Unabated killings of church workers in the Philippines

Killings, Harassments and Abduction of Church Workers in the Philippines
Submitted to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

Killings, Harassments and Abduction of Church Workers in the Philippines
Submitted to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

Killings, Harassments and Abduction of Church Workers in the Philippines
Submitted to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), December 12, 2005

Common Denominator: They were human rights activists, members of progressive political parties and vocal critics of logging, mining, militarization and other destructive projects in the various provinces.

28 April 2004 – Killing of Isaias Manamo, Member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines -Christian Youth Fellowship (UCCP-CYF) and Anakpawis Party-list Mindoro

9 September 2004 – Abduction of Mabini Wandale, United Methodist Church (UMC) lay worker in Mindoro Occidental – still missing.

6 November 2004 – Pastor Marie Ann Vibat, UCCP member, with 8 other persons, was abducted by military elements in Batangas City. They were forcibly disappeared and tortured – for three days their eyes were covered and hands tied while being interrogated, pushed around, threatened that their fingers would be cut off, women would be raped and various allusions to methods of being killed. Pastor Marie Ann and her companions were presented to the media as captured members of the New People’s Army (NPA). For many weeks their families searched every jail and military camp. They were finally found on December 6, 2004 inside Fort Bonifacio under the Intelligence Security Group. Then they were transferred and now remain detained in Batangas City Jail.

10 November 2004 – Killing of Joel Baclao, member of UCCP/ coordinator of the Relief and Rehabilitation work of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), National Council Member of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Bicol

16 November 2004 – Massacre of 7 workers and supporters of Hacienda Luisita strike, including Juancho Sanchez, member of UCCP-CYF Tarlac.

23 November 2004 – Killing of Vicente Olea, 71-year old member of UCCP in Palawan.

18 February 2005 – Attempted killing of Fr. Allan Caparro and wife Aileen; Fr. Allan is a member of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and PCPR Northern Samar.

* March 2005 – Report regarding AFP inclusion of church organizations as ‘enemies of the state.’

13 March 2005 – Killing of Fr. William Tadena (IFI/PCPR Tarlac), frustrated killing of 3 companions. Fr. Tadena was an active supporter of the Hacienda Luisita workers.

1 April 2005 – Attempted killing of Fr. Mario Quince, IFI Tarlac. Fr. Quince is also an active supporter of the Hacienda Luisita workers.

7 April 2005- Violent dispersal of peaceful assembly demanding ‘Stop the Killings!’ in front of Malate Church. Victims of serious physical injuries and illegal arrest include Fr. Allan Arcebuche, OFM priest and PCPR Chairperson, Br. Sam, OFM, Br. Nonoy Zaragosa, OCarm and Edwin Egar of NCCP- Program on Faith, Witness and Service.

May 2005 – Killing of Alfredo Davis, UCCP Samar.

May 2005 – Military filed rebellion charges vs Sr. Mary John Dumaog, a Good Shepherd sister working among lumad community in San Luis, Agusan del Sur. This was part of a sustained harassment against Sr. John and the lumad community who are opposed to logging, mining and military abuses in their area.

12 May 2005 – Killing of UCCP Conference Minister Edison Lapuz, member of PCPR, Karapatan and Bayan Muna.

20 August 2005 – Serious attempt on the life of Rev. Raul Domingo, member of UCCP and Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan (Kasimbayan) and Secretary General of Karapatan in Palawan. On September 4, Rev. Domingo died at the hospital.

30 October 2005, between 8:30 am – 10:00 am – Death threats against Fr. Rolando de Leon, a 50-year old Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Malolos, Parish Priest of San Andres Apostol, Norzagaray, Bulacan; Spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Mamamayan para sa Pantaong Karapatan and Spokesperson of Bulacan Ecumenical Association of Churchpeople Offing Nationalism (BEACON), the provincial chapter of the PCPR.

October – December 2005 – Violent dispersal and illegal arrest of church people and multi-sectoral groups with Malacañang’s Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR). Bro. Tony Bayod, MSC was among those

29 November 2005 – Killing of Jose ‘Pepe’ Manegdeg III, member of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Bayan Muna coordinator and former volunteer of the NCCP Ecology Program.

6 December 2005 – Killing of Junie Jacosalem, member of UCCP and Bayan Muna in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.