placed in one of present any relocation plan, the “safe houses”. The soldiers took a including alternative sources photo of Atienza as well as the sup- of livelihood for those who Arrests and detention A few minutes later, around 50 posed IEDs. will be evicted. Since April 13, 129 workers of the Pentagon scabs arrived aboard three Lt. Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, The community of San Roque used Pentagon Steel Corporation are on jeeps. The union workers protested commanding officer of the 69th to be home to 206,000 individuals and strike after the management sum- the entry of scabs and negotiated with IB, interrogated Atienza. He asked 7,000 families for more than three de- marily dismissed workers for hold- the police. After a failed negotiation, about Atienza’s “connection with the cades. Nearly half of the residents were ing a sit-down protest on April 12. the union workers attempted to block NPA”. While he was interrogated, forced out of the community after the The management said the April 12 the entry of the jeeps. The police then Atienza was blindfolded, his wrists pushed the picketing workers away violent demolition in September 2012. protest violated the company’s rules On June 24, Camilo Cuares, While waiting for passengers at and ankles tied up, while he was The QC local government carried out and regulations. from the gates. repeatedly punched in the head and The police collared unionists Joe president of the Alliance of the terminal of the PAPAMODA in the demolition to “develop” the area The workers however asserted the Nationalist and Genuine Labor Paquibato, Atienza received a call from torso. Later, his head was wrapped in into a commercial district,. action is an exercise of their right to Fontiveros and Melwil Noval and a plastic bag for several minutes until immediately brought them to the Organizations-Kilusang Mayo Uno a fellow driver Ronnie Muaña. Muaña Some of the residents agreed express grievance. They launched the (ANGLO-KMU) and a supporter said a passenger in Carmen town he struggled for breath. to self-demolish their homes and protest after 10 union members were QCPD Station 1. Police men in plain Atienza begged the commanding clothes also nabbed Ricky De Vera. of the Pentagon workers, was ar- wanted to hire a habal-habal for the accepted the money offered by penalized with preventive suspension rested by members of the Quezon whole day. officer “Maluoy mo sa akoa, daghan the LGU. To date, 4,000 families without utilizing the grievance proce- The three were charged with “grave ko’g pag-umangkon nga gibuhi…” coercion” for allegedly preventing City police as the picketing workers Atienza and Muaña met with continue to resist eviction and re- dure in the workplace. On April 15 the tried to block scabs from entering the passenger in a village in Dujali (Have pity on me. I have nieces and location to Montalban, Rizal. They workers filed a case of illegal lock- some employees to enter the factory. nephews to feed). The police also charged them with “re- the company premises. Cuares was Municipality who asked them to load complained that the relocation site is out, and illegal dismissal against the charged with direct assault. He was two sacks on their motorcycle. Neither At around 5:00 p.m., Atienza’s far from their workplace and sources Pentagon management in the National sistance and disobedience to a lawful mother and siblings arrived at the order of the police authority”. released after a three-day deten- of the drivers asked about the con- of livelihood and, also lies on a fault- Labor Relations Commission. tion. The prosecutor ordered further tents of the sacks. Atienza and Muana camp but, were not allowed to go in. line. Residents who accepted the On 19 June, around 8:00 a.m., The complaint of grave coercion Later in the evening, the military was dismissed for lack of informa- investigation on the charge filed loaded one sack each on their motor- Montalban relocation are now going some 50 policemen from the Quezon against Cuares. cylces. They were instructed to bring turned over Atienza to the PNP in back to Sitio San Roque because of City Police District arrived at the tion on the conduct of intimidation. Davao City. Hontiveros, Noval and De Vera were On May 24, another motor- the two sacks to Purok Mangga, Brgy. lack of access to sources of liveli- Pentagon Steel compound. The work- cycle (habal-habal) driver Joey Paquibato proper. Atienza and Muaña On May 25, Atienza’s inquest hood and basic services. ers on strike were at the company released on June 20. at the City Prosecutor’s Office was On June 20, in another round of Atienza, 33, a was arrested by agreed to meet in Purok Mangga. Sitio San Roque is on a 340-hect- gates keeping eye on the entry of five soldiers of the 69th IBPA in On his way to Paquibato, Atienza postponed because no fiscal was are land. Of this, 250 hectares are illegally-hired workers or scabs. The police dispersal against the workers available. When Atienza was brought on strike, unionist Alfredo Bautista Paquibato District, Davao City. noticed two unidentified riders tailing targetted to become Quezon City’s police positioned themselves between He is the secretary of the Panabo- him. At noon, Atienza reached Brgy. back to the precinct, three unidenti- business district, a banner project of the gate and picket line. There were was arrested. He was released on the fied men, armed with pistols and in same day when the Pentagon manage- Paquibato Motor Operators and Mabuhay and was stopped at a check- the local government and the Ayala also members of the Special Weapons Drivers Association (PAPAMODA). point in front of Mabuhay Elementary civilian clothes were waiting for him. Land Corporation. and Tactics (SWAT) and Bomb Squad. ment failed to file charges against him. The men interrogated Atienza from (continued on page 12...) 10 Karapatan Monitor 11 11 May-August 2013 11

of projects and to placate the people’s disgust, they started calling it UP student, a future. She took her own life because education costs BS Aquino is at it again – a play with words and a web of deception. Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). But it is the same fixed had been so prohibitive. He has done it before, he is doing it again. lump sum fund allocated to every member of Congress to be spent Let not party affiliation be a reason for exemption and deterrent to at his discretion. prosecution. It is hoped that the slow grind of “due process” will not be The Executive pork comes in different names (that is why the an excuse to subvert justice. The same way that we hope expeditious fter his steadfast posi- “Earmarked projects will President exempts it from being abolished). It is shrouded in the justice will also be rendered to the victims of human rights violations. tion that he will not abol- go through public bidding”, so-called Presidential social fund, Special Purposes fund and the off- Rechannel pork barrel funds directly to budgets, with specific pur- ish the Priority Develop- Aquino said. Isn‘t public budget items. If the Congressional Pork Barrel amounts to P70 million poses, for elementary and secondary public schools, state colleges and Ament Assistance Fund (PDAF), bidding a process long been per Congressman and P200 million per Senator, the Presidential pork universities, government hospitals, including specialized hospitals so BS Aquino suddenly altered his mandated before they in- runs to billions going trillions in the 2014 budget. These are funds he that these need not be privatized, and in all other social services that position to appease the people’s vented negotiated contracts could spend at his discretion, some of which require no audit. the people need, especially the poor and marginalized sectors of so- outrage over the P10-billion to circumvent it? The Philip- The Presidential pork is allocated to the President’s pet projects, ciety. pork barrel scam pulled by Janet pine Government Electronic beneficiaries and politicians. The President bribes Congress with ad- In the final analysis, it is only in eradicating this rotten-to-the- Lim Napoles through her bogus System is the only thing new ditional pork to insure the passage of administrative bills. On the core political system and the concomitant unjust social system, which NGOs in collusion with unscru- in the President’s directive. other hand, he uses his authority to approve releases, through his breeds corruption, greed, exploitation and poverty, that we can truly pulous legislators. Yet posting earmarked proj- Budget Department, to pressure or castigate legislators who would be freed from the fetters of injustice and inhumanity. This can only be “It is time to abolish PDAF,” ects on government web- not toe the line, thus undermining the suppose check and balance achieved through vigorous, concerted, sustained, and decisive action he said. But barely scratching the sites is the least of ordinary principle of governance. by the people. surface of the issue, he just enu- Juan’s concern as he is pre- merated measures to prevent a occupied in earning a few W hat now, Mr. President repeat of the scandal in the hope pesos from the scraps he The solution is plain and simple, that people will believe him. has scavenged or sweating Mr. President. Abolish the pork “I don’t know Napoles,” he said it out ferrying passengers barrel, including your very own again. But then photos showed till midnight to cope with pork. Whatever name it is called, it them together, smiling happily for oil price hikes and increased is designed for the same dubious the good time. boundaries. purpose. There is no justifiable rea- Then, after a warrant of arrest was issued against Napoles for il- The President’s outcry about “transparency”, “right and reasonable son why the social fund (Php7.5 B as legal detention, the fugitive scammer found her way in the bosom of process”, “safeguards” are worthless and empty at this time when all calamity and Php1B as contingency Malacañang to “surrender”. Like a diplomat, she was given special these have failed. fund) and other Special Purposes treatment; escorted even by no less than the President to “jail” in a Meanwhile, all the President’s men and PR machineries boggle Fund (SPF) and off-budget items poorly crafted script. their minds out to rescue BS Aquino. The audit reports from 2007 to should stay with the president and This intricate web of lies is now being entangled by the people’s 2009 were released to dissipate the people’s anger and divert their at- give him the power to disburse vigilance and protests. tention from the present scandal involving BS Aquino’s administration these upon his discretion. Again, to the sins of his predecessor. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, Consultant to his defenders argue that the presi- Anything and everything is PR the Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa and the nearest link of dential social fund and all the other the scandal to the Office of the President, was “fired” to save face and funds that the office of the president It is not very long ago when Aquino came up with his lofty but save Ochoa. Yamsuan’s name was mentioned during the interview holds do not come from people’s empty rhetoric– “tuwid na daan”, “kayo and boss ko”, “bayanihan”, with Napoles by a national daily. He is also alleged to have brokered taxes. True, but worse, that a Presi- “participatory or bottom-up budgeting”. for Napoles with some legislators. dent is spending on his whim funds It is not very long ago when he bragged to the world that under his coming from PAGCOR and PCSO, a watch, his military respects human rights. That his version of a coun- source tainted with depravity. ter insurgency operational plan, albeit patterned after the US Counter What is wrong with pork The solution is plain and simple, Insurgency Military Guide, is after peace and development; applies The pork barrel system, which was introduced in the country by Mr. President. Scrap the pork and people-centric (as if it has concern over the poor’s plight) and whole the US government, is depraved from the very start. It was aimed to hold responsible all the perpetra- of nation (to coopt and control) approaches. Yet, on the ground, ex- co-opt the ruling elite it had covertly put to power through a farce tors and accomplices to the crime, trajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, illegal arrest and deten- electoral exercise, in order to ensure US political hold and economic not only in the time of your prede- tion, demolition of urban communities in the cities, and evacuation of interests in the country. cessor, in an attempt to skirt the is- people due to intense militarization in the countryside have no let up. The pork barrel system likewise enables politicians to hold on to, sue, but in your own time of “tuwid He boasted of the 7% GDP though the people had to wait, he said, and perpetuate their power, as well as advance their economic inter- na daan”. for its effect to trickle down to the majority of the populace. He want- ests through political patronage. They appropriate funds for projects Prosecution should not be con- ed us to believe that the Philippines is now a “rising tiger” in Asia until and programs of their own liking in their favored districts and locali- fined to scammers like Janet Lim the tiger bit us and woke us up to the reality of increasing poverty, ties to win the votes of their constituents. They usurp credits for these Napoles but, to all those who had increasing hunger and joblessness. He placates unrest and toler- projects and programs to make the beneficiaries indebted to them. connived with them to steal the ates dependency by his 4Ps program, never mind if the nation is kept On the side, they also profit from kickbacks, bribes, and commissions. people’s money-- agency heads, submerged in indebtedness. Now, BS Aquino III thinks reforms can Political patronage and corruption are intrinsic features of bu- congressmen, senators and other change the embedded and systemic culture of greed and corruption. reaucrat capitalism, a system where the ruling elite uses the ma- public officials, including their BS Aquino has a penchant for petty things and petty solutions. chinery and resources of government, that come from people’s very compliant staff. Prosecution His first major action when he came to power is to ban the “wang hard earned income, to enrich and entrench themselves in power. should be most severe to those wang”, something that hardly affect people’s lives more than poverty They make profitable business using their privileged positions in who are greatly and morally re- and more than “chilling” deaths from extrajudicial killing and losses the plunder of the public coffer. sponsible, those the electorates from enforced disappearance do. The name of the congressional fund has transcended from pork entrusted with their votes. Just look how he treats and handles the most appalling scandal un- barrel, which sounds rather odious and revealing to a more appealing Prosecute the culprits that de- covered in his time of “tuwid na daan”. Just because the scam involved albeit deceptive term, to Community-Wide Development Fund (CDF) prived 16-year old Kristel Tejada, “soft projects’ such as fertilizers, seeds, etc., “soft projects” are banned. until development projects proved to be nil. To mask the deficiency 12 Karapatan Monitor 13 13 May-August 2013 13

