Urgent Action Alerts

On February 1, around 40 medical practitioners and health workers participated in a one week First Responders Training, sponsored by the Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. (COMMED) and Council for Health and Development (CHD) at Dr. Melecia Velmonte’s Farm, a conference and training facility in Morong, Rizal.

Dr. Velmonte is a renowned and respected infectious disease specialist and a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital. Her farm is a regular venue of health trainings, with participants coming from both the communities and the academe.  

At around 6:15 am on February 6, 2010, around 300 heavily armed elements of the military and police forced their way into the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal.  At gunpoint, the military forced the caretaker to open the gates. Inside, the soldiers fanned out to different directions. They also kicked the main door to get into the building.

When Dr. Velmonte and her son, Bob demanded for a search warrant, they were merely brushed aside by the military.

All medical practitioners and health workers, were ordered to line up at the garage, frisked, and handcuffed. The victims were also questioned and photographed by the military, while another took a video recording of the interrogation. The male victims were then blindfolded with old shirts brought in by the soldiers and secured with packaging tape. All of the personal belongings of the victims were also taken by the military.

When the participants were already handcuffed, it was only then that Police Superintendent Marion P. Balonglong showed Bob a search warrant for a certain Mario Condes of Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal, charged with illegal possession of firearms. The search warrant dated February 5, 2010 and issued by Judge Cesar A. Mangrobang of Branch 22 of the Imus, Cavite Regional Trial Court, did not indicate the exact address of the Velmonte compound.

Bob asserted that the warrant did not specify their address, and that Mario Condes, who is subject of the warrant, is not even the owner of the house, but he was ignored by the authorities.

Outside the compound, were eight (8) vehicles.  Along with the four (4) 6 x 6 military trucks were two (2) Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), a KIA Pride car,  and an ambulance.  Some of the vehicles had no plate numbers while the rest of the license plates were either covered, or smeared with mud.

The male health workers were loaded into the military trucks while female health workers were forced into the cars and vans. They were brought to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, headquarters of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of Philippine Army.

The military declared that the victims were members of the New People’s Army because of the explosives allegedly found inside the compound.  However, according to witnesses, the military conducted the search of the compound’s premises only after all of the victims, as well as the residents, were already outside the buildings. Witnesses also said that the military have brought in with them plastic bags with the GMA Kapuso logo printed on it.

Allegedly found were C4 explosives, a pistol with seven bullets, 3 grenades (one allegedly found under a pillow); beside the grenade were some improvised landmines. However, Bob said that they were not issued a receipt of the inventory of the said firearms and explosives.

The military and police arresting team were led by Col. Aurelio Baladad and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong.

The illegal search of the Velmonte compound ended at past 9:00 in the morning of Saturday, February 6, 2010.

Prior to the incident, one of the participants related that on February 4, the grassy portion outside of the Velmonte compound caught fire at around 8:00 in the evening.  Everyone panicked and went out of their sleeping quarters fearing the fire will cross over to the compound.  Fortunately it did not and the fire died on its own.

On February 5, at around 11:00 pm, the dog tied near the male sleeping quarters and the geese nearby made a raucous.  Then at around 12 midnight, the chickens in a coop nearby were also disturbed and cackled furiously.  One of the male participants went out twice to check but did not see anybody.

In the afternoon of the February 6, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor, husband of Dr. Merry Mia, Olive Bernardo, Karapatan Services Head, along with Karapatan counsel, Atty. Ephraim Cortez, Dr. Geneve Rivera and Dr. Edelina De La Paz, chairperson of Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR), went to Camp Capinpin to inquire about the victims.  They were not allowed to enter the camp premises.  

On February 7, families and relatives of the illegally arrested went to Camp Capinpin to try to visit and see the conditions of the victims.  They waited at the gate and held a short program but the 2nd Infantry Division played very loud music trying to drown the speeches of the family members and their supporters.  Two groups of fierce-looking dispersal units (with firearms and shields) were dispatched and blocked the gate of the camp. Later, Mr. Clamor and Dr. Caguiat were allowed to enter the camp premises but once again were not allowed to see the victims because allegedly they will be presented for inquest.  They waited until very late in the afternoon no inquest took place.  

On February 8, the team remained in Camp Capinpin. It was heard over the radio that the 2nd IDPA issued a statement that an inquest took place at past 9:00 in the evening of the previous day.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) issued a statement condemning the act of the arresting team.  A team was dispatched by the CHR to Camp Capinpin.  It was allowed to enter camp and Chairperson Leila De Lima was to follow later.

Suddenly, the 2nd IDPA provided a tent, chairs, breads and juices for the people at the gate.  The loud music was turned off.

When Chairperson De Lima arrived, the relatives requested her to intercede to allow them to see the victims.  She agreed.  However, only Chairperson De Lima with Dr. Rivera and two relatives were allowed to enter the camp.  The other victims were denied entrance despite the agreement that all the relatives would be allowed to.

At around 3:00 pm, Chairperson De Lima went out of the camp and briefed the waiting families and relatives. She told the soldiers to allow the relatives to see their loved ones.  They were finally allowed to enter.  They entered by batches of seven.  There were three batches.

They were only allowed 30 minutes each to speak to their loved ones.  They could not freely talk because they were closely guarded by soldiers.  But despite this, the horrors of what the victims suffered under their captors were revealed.  It was learned that they were blindfolded and their hands bound behind with a plastic cuff since they were arrested until a few hours before Chairperson De Lima arrived.  They slept sitting down but when the CHR team arrived, they were already placed in quarters with beds.  All females were put together in one big room while the males were either given their own room or sharing a room with another with toilets.  Their meals were fed to them and their guards pull down their underwears for them everytime they go to the comfort rooms.  The female guards even washed the private parts of women detainee.  They were deprived of sleep because they were repeatedly interrogated.  Others related that the interrogation was done in unholy hours with the clear intention to deprive them of sleep.  

Others related that they were physically tortured.  

Dr. Alexis Montes complained to his son that his shoulders are sore from being pulled back due to the prolonged binding of his hands behind his back.  He also told his son that during interrogation, he was told that he was standing at the edge of a ravine and everytime he answered a question, he was poked with a pair of stick forcing him backward.  He also said that he was electrocuted.  He did not lose consciousness but was paralyzed for a time.  

Ely Castillo softly whispered to his sister to avoid being overheard by the soldier accompanying her that he was tortured.  He was not able to elaborate because of the presence of the soldier.

Dr. Merry Mia related to her husband that she was alternately interrogated by “kind” and harsh men. The “kind” interrogators only asked about personal details, the harsh ones threatened her by saying “You know what we are capable of doing to you and your family.” “We will soon know who your husband is.”  She was also asked over and over again where she lives, where she studied, and what her task was in the training, etc. There was an instance  that three men interrogated her simultaneously.  Threatening to harm her family.  One of whom told her, “We’re not done with you yet.  I will come back for you and will not let you sleep tonight.” Although she was not physically tortured, she was worried that the others were hurt because she heard screams of both men and women in pain.  

Dr. Rivera saw Dr. Mia first before her husband.  Dr. Rivera told the team that she found Dr. Mia in a fetal position.  When she softly called her name, she raised her eyes but it took her a long time to recognize the very familiar face of her friend.

Initial reports revealed that at around 6:00 am of September 17, 2006, three men were seen taking photