PHILIPPINES: End the killings, petitioners cry worldwide

By Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
July 17, 2006

HONG KONG  – Hundreds of people from the Philippines and around the world have so far signed up to a petition calling for an end to the relentless killings of human rights defenders and labour and peasant leaders in the country.

Over 500 people from all walks of life and countries have so far signed the online petition, which was launched last Thursday, calling for proper investigations into the killings and protection for witnesses and relatives of victims.

"Extrajudicial killing has no place in a civilized society! Neither will it stop people from rising and pursuing what they believe is right and just," Gessen C. Rocas of the Student Christian Movement in Hong Kong writes on the petition.

"We are preparing a strong 'Stop the killings' campaign with a lot of organisations here in Belgium. What is happening in the Philippines is unacceptable," Rob Van Vlierden of the Third World Council Overpelt/Philippine Support Groups in Belgium says.

Signatories to the petition so far include persons from groups such as Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, Amnesty International, the World Federation of Democratic Youth, the Thai Regional Alliance in Hong Kong, Rights & Democracy in Canada, the DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association in New York, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights in India, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in the UK, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union in Brisbane, Australia and members of the Catholic Church and other religious groups worldwide.

"It pains me to hear and know that people don't value life anymore and justice is trampled upon in our dear country the Philippines," Ditma Trocio of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong says.

"We, religious women in the Philippines have proclaimed our stance on this and I quote: 'WE ARE ENRAGED at the unabated extra judicial killings of peasants, workers, Church people, journalists, lawyers, activists, especially the 71 women among them. We call for: a stop to these killings, punishment of the perpetrators, and compensation for the victims' families," Sister Estrella Castalone of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines states.

Mark Kelvin Manga from Aquinas University Hospital in Legazpi City, Philippines writes that he has signed the petition because his friend was shot three times by "unknown people" and like other cases the authorities have failed to solve the crime.

"I lived and worked in the Philippines many years ago and know that Filipinos are talented and lively people with the potential to make their country rich and happy. At the very least they deserve a government that upholds human rights," Edward W. Crunden, a former professor at the University of the Philippines and UN specialist, writes from Colchester in England.

Overseas workers, clergy and religious persons, trade unionists, sex workers, students, politicians, journalists and broadcasters, teachers and academics and civil servants have all joined the call.

"Paquito Diaz was shot dead by assailants outside his home. This murder brings to 696 the number of activists killed since President Arroyo came to power. Does she think this is acceptable?" Piers Elias, the chairperson of COURAGE, an umbrella organisation for public sector unions in the UK, asks.

Andreas Palma of Concerned Pilipinos in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, suggests that overseas workers protest the killings by sending remittances back to their families through private companies, not government-affiliated banks.

"We in the United States will do everything in our power to bring this outrage to the attention of the US people and people around the world," Jeffrey Michael Meyer of the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines says from New York.

Karin Slovoda in Serbia-Montenegro says that the killings bring to memory the time of the Marcos regime.

"How can any country ever expect to prosper as long as it does not care about its own people? Thousands are dying weekly in the Philippines due to starvation, and those who are trying to help them are being killed," Mark Collier writes from the US.

"As a Norwegian citizen with an adopted daughter from the Philippines, I am shocked and concerned about the lawlessness in the Philippines. I sincerely urge you to take human rights seriously," Cecilie Nustad says from Oslo.

"The whole world is watching what is going on in Philippines," Wan Hoi-wing warns from Hong Kong.

"People worldwide know what is happening in the Philippines and there will be a reaction and consequences to all the wrongs done to your people," Dr. Keola G A Downing in Hawai`i concurs.

Signatories have so far joined the petition from more than 30 countries and territories, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Norway, Austria, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, UK, US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

"Stop this madness!" Raphael Segal cries from Adelaide, Australia.

The online petition was initiated by Filipino groups in Hong Kong together with the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).

It is posted on a new website: www.pinoyhr.net

When it is signed, copies of the letter are sent to the justice department of the Philippines, UN human rights experts, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines and the Pope, whom the country's president visited recently having abolished the death penalty there.

