Six killings in two weeks in the Philippines, groups seek UN action on human rights

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Philippine human rights organizations expressed frustration on Friday at six new cases of extrajudicial killings, all of which happened while they were in Geneva in Switzerland to seek international attention to the “dismal” state of human rights in the country.

In their June 18 report coinciding with the conclusion of the 14th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (Ecumenical Voice) lamented the recent spate of killings, ironically on the very days they were asking the UNHRC to help put an end to the culture of impunity here.

“It is alarming and deplorable that on the run-up to the so-called peaceful transition between two administrations, the killings of activists and human rights defenders continue to be committed with brazen impunity. We just left the country for 16 days and within that period, six people were summarily killed,” said Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson of human rights group Karapatan.

Enriquez cited the following cases of extrajudicial killings which happened from June 1 to 16:

Abduction and killing of farmers Julio Etang and Borromeo Cabilis in Mobo, Masbate on June 1
Killing of labor union leader Edward Panganiban in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on June 2
Killing of human rights worker Benjamin Bayles in Negros Occidental on June 14
Killing of radio journalist Desiderio Camangyan in Many, Davao Oriental on June 14
Killing of radio broadcaster Joselito Agustin in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte on June 15

Karapatan is one of the non-government organizations composing Ecumenical Voice, which participated in UNHRC session to bring to international attention cases of human rights violations in the country, foremost of which is the continued detention of the so-called “Morong 43”.

The delegation participated in the UNHRC session to seek the council’s help in pressing the Philippine government to adhere to international human rights instruments.

Case of Morong 43

One of the main issues raised by the delegation before UNHRC was the case of the 43 people arrested on February 6 in a farmhouse in Morong, Rizal, on suspicions of being explosives trainees of the communist-led New People’s Army.

Human rights groups have maintained the 43 are health workers doing legitimate health training.

“We would like to bring to the Council’s attention the case of the 43 health workers who promote the right to health by rendering healthcare services to communities but whose rights are continuously being grossly violated,” said Karapatan deputy secretary general Roneo Clamor in his oral intervention before the UNHRC.

Clamor’s wife Dr. Merry Mia Clamor is one of the “Morong 43.”

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) filed false charges against the workers, and detained them in an Army camp where they were interrogated and subjected to coercion, intimidation and psychological torture.

In his response, however, Philippine Consul in Geneva Hendrick Garcia told the council the 43 were arrested in a legitimate operation by the police and military, and were found possessing firearms, explosive devices and handmade grenades.

He added some of them were identified to be members of NPA, while others had warrants of arrest for murder or were involved in an attack on a police station in 2009.

“After the Philippine National Police filed a complaint and requested that inquest proceedings be held for violation of relevant laws, the chief prosecutor issued a resolution charging forty persons for illegal possession of explosives, and two others for illegal possession of firearms,” Garcia said.

Challenge to President-elect Aquino

The Ecumenical Voice delegation likewise met with UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston, who earlier released a scathing report on the human rights situation in the country after his visit in 2007.

According to the delegation, Alston warned that President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III may be advised by his officials to “go slow” on his promise to prosecute perpetrators of human rights violations.

“The President-elect will likely be reminded that he is heavily dependent on the Armed Forces of the Philippines, not to cause problems and that any prosecution will alienate the military,” the group quoted Alston as saying.

Edre Olalia of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and Carlos Zarate of the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao likewise had a discussion with international organizations of lawyers on the plight of human rights lawyers and judges across the world.

Amid the disheartening state of human rights in the country, the groups nevertheless said they are optimistic the situation will improve in the incoming administration under Aquino.

“We thus urge Aquino to make good on the promise he made recently to prosecute the crimes of the past administration; human rights violations like killings and enforced disappearances are grave crimes against humanity that must be prosecuted,” Hilao-Enriquez said.

She likewise expressed hopes that the new administration will cease from implementing counter-insurgency programs, which human rights advocacy groups identify as a major cause of rampant human rights violations, and instead seek to address the root cause of insurgency.—JV, GMANews.TV