Documentation of surveillance of Global Ministries Partners UCCP and NCCP in the Philippines

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

In the continuing violence against human rights activists in the Philippines, Global Ministries partners the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines report that they have been under surveillance. In many instances, surveillance of church leaders and human rights workers in the Philippines has led to extrajudicial murders and disappearances. Please unite with us in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ against these heinous crimes against humanity, and against the church.

Report of Surveillance, submitted by Mr. Lelsey G. Capus, Youth Coordinator, NCCP

Herewith is an account on a series of disturbing activities perpetuated by unidentified persons suspected to be military or police intelligence operatives who conducted surveillance operations targeting the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), its personnel, resident tenants and guests.

On the night of May 30, 2006, officials and staff of the NCCP led a memorial service at the wake of the slain former NCCP Staff Mr. Noli Capulong in his residence in Calamba City, Laguna. On the way back to Manila, the group decided to eat dinner at the “Lutong Bahay” restaurant near the exit to the SLEX at around 9:00 p.m.
Alert staff members in one of the NCCP vehicles (a white Isuzu pick up) noticed that an unmarked green van has been trailing the NCCP convoy of vehicles (white Isuzu truck) since the group left the Capulong residence.
To prevent anything untoward, the group decided to go separate ways with the bigger group aboard the truck staying for dinner while those aboard the pick up left for Manila. Inside the pick-up were 3 NCCP staff members and 4 members of people’s organizations who hitched a ride. The green van was last seen at the vicinity of the restaurant.
Both vehicles arrived at the NCCP compound safely.
On the early morning of May 31, 2006, at around 2:30 a.m., the NCCP Security Guard, noticed a white Mitsubishi Pajero parked in front of the NCCP main gate as if waiting for somebody. At first, the guard did not bother to check the parked vehicle. But after some time, he became suspicious and went out to ask those inside the car whether they are waiting for someone and to tell them to remove the vehicle in front of the gateway. He politely knocked at the door of the vehicle but the vehicle suddenly started its engine and sped away.
On the same day at around 3:00 p.m., a dark green Mitsubishi Delica van was spotted by the detailed security guard and vendors in front of the NCCP slowing down from the entire stretch of the compound and in front of the headquarters of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The guard and the vendors managed to get the plate number of the van (NTT 695) in front of the vehicle. There was no plate number at the back of the van, only a “Lost Plate” sign.
While stopping by in front of the UCCP National Office near the main gate, a staff of the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center (AVHRC), a non-government organization renting an office at the UCCP, noticed the said vehicle. The staff saw two men in the front seat, one of them were taking video footages of the compound using handheld video cameras. There was another man at the very back seat of the vehicle, however the witness could not clearly identify whether that man has also a video camera since the windows of the vehicle was tinted. The said AVHRC staff could not give a very good description of the three men who were inside the van. The said vehicle sped away when the UCCP guard and the NGO worker were about to approach it. The AVHRC staff informed some staff members of the UCCP and NCCP about the incident who promptly went outside with their cameras. Unfortunately they were not able to catch even a glimpse of the said van.
After a few minutes, a vendor reported to the NCCP security guard that he noticed the same van stopping for a few minutes at the opposite side of EDSA (the north bound lane) seemingly observing the direction of NCCP. A few minutes later, the same van returned and cruised slowly in front of the compound going south bound. Again, the NCCP staff members were alerted but it was too late.
In the evening of the same day, between 8:30 to 9:00 in the evening, Atty. Edre Olalia, of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) and a member of the Counsels for the Defense of liberties (CODAL) and Mr. Robeto De Castro, deputy secretary general of BAYAN MUNA, left the NCCP compound in two vehicles after attending a meeting at the Bishop La Verne D. Mercado Ecumenical Center. Mr. de Castro was on board a brown Nissan Safari while Atty. Olalia was in his grey Kia car.
After a few minutes, they noticed that a man astride a red “enduro” type motorcycle was trailing them but kept its distance behind three vehicles. It still followed them when they made a right turn to Quezon Avenue and again when they made another right turn at Examiner Street. When they made a left turn at Times Street, the motorcycle stopped but Mr. de Castro noticed a van (he cannot recall the model and color) immediately following them. They made a left turn to Quezon Avenue and returned to the same route but the van nor the motorcycle where nowhere to be seen.
Mr. De Castro and Atty. Olalia immediately alerted their colleagues at BAYAN MUNA and an NCCP staff regarding the matter.
June 1, 2006- Again, the same dark green Mitsubishi Delica Van was spotted by NCCP security guard on or before 3 p.m. However, the van has now a red plate but both the guard and vendors was not able to get the exact plate number. The van stopped deliberately in front of the NCCP. One of the passengers, a tall, burly looking man with fair complexion alighted from the front seat of the vehicle and bought mangoes from a vendor near the main gate. The unidentified person, who according to the vendor, “looks like a military or policeman” also inquired if they can buy an e-load for his mobile phone inside the compound or anywhere nearby. The lady vendor told him that there was none inside the compound but they can try at Merced Bakeshop.
The guard on detail approached the unidentified passenger to take a good look at him and check the plate number in front of the vehicle since there was no plate number at the back. The guard immediately noticed that the man buying mangoes has a pistol holster tucked at his waist. When he is about to look at the plate number, the man and the driver of the vehicle gave him a suspicious stare. Intimidated, the guard was not able to get the plate number, but noticed that the vehicle has a red plate or government marking. Some of the vendors observed that there were more or less three persons inside the vehicle. There were two at the front and one person at the back.
Sensing that the guard and the vendors were observing them, the man buying the mangoes immediately went inside the vehicle and it went away going to the direction of Quezon Avenue (south bound). After a few minutes, the same vehicle was again spotted at the north bound lane of EDSA near the bus terminal opposite of the NCCP compound. It stopped stopping there for a few more minutes then sped off to the direction going to SM North EDSA.
Considering these latest incidents, the NCCP management decided to meet the entire staff and resident tenants last June 2, 2006, to discuss the incident and to come up with security precautions and to prevent anything untoward that may cause harm to the safety of individual staff members, officials and members of the organization, resident tenants and valued guests and patrons.