The petition may be signed by visiting: www.pinoyhr.net/signature.php

It follows an earlier petition launched by the AHRC and human rights defenders in Thailand calling for reform of the Department of Special Investigation there.

That petition, which has been translated into six languages, is also being hosted by the Hong Kong-based regional group online: http://thailand.ahrchk.net/dsi_petition/

"We are encouraging people around the world to sign both of these important petitions to protect the lives of human rights defenders, environmentalists, trade unionists, social activists and other persons in the Philippines and Thailand," Kim Soo A, urgent appeals coordinator at the AHRC, said.

"The problems of blatant killings followed by non-investigation, non-prosecution, a lack of witness protection and spreading violence in society are common to Thailand and the Philippines, as well as many other countries in the region," Kim said.

"For this reason we hope that concerned persons in the Philippines and Thailand, as well as other countries, will share one another's causes and demands for change," she concluded.

Actress dispel rumors of 2007 Samar gubernatorial bid

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  “I am not running for any elective post, and beside I am not interested into entering the dirty game of politics”, this was the unyielding stand of actress Tessie Tomas in answer to the queries she got from Catbalogan folks during a location shoot she conducted here recently.

Ms. Tessie Tomas was flocked in by market goers trying to get a confirmation of a spreading rumor here that she will be bidding for the gubernatorial post against incumbent Governor Milagrosa T. Tan, this coming 2007 local elections.

The actress immediately dismissed the speculations, but admitted to the media in the July 1st edition of CCATMAN Weekly Kapehan, that she has been continuously offered the post since the 1998 elections but she would always refuse.

“It is one of the things that my husband doesn’t want me to indulge in, and the word of my so-called interest in politics might have been coined by some groups who saw that I have been very active with my NGO works lately”, Ms. Tessie Tomas stressed.

It was gathered that the actress is currently the President of Manila-based Katbaloganon Foundation, who have been infusing various projects for Catbalogan residents for the past 10 years, and concurrently the Public Relations Officer of CFSI, a UN accredited international NGO.

“I can help our fellow Catbaloganons and the Samareños in general in my own samaritan way and thru the Katbaloganon Foundation and CFSI, and I am very much contented with I am doing right now. I believe that I can leave to the Samareños the decision to get a leader whom they think could really help Samar achieve a total economic turn-around, it’s a matter of will from the people – kasi kahit na sino pa ang magaling na kandidato natin kung pai-iralin pa rin natin ang pera pagdating ng eleksiyon, it’s a useless thing”, Ms. Tomas explained.

Ms. Tessie Tomas informed that it was ex-Congressman Eduardo Nachura, now the Solicitor General, who always prodded on her to run for the gubernatorial post which she would always turn down.

At present, the Kabaloganon Foundation is currently backing up 12 scholars from indigent families studying at the Samar State University (SSU) here, and is likewise sourcing for a location where they can put up a day care center designed to cater the children of poor families in Catbalogan.

“This is on top of some medical missions we have conducted here during the previous years, and hopefully we could put up an office here, para maging sustaining ang operations ng foundation, at para narin ma-expand namin ang mga serbisyo na puwede naming maibigay sa mga kababayan nation, especially on women and family concerns”, she further told.

     Ms. Tomas likewise urge the Catbaloganons to be responsible enough and to value the help that it is getting, not only from the Katbaloganon Foundation but also that of the other NGOs, emphasizing that most NGOs are willing to help people who are likewise interested in helping themselves.

     The actress was in town shooting a QTV program “Balikbayan” showcasing her low key lifestyle every time she visits her hometown, Catbalogan.

Potable water, still the cry of most remote villages in Paranas

By NINFA BARCENA-QUIRANTE
July 13, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Potable water is what most barangays need in Paranas town!

This was one of the top priority sub-projects of KALAHI–CIDSS project proposed by 24 barangays in Paranas after a Consultative Forum was conducted.

According to Yvette Nachura, Program coordinator of KALAHI 24 barangays listed potable water supply as their priority need, be the barangay in carline area, coastline or in the hinterland.

Other project runners up include three concrete bridges, two hanging bridges, road regravelling, two farm-to market roads, one Day Care Center, two tractors, four Upland Farming Development project and one rice mill.

But nothing comes close to potable water at least in the number of clamor.

The entire KALAHI project for one year will pour some 12 million pesos while LGU Paranas through Mayor Elvira Babalcon pledged to pitch in some 3.9 million as their 30% counterpart. Each LGU baranagay is also expected to contribute either in minimal sums of the labor counterpart.

Nachura, however, urged the barangay officials to be patient because some 16 unavoidable steps of the program has yet to be undertaken, she added that these are all designed to ensure smooth operations of the project.

Some sectors in the barangay, said one unidentified villager has impatiently called the project “KALAHI-KALANGAN” (the last word roughly translated taking a long time).

“They should give us the project immediately because it is from GMA,” said one elderly.

Nachura painstakingly persuaded the beneficiaries to wait and explained to them how the perceived long process will eventually be advantageous to them. Steps include grouping and regrouping and long deliberations as to the kind of project and the actual need of the village. The cost-efficiency aspect would also be considered.

KALAHI is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s flagship project aimed at reducing poverty, enhancing governance and empowering the barangay, Nachura told PIA.

In Pinabacdao, Samar, the project is now on its second cycle, which means that they have been enjoying the fruits of KALAHI for sometime now.

Based on a text message received by PIA from Community Development Information Officer (CDIO) Edgar Cabutin, Mayor Mario Quijano has inaugurated four finished KALAHI sub-projects of the 19 targets.

Army’s 8th Infantry Division batters CPP/NPA terrorists in Eastern Visayas!

Press Release
By Division Public Affairs Office, 8^th Infantry Division PA
July 12, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  – 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army has again battered the CPP/NPA terrorists in Eastern Visayas after hitting the latter in two separate operations in Leyte and Northern Samar that resulted to the killing of two NPA fighters and the apprehension of three other CPP/NPA members. Also recovered from the communist terrorists were four M16 armalite and one M14 sniper rifles, one colt super .38 handgun, a laptop computer, magazines & assorted ammunition and subversive CPP/NPA documents.

Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division Commanding General, Major General Bonifacio B. Ramos AFP commended the troops for effectively carrying out the instructions of the national leadership to relentlessly conduct pursuit operations against the CPP/NPA/NDF and other lawless elements.

Likewise, Major General Ramos expressed his sincere gratitude to the public for providing timely and accurate information that led to the operation’s success. “We are happy that most of our people have finally realized that indeed, ending insurgency and achieving true peace requires the vigorous participation of everybody” he said.

At around 8:45 in the morning of July 8, 2006, members of 802nd Brigade, particularly 19th Infantry Battalion with augmentation from the different AFP intelligence units led by Lieutenant Colonel Lope C. Dagoy, raided the compound of Doctor Ramon Agudo at Barangay Santo Niño, Ormoc City, Leyte following reports from civilians about the presence of a NPA safe house and suspicious looking armed persons in the site.

Said raid yielded the apprehension of communist terrorist members Nathaniel Agustin alias Ronie/Regan, Jojo Rubilos y Agapito alias Jeorge and Liezel Rentillosa and the recovery of three M16 armalite rifles, one colt caliber super .38 handgun, assorted ammunition and subversive documents.

The apprehended CPP/NPA terrorists are currently in the custody of 19th Infantry Battalion pending the filing of appropriate charges in court.

Relatedly, at about 10:00 in the morning of July 6, 2006, 803rd Brigade’s 63rd Infantry Battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Felimon T. Santos Jr. also gunned down two NPA terrorist fighters while rescuing an old woman named Marilyn Parane and an infant after an hour and fifteen minutes firefight against a separate group of NPAs at Barangay Imelda, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Two (M16 & M14) rifles, a laptop computer, assorted ammunition and subversive CPP/NPA documents were also recovered during the said operation.

63rd Infantry Battalion has later turned over Marilyn Parane and the infant to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Las Navas upon reaching the municipality proper while the cadavers of the killed NPAs were received by the Local Government of Las Navas for appropriate disposition.

The operations were an offshoot of the people’s active involvement, to once and for all eradicate the CPP/NPA menace in the region.