Identification No. ND978254 un- harassment against him by the two BuCor insisted they can manage back pains. Peniero needs to undergo der the assumed name “Puri Feleo.” motorcycle-riding men on July 29. Alcantara’s illness. laboratory work-up to determine Magpatoc’s arrest brings to 13 the total Agcaoili was in Manila for consul- On September 4, Alcantara was whether her thyroid nodule is benign number of JASIG-protected peace tations and meetings with several rushed to the emergency room of the or malignant. consultants in detention. groups on the possibility of the re- New Bilibid Prisons hospital when his There are 47 other political Despite her work on the Social sumption of the peace negotiations. blood sugar and blood pressure rose. detainees who are ailing but do not and Economic Reform agenda of the The statement issued by the NDFP He had been going in and out of the receive proper and adequate medical peacetalks, Magpatoc was charged Human Rights Monitoring Committee New Bilibid Prisons hospital due to treatment. The Aquino government with fabricated cases of robbery said, “at about 1:30 p.m. on 29 July uncontrolled diabetes with complica- refuses to release them even on hu- with double murder and homicide 2013, a man riding a blue motorcycle tions of hypertension, and an infected manitarian grounds. with damage to property. She was had been observed evidently following wound on the left foot. held at the Digos City PNP station him and his companions while rid- Alcantara was among the three Detention and deportation of a foreign activist for six days where she was interro- ing a van officially designated for the political prisoners in Cebu who were re- gated by members of the Department NDFP Nominated Section in the Joint leased in 2004 when the GRP agreed to On August 6, Bureau of of National Defense, 10th IDPA Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring release 32 political prisoners as part of Immigration officials at the Ninoy Task Force Tugis and the Criminal Committee. Along the way, the man confidence-building measures during Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Investigation and Detection Group was joined by another rider on board the 3rd round of peace talks with the prevented Dutch activist Thomas CIDG-PNP in Region 11. On August a red motorcycle. Both continued to NDFP in Oslo, Norway. Alison was de- van Beersum from boarding his 21, she was transferred to the Taguig follow Agcaoili’s vehicle even after they tained at the Cebu Provincial Detention flight, and detained him for 30 hours City Jail Female Dormitory at Camp had taken evasive moves in an attempt and Rehabilitation Center in 1996 to at the airport. Immigration officials Bagong Diwa. to convey to the motorcycle-riding face trial for murder, double frustrated insisted in holding Beersum suppos- On the day of her arrest, Magpatoc men that they had been noticed.” murder and illegal possession of fire- edly because of his participation in was on a passenger van going to North In a letter to the GPH Negotiating arms, all trumped up criminal charges. a protest rally during Pres. Aquino’s The State violated Dutch activist Thomas van Beersum’s basic civil and political rights such as his Cotabato. On board, the driver an- Panel, Agcaoili protested the surveil- He was rearrested on November 5, SONA. To the BI, this was tanta- nounced the van was already rented lance and harassment against him 2010 on the same trumped up cases mount to participation in a partisan freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly. and Dutch activist Thomas Van by somebody and ordered the pas- “as a blatant violation of the Joint and was transferred to the New Bilibid political activity. Beersum. Del Rosario was hit sengers to get off. Other passengers Agreement on Safety and Immunity Prison early this year. Beersum and his counsel from on the head by police’s truncheon. got off but at least 10 men remained. Guarantees (JASIG). Only GPH per- In July, Oscar Belleza had an the National Union of Peoples’ (from page 9...) Those who were arrested, Ramdass Magpatoc was about to alight but the sonnel would have the temerity to do ischemic stroke and underwent a brain Lawyers (NUPL), however, con- Israel, Renz Pascual, Raymond 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. The police said driver told her it was alright to stay. what they did.” operation at the Jose Reyes Memorial tested the said charges saying it Brabante, Richard Verongque, Atienza was still under tactical inter- Magpatoc told the driver she had to go “As a member of longstanding of Medical Center to remove the blood was a clear violation of the United Isidro Fullon, Eugene Sampiano, rogation by the military. to the comfort room but she was not the NDFP Negotiating Panel, Agcaoili clot in his brain. Nations Universal Declaration of Rommel Madrigal, Kyel Muñoz On May 26, military personnel allowed to get off the van. She became is protected by the JASIG from surveil- While recuperating in the hospital, Human Rights (UDHR) and the and Felisardo Repaso, were Toto Lasapin interrogated Atienza wary of the situation and immediately lance and harassment, among others, Belleza was handcuffed on his hospi- International Covenant on Civil and brought to Quezon City Police again and recorded the interrogation. sent a message to a colleague through and is allowed free movement to con- tal bed. He is now back at the Manila Political Rights (ICCPR). According Headquarters at Camp Karingal. The Lasapin asked Atienza about the IED her phone. duct consultations and even meet with City Jail, although he still suffers from to the NUPL, the Philippines is nine were charged with violation of and his “connection” with the NPA. 0 When the van left the terminal, GPH officials,” the statement said. hypertension. The government did bound to both covenants being a Batas Pambansa 88 (a Marcos law on Atienza was charged with illegal Magpatoc called the attention of the not spend a single centavo on Belleza’s signatory and party to both. The public assembly), direct assault and possession of explosives and violation driver after she noticed that it was go- Death of a detainee while 47 hospitalization. State should respect Beersum’s basic physical injury, malicious mischief of COMELEC gun ban at the Regional ing in a different direction. The driver others with serious ailments Oscar Belleza was arrested on civil and political rights such as his and, resistance and disobedience upon Trial Court, Branch 10, Davao City. He said they had to refuel. However, the November 26, 2008 in Olongapo City. freedom of expression and of peace- an agent in person in authority. The On September 18, Alison was released on bail on July 30. van drove directly to the Digos City He was slapped with 15 counts of ful assembly. nine were released the following day Alcantara, 55, died of fatal ar- On July 22, nine protesters Police station. Magpatoc was immedi- murder in Inopacan, Leyte in 1985. On August 7, after a summary de- after the prosecutor opted to conduct a rhythmia, sepsis and health-care were arrested, while 48 others were ately handcuffed. His case is pending at Branch 32 at the portation order was issued, Beersum preliminary investigation. associated pneumonia. injured when elements from the It was only at the police station On September 9, Alcantara was Manila Trial Court. flew back to the Netherlands, although Philippine National Police- National Peace consultant arrested as 12 that Magpatoc was served an arrest rushed to the Philippine General Rhea Pareja, one of the eight he was placed in a BI “blacklist”. Capital Region blocked and dis- others languish in jail warrant issued by Judge Zenaida Hospital from the New Bilibid Prison women political prisoners at the persed rallyists, led by the Bagong Placer of Regional Trial Court Branch Taguig City Jail, has pulmonary Enforced disappearance National Democratic Front of after he went into coma. He was ear- Alyansang Makabayan, who marched 7 in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. tuberculosis (PTB). She is cur- the Philippines (NDFP) consultant to lier diagnosed with severe sepsis due Brian Epa, a coordinator of along Commonwealth Ave. from the Members of the intelligence unit of rently taking her medicine for a the peace negotiations with the GPH to pneumonia and diabetes type 2. Katribu partylist – Nueva Vizcaya Batasang Pambansa Complex where the 39th IBPA were part of the arrest- six-month treatment. Loida Magpatoc, 54, was arrested The persistent request of chapter, and a staunch anti-large- BS Aquino was to deliver his 4th State ing team. Miguela Peniero, a detainee on July 28. Magpatoc is protected Alcantara’s family and SELDA to scale mining advocate disappeared on of the Nation Address. Meanwhile, NDFP peace panel at the Taguig City Jail, was recently under the Joint Agreement on Safety immediately transfer Alcantara to August 21. Epa led campaigns against Among the injured were 77 year- member Fidel V. Agcaoili sent a diagnosed with upper respiratory and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) PGH and to eventually release him destructive mining in the province. old martial law victim and SELDA protest letter to the GPH negotiat- tract infection. She also has thyroid being a holder of NDFP Document of on humanitarian grounds was re- In communities where there member Rodolfo del Rosario, ing panel on the surveillance and jected by the Bureau of Corrections. nodule and suffering from chronic are barricades against the mining 14 Karapatan Monitor 15 15 May-August 2013 15

exploration of the Royalco Mining Anna Velez told the man that unit of Sgt. Antonio Hilario. Antonio Development. Deduro, with a police Bishop Alberto Ramento in 2006. He at them. They ordered Gadia to get off Exploration, military harassment Roy Velez was not there. She also Hilario is the brother of M/Sgt. Rizal inspector and DSWD social worker, was involved in people’s organizations the vehicle. and intimidation, red tagging, sur- emphasized that the warrant of ar- Hilario, a co-accused of Ret. Maj. Gen. later escorted the woman to meet such as Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Leslie Olivar, a staff member of veillance, and sexual harassment of rest against Roy Velez was recalled Jovito Palparan for the enforced disap- with the barangay captain of Brgy. and the Promotion for Church People’s Karapatan-Quezon, got off the vehicle women are rampant. by Romeo Habbiling, presiding judge of pearance of the two University of the Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City. Response. He also supported the peas- and told the soldiers they were civil- On the day of Epa’s disappear- the Regional Trial Court-Branch 14 at Philippine students Sherlyn Cadapan Migrante partylist president ant struggle at Hacienda Luisita and the ians and unarmed. Olivar moved the ance, around 9p.m., village councilor Lagawe, Ifugao on July 26. and Karen Empeño. Connie Bragas-Regalado called the urban poor in Dagupan City. muzzle of the gun away from him but, Alfonso Shog-oy dropped off Epa at Yet, the man continued to shout Ka Rudy is active in the campaigns incident “red-tagging” and warned they On May 31, elements of the one soldier pointed another gun on his a friend’s house in Brgy. Salvacion, that Roy Velez still has a warrant of of peasants and fisherfolks in Central will hold the AFP and the Aquino gov- 74th IBPA fired at members of the back. The rest of the team members Dumlao Boulevard to get his bag. Both arrest. He repeatedly asked Anna Luzon, specifically in the province of ernment accountable should anything Karapatan-Quezon quick re- remained inside the jeepney. Epa and Shog-oy noticed three police- “Where is he?! Where is Roy Velez?!” Bataan. Prior to this incident, there untoward happen to Deduro. action team who went to Ilayang After confirming that Gadia was men at a street corner nearby. Anna Velez just asked for the copy were already a number of instances The Very Rev. Eleuterio J. Doongan village in Catanauan, not injured, and the stains on his pants On his way back to pick up Epa, of the warrant of arrest but the man when his rights were violated. Revollido, rector of the Aglipay Quezon. The team was sent to respond were just paint stains, the military let Shog-oy saw six policemen inside a left without giving a copy. In September 11, 2011, an attempt Central Theological Seminary to reports of human rights violations go of the team. patrol car; three of them got off the car, Anna’s four children, three of was made on Ka Rudy’s life. (ACTS), and his community of semi- after an encounter between the 74th On May 1, a blue van was spot- approached Epa and tried to take away them minors, were with her during In a news report on June 29, the narians have been subjects of surveil- IBPA and the NPA. ted slowing down in front of Vencer his bag. According to Shog-oy, Epa asked the incident. Also with her were her 3rd IDPA commander Maj. Gen. Jose lance and intimidation by suspected When the team arrived at the Crisostomo‘s house in Quezon City. the police why they were taking his bag. parents, both elderly. Anna’s children Mabanta told the media that Cynthia military agents. village chief’s house, they met two Crisostomo, who is Anakbayan’s Later, Shog-oy saw Epa being pushed by were traumatized. They refused to go Deduro was among the “top NPA On June 15, around 7:30 p.m., a women who were looking for their hus- national chairperson, was inside the the policemen inside the patrol car. They out of their house to attend school. rebels” seen at a NPA camp in Bry. seminarian noticed a man in front of bands who were missing right after the house preparing to leave for the Labor said they are taking him for questioning Anna’s parents had to transfer to an- Buri, Tapaz, Capiz during a supposed the seminary gate. The man, unaware said encounter. The team accompanied Day rally when he saw at least four because he is “suspicious-looking”. The other relative’s house. military raid against the NPA. of the approaching seminarian, took the women to their homes, near the men inside the van, with camouflage police punched Epa in the stomach and At around 11 a.m. of August Mabanta claimed that on June 18, out a rifle from a sack. When the man site of the supposed encounter. The jackets visibly hanging at the back. hit him with bats when he tried to resist 2, 2013, Rodolfo “Ka Rudy” the 61st IBPA attacked an NPA camp. noticed the seminarian, he immediately women found their belongings either Vencer’s neighbor immediately attempts of police men to handcuff him. Sambajon, secretary general of Deduro, regional coordinator of slung the rifle on his shoulder and sped destroyed or missing. As the two gath- reported this to the village security The following day, Shog-oy and Makabayan Coalition-Central Luzon the Migrante partylist, belied the ac- off on his motorcycle. In haste, the man ered their families’ remaining belong- guard, who confirmed that a group of Atty. Fidel Santos went to the PNP and National Chairperson Emeritus cusation. On June 18, Deduro said, she left the sack in front of the gate. ings, a soldier shot at the members of men indeed entered the subdivision. Bayombong station but policemen of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, ar- was at a NEDA Review Consultation Almost a week before this inci- the human rights team. The soldiers The village guard said the van driver claimed Epa was already released. rived at his home in Orani, Bataan. Ka on Official Development Assistance at dent, on the evening of June 6, some were only a few meters from the house. identified himself as MSgt. Federico However, there was no record or police Rudy noticed a man on a Kawasaki the NEDA-VI Building, Iloilo City. The seminarians of the ACTS noticed two (Their husbands surfaced a few Sagun Tambacao, Jr., and presented blotter on Epa’s arrest. The person motorcycle passed by. The motorcycle meeting, presided by Director Ro-Ann suspicious looking men standing in days later. The two men said they took a military card. Tambacao, according the police claimed they released was had no plate number, but with a sign Bacal of NEDA VI, went from 9:00 front of the main gate of the seminary. refuge at another part of the village to the village guard, claimed they will a certain Feliz Bacsa Jr. Epa remains “LOST PLATE.” According to Ka Rudy, a.m. to 1:00 p.m. As the seminarians approached the when the encounter happened.) pick up something in one of the houses missing as of this writing. the man had a military haircut and After the meeting, from 2:00 men, a motorcycle arrived, picked up In Brgy. Navitas, Catanauan, sol- inside the village, but could not tell was about 5’7” tall. Ka Rudy’s son also p.m. to 5:00 p.m., she accompanied the two men and sped off. People out- diers at the 74th IBPA camp stopped the exact address. Tambacao only gave Threat, harassment and reported he noticed the same man com- a woman victim of domestic violence side the seminary gate reported that the vehicle of another Karapatan team the general direction, which was a few intimidation ing out of an alley near their house and to the Molo PNP station and to the four men would regularly rove around that was supposed to go to the site of blocks away from Crisostomo’s house. On September 1, at 8:00 a.m., a was looking around. Department of Social Welfare and the vicinity of the seminary, especially the encounter. Doubtful, the security guard fol- man who introduced himself as po- On August 4, Ka Rudy’s wife in the afternoons. There were also sev- A soldier saw Rey Gadia, a lowed the van. The men neither went lice officer Padua from the Warrant sent him a text message not to eral reported incidents of attempted Karapatan student volunteer, resting on to the destination they gave the guard of Arrest Section of the Las Pinas go home. She was alarmed when break-in at the seminary. the jeepney’s passageway. He imme- nor picked up anything from any of the City Police went to the residence of she noticed unfamiliar men going Since 2001, Rev. Revollido has diately reported to the other members houses. The guard followed the men Roy Velez in Las Pinas City. He was around their place, especially new been targeted by state security agents of his troop that someone was injured. and asked them to turn back and leave escorted by three other men in civil- peddlers whom she suspected to for his active participation in people’s The red paint on Rey’s pants was mis- the subdivision. ian clothes. be government intelligence agents. issues in Pangasinan. He spoke against taken for blood from wound. In Mendiola where the rally was Anna Velez, wife of Roy Velez, The incident happened almost the spate of killings, especially after the Some 100 soldiers surrounded held, Crisostomo still noticed that he was kindly met the man and asked him three weeks after Ka Rudy joined killing of Iglesia Filipina Independiente the team members, with guns pointed being tailed. why he is looking for Roy. Anna was a Quick Response Team in July surprised because the man talked 14, 2013 to look into a reported loudly at her as he displayed in public abduction case of farmers in ne thing is clear. The people no longer trust the BS Aquino regime. the warrant of arrest for Roy Velez. Bataan by soldiers of the 24th Neither BS Aquino’s sweet talk nor force can contain the people’s rage; nor can it break the people’s unity forged by It seemed intentional, according to IBPA. Also in July, the National the rejection of the pork barrel system and all forms of corruption it represents under the BS Aquino regime. Anna, for the neighbors to hear that Office of Karapatan received OThe people will not allow BS Aquino to suppress people’s indignation and protests, much more to preserve the ex- Roy Velez has a warrant of arrest and report that Ka Rudy is targeted ploitative and oppressive system that breeds corruption. The people will not allow BS Aquino to stand in the way as they that he was allegedly involved in an for assassination by the 72nd Brian Epa march on the road to real and meaningful change in Philippine society. ÿ ambush in Lagawe, Ifugao. Military Intelligence Company, a 16 Karapatan Monitor 17 17 May-August 2013 17

Paramilitary groups he call to abolish the Philippine National Police in Tubod, Manjuyod, presidential and congressional Negros Oriental. Sebas was mistaken for alleged Despite widespread and persistent clamor to Tpork, and the worsening top NPA cadre “Felimon Mendrez”, a subject disband paramilitary groups, civilian volunteer human rights situation under the BS of four arrest warrants for rebellion. Sebas was organisations and private armies, the DND budget Aquino regime direct the public’s detained in the BJMP District Jail in Bayawan City includes PhP 2 billion for the compensation eyes to focus on the 2014 budget for three weeks and was released when the court of members of the Civilian Armed Forces appropriations of the various line granted his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Geographical Units (CAFGUs). agencies and how these agencies In August, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel The people’s money also goes to the operation spend the people’s money. Bautista proudly handed P5.25M and P5.6M of the Special Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAA) Going through the proposed budget, rewards to informants who “identified” Panesa units, which are organized and trained by the AFP the government clearly appropriates as “Benjamin Mendoza” and Sebas as “Felimon but are already financed by transnational mining the people’s money to terrorize fellow Mendrez,” respectively. corporations. The creation of the SCAA was given Filipinos and to suppress dissent and Now that the Courts have ruled, in both cases, that a go-signal by BS Aquino on October 20, 2011. protests against the ills in Philippine the military got the wrong men, the big question is Several extrajudicial killings and human rights society; and, to fill up the bureaucrats’ where did the P10.8million bounty end up. violations since 2010 involved paramilitary pockets—including those in the groups. These groups, attached to particular military institution. commands of the AFP, and were involved in the killing For one, the people’s money finds P466M reward for ‘communists’ a waste of of Bukidnon datu Jimmy its way to the implementation of US-Aquino people’s money regime’s counterinsurgency program Oplan Liguyon, Italian priest Fr. Bayanihan. Karapatan’s research on the 2014 The DND-DILG’s Order of Battle (OB) list of Fausto Tentorio, and the budget appropriation showed Oplan Bayanihan ‘wanted communists’ and the corresponding massacre of anti-mining budget of at least PhP162 billion spread in ‘reward system’ are graphic illustration of how activist Juvy Capion, and various government agencies. The Department of the government spends people’s money to violate her two children. National Defense (DND) and the Department of people’s rights, while bureaucrats dip their fingers During the United Nation’s Interior and Local Government (DILG), the main in the PhP 466 million bounty. Universal Periodic Review implementers of BS Aquino’s counterinsurgency The Joint Memorandum of the DND-DILG in 2012, the European program Oplan Bayanihan, expectedly get the allotted the PhP 466 million for the arrest of Parliament and several biggest share. 235 individuals accused as “communists” other States, had called on The proposed budget of the National and to reward so-called informers who provide the Philippine government Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Office information that would lead to the arrest of the so- to immediately disband all of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process called communist leaders. paramilitary groups. (OPAPP), National Security Council (NSC) and, The scheme is nothing but an “organized The call to scrap Oplan specific projects such as PAMANA are included in racket” as exemplified by the arrest, torture, Bayanihan becomes the overall budget of Oplan Bayanihan because and detention of security guard Rolly Panesa more urgent as mounting they serve as conduits in the implementation of and farmer Olegario Sebas. Both were wrongly cases of human rights Oplan Bayanihan’s components, specifically the tagged as leaders of the Communist Party of the violations occur. It becomes psy-ops and intelligence aspects. Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army more meaningful as the Many of these items, including intelligence (NPA). Filipino people clamor to funds and the budget for PAMANA program, are Panesa was arrested on October 5, 2012, redirect huge amounts discretionary in nature and are exempted from tortured and detained for 11 months because he of government money to audit by the Commission on Audit (COA). was mistaken for “Benjamin Mendoza”, an alleged social services —instead The cases of human rights violations under high ranking regional officer of the CPP. Last of ending up either in the the Aquino government that were documented August 29, the Court of Appeals (CA) ruled generals’ pockets or used to by Karapatan are enough proof that billions positively on Panesa’s petition for writ of habeas violate people’s rights. of people’s money are spent by the BS Aquino corpus, citing it was a case of mistaken identity. The Filipino people government to commit gross human rights The Court ordered the immediate release of deserve better than violations, including extrajudicial killings, against Panesa from Camp Bagong Diwa. a government that is its own people. Sebas, 65, was arrested on December 25, 2012 repressive and corrupt. by the joint forces of the Philippine Army and the 18 Karapatan Monitor 19 19 May-August 2013 19

leaders were branded as NPA sympathizers, leading to such cases as the killing Co-Head, Progress Lawyers Network and Bureau member of the International of barangay councilor Cristina Jose. US-based group Panaghiusa and Inpeace Association of Democratic Lawyers; Marta Benavidez of Siglo XXIII, El Salvador; Mindanao conducted a medical mission for the typhoon victims. David Wildman of the General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist The mineral-rich CARAGA region was also visited by another ISM team. Church; Prof. Gill Boehringer, former Dean of Macquire University Law School The people’s effort to protect and preserve these areas from incursion of mining in Australia; and Anna Morris of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers in the International Conference for companies, agro-business corporations and other destructive projects led to United Kingdom. many incidents of harassments, displacements, enforced disappearances and “Where people are driven to believe there is no alternative but to take up Human Rights and Peace extra-judicial killings, especially among the indigenous peoples. arms as part of the struggle for self-determination, it is not for us, as outsiders, In the National Capital Region, a team visited urban poor communities to judge whether that belief is correct or to what extent this or that armed First in the Philippines launched set to be demolished in Quezon City, Valenzuela and Paranaque. They also action is justified,” said Morris, who co-wrote the paper she presented with went to Freedom Island, a bird sanctuary area, which will be affected by the Richard Harvey. government’s reclamation project, and a community of Moro peoples in Culiat, Ten workshops were also conducted on large-scale mining; global Quezon City. The team later proceeded to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan to visit landgrabbing; trade union struggles; on women and children; the role of The huge ballroom was filled with people from different nationalities speaking in various political prisoners. churchworkers, lawyers and cultural workers in the struggle for people’s rights; and languages. They were from diverse cultures, gender, professions, and religion, representing generations of US-based delegate Ron Gochez of Union del Barrio who went with the on the situation of the urban poor, migrants and indigenous peoples. activists and peace workers. Most had never met before the gathering (or just heard about each other from a mission in Paquibato said, “we were there for less than five minutes and this is Stories of courage colleague or the internet). Yet, everyone seemed to be smiling to everyone inside the big hall. In each corner, people shook hands, what we saw: the military and military intelligence operatives taking pictures when we arrived, taking pictures of the people, trying to intimidate the people.” gave a hug, a kiss on the cheek. In many ways, it looked like a reunion of friends who had never seen each other for years. Each delegate has a story to tell about their experiences on the struggle for Gochez further said, “The people do not want any more militarization. They peace and human rights in their own countries and regions. want schools, they want health care, they want roads.” Dutch national Herman Geertman, if asked about his story will probably tell The 280 delegates flew in to the Philippines with one thing in common: “We stand in solidarity with these soon to be displaced fisherfolk families not his own but the story of his brother Willem’s involvement in the Philippines they all work for peace and human rights in their respective countries. and political prisoners - a solidarity which means They have one goal in mind: to forge and strengthen the solidarity for that now the whole world will stand as witness human rights in the Philippines. to how the powers and principality within the Philippines act. Without justice there can be no peace,” stated Rev. Stuart Lyster of Canada in his Work for peace, fight for justice report during the ISM plenary reporting. Locally and globally, human rights have been violated and ignored by nearly A conference of fighters all states which signed and ratified the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related treaties. The last three decades showed even more The conference teemed with energy and alarming developments—the erosion of legal standards for what constitute powerful voices that articulated the resolve of the human rights, and the use of human rights rhetoric as an imperialist tool for oppressed and violated peoples to fight back. reaction and even aggression. Jeanne Mirer delivered a In the Philippines, the successive regimes after martial law were no different strong keynote speech saying, from the Marcos dictatorship. Governments pay lip service to democracy, justice, “it is time that we use human and peace as they trample on people’s basic and inalienable rights. rights law to challenge policies Progressive movements must take to task governments and international to ensure that the Filipinos can make the Philippine government bodies to adhere to the articles of the UDHR and related treaties and protocols. America, North America, Europe and Oceania. Included are representatives from actually devote maximum available As signatories, the governments and international bodies are committed to the people’s and multi-sectoral organizations based in the Philippines. principles embodied in these declarations. They should be held accountable for resources to progressively realize the violations of these rights. International Solidarity Mission: First-hand experience of human basic economic human rights as The theme, “Work for peace, fight for justice,” set the tone for the three-day rights situation in the Philippines articulated in the ICESCR and the conference. The International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the UDHR.” Mirer is the president Philippines (ICHRPP) focused on the ever-worsening human rights and peace Prior to the conference, an International Solidarity Mission (ISM) was of the International Association situation in the Philippines. conducted in seven regions where human rights violations are rampant. The of Democratic Lawyers and a The conference cited BS Aquino’s anti-people policies such as his centerpiece 92 ISM delegates from 15 countries expressed their steadfast support for the founding member of the US-based program the Public-Private Partnership that favors big business and foreign Filipino people’s struggle for human rights and justice. National Lawyers Guild. investors at the expense of the poor Filipino people; his puppetry to the United The Central Luzon (CL) team went to Pres. Aquino’s Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac Prof. Jose Maria Sison, States government at the expense of the country’s sovereignty and patrimony; province where farmers and hacienda workers experience continued harassment chairperson of the International for more than four decades. “We and, the Oplan Bayanihan that terrorizes and kills people. and military operations; and in Aurora Province where people are threatened League of Peoples’ Struggle, said in are in the Philippines right now... to It is in this context that the International Coordinating Committee for Human with displacement because of the Aurora Pacific Ecozone and Freeport Authority his keynote speech through a video continue to seek justice for my murdered Rights in the Philippines (ICCHRP), Karapatan, EcuVoice for Peace and Human (APECO) project. The CL team also visited the place where Dutch volunteer message, “We can anticipate the escalation of counterrevolutionary violence brother,” Herman said during the conference. Rights in the Philippines, Peace for Life, and the International League of Peoples’ worker Willem Geertman lived and worked before he was killed. and human rights violations.” He scored the Aquino government for allowing Herman’s brother, Willem, was gunned down on July 3, 2012 in Angeles City, Struggle (ILPS) organized the first International Conference for Human Rights and A team of indigenous people from other countries went to Tinoc, Ifugao multinational banks and firms, and the local ruling elites “to exploit the broad Pampanga by suspected military assassins. Willem, a foreign missionary, was Peace in the Philippines. province in Cordillera, where they interacted with the Kalanguya tribe who masses of the people and violate their economic, social and cultural rights, and Executive Director of Alay Bayan Inc. He spent most his life in the Philippines The conference aimed to: 1. Identify and analyze the social, economic and resisted five proposed run-off river dam projects, a geothermal energy project, for using the “coercive apparatuses of the state to discourage and suppress helping the peasants in Aurora province to organize themselves, and in opposing political and/or the geopolitical context of the worsening violations of collective and the deployment of military troops. even lawful petitions and protests, especially those of the militant legal mass destructive mining and other ‘development’ projects. and individual rights in the Philippines; 2. Identify common grounds with Another team went to Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon Province, where eight movement.” “The fact that impunity continues in the Philippines is proof that EU progressive forces in various countries and develop, expand and consolidate battalions of the Philippine Army are deployed, sowing terror in communities. Sison emphasized “the neoliberal economic policy of imperialist (European Aid) aid has been a waste of European taxpayer’s money,” Herman international solidarity to defend, uphold and advance human rights and people’s The ISM delegates joined the humanitarian mission that included medical globalization is a vicious attack on the sovereignty of the Filipino people and on said as a response to the statement of EU ambassador Guy Ledoux lauding the rights; and, 3. Assess the significance of the combined national and international services, psychosocial workshops for the children, and distribution of relief the full range of their human rights as a people.” Aquino government’s human rights record. “It is like rubbing salt to the wound human rights solidarity campaigns concerning the Philippines since the fall of the goods among the displaced families. Other keynote speakers were Mrs. Editha Burgos, OCDS, mother of and pain we are suffering with the unresolved killing of his brother,” Herman said. Marcos dictatorship, and draw up a plan for an international solidarity campaign In Mindanao, the biggest ISM delegation went to Talaingod, Panansalan, disappeared agriculturist Jonas Burgos, and wife of press freedom fighter Joe El Salvadoran peace activist Marta Benavides ,talked about her friend and for human rights and people’s rights in the Philippines. and New Bataan. These are communities hit by typhoon Pablo. The residents’ Burgos; and, Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of Karapatan. colleague, Bishop Oscar Romero who was shot dead while he celebrated mass Held at the Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City, Metro Manila, the efforts to rehabilitate their communities, despite government neglect, are tagged Among a long list of panel speakers of the conference were: Azadeh on March 24, 1979. Bishop Romero was a critic of the El Salvadoran military conference delegates came from 26 countries in five global regions: Asia, Latin by the military as initiatives of the New People’s Army (NPA). The community’s Shahshahani, President of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG); Jan Fermon, junta, and assisted a number of victims of human rights violations during 20 Karapatan Monitor

the 70’s. Benavides likened the killing of Italian priest Fausto Tentorio in the we will not be intimidated from joining the Filipino people in the vigorous Philippines to the assassination of Monsignor Romero in El Salvador. Fr. Tentorio protests,” Peter Murphy, an Australian labor rights activist, said in a was an anti-mining advocate and had received death threats from suspected statement. military-backed paramilitary groups before he was killed on October 17, 2011 in On July 22, the delegates attended the People’s SONA held Arakan, Cotabato. simultaneously with BS Aquino’s State of the Nation Address. It was an “We call it a ‘loud secret’. We all know, the whole population knows, what act of solidarity, the delegates said, with the Filipino people struggling happened, who was behind it... The death squads. We may not know exactly who for their rights. They saw first-hand how the Philippine police violently went to kill him, but who was behind it. We think it’s the same here,” Benavides dispersed the Filipino protesters trying to get through the police said. She is one of the few surviving peace activists who began their work in El barricade to reach the House of Representatives. Salvador in the 1970’s. The attendance of Samuel Villatoro of Guatemala to the conference brought Milestone a familiar feeling to the families of desaparecidos in the Philippines. Villatoro’s One of the major achievements of the three-day international conference father, Amancio was one of the 45,000 desaparecidos in Guatemala during the was the establishment of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the civil war in the 1970-1980’s. His remains were among the very few that were Philippines. More than 50 organizations from different countries joined the found and identified in San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango, Guatemala. coalition, and vowed to “campaign and assist the Filipino people in their search Samuel met several families of desaparecidos during the conference and for justice, hoping to bring their plight to the rest of the world, and in so doing, shared with each other the stories of how their loved ones disappeared and, their contribute to the realization of genuine and lasting peace in the Philippines.” struggle of searching and fighting for justice. The establishment of the ICHRP is the result of several years of active “Meeting Samuel is like meeting a brother from a distant land. Government campaigning by the international solidarity groups for the Philippines, violence unites victims of rights violations, and it’s amazing how an international specifically on the release of political prisoners, an end to political killings conference like this brings victims together, to take the struggle for justice and and enforced disappearances, the pull-out of military troops from rural peace globally,” said Aya Santos, daughter of Leo Velasco, a peace consultant of communities, and for the resumption of the peace talks between the the National Democratic Front who is still missing. government and the NDFP. The solidarity coalition also vowed to bring their lobby and advocacy Surveillance work to the United Nations, national parliaments, and other relevant The international human rights and peace activists gathered in one place international institutions to “make the Macapagal-Arroyo and BS Aquino seemed to have been perceived as a threat by the Aquino administration as it regimes accountable for their crimes against the Filipino people,” and to, deployed military and police intelligence during the conference. “mobilize the international community for human rights in the Philippines.” On the last day of the conference, July 20, as delegates geared up to An 11-person global council composed of prominent human rights and attend the People’s SONA protest action the next day, the security staff of the peace advocates, church leaders, jurists, lawyers, academics, journalists, conference apprehended a police officer and suspected military asset in two and community leaders were elected in the coalition’s founding Congress. separate incidents. Rev. Barry Naylor of the Anglican Church of the United Kingdom was elected A certain Kenneth Mendez was caught taking photos of delegates, and plate Chairperson, while Peter Murphy of the SEARCH Foundation (Australia), numbers of the cars of conference guests. Mendez initially claimed he is a news General Secretary. reporter but, could not mention what media outfit he was from. “Together with the Filipino people, our campaign for human rights Also, a PO2, Emilio Fetalvo Jr. admitted he received order from a certain and democracy in the Philippines is, indeed, a “portent of doom” for Col. Pelibillo of the PNP to conduct surveillance of the conference. Fetalvo was the anti-people, pro-haciendero, pro-foreign big business, and pro-US- previously seen shadowing staff members of the Karapatan national office. Aquino regime,” Murphy said. The foreign delegates of the conference condemned said surveillance. “I am indignant at the covert surveillance of the conference participants. But

published by KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) 2/F Erythrina Building, #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Streets, Brgy. Central 1100 Quezon City, Philippines Telefax: +632 4354146 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www. karapatan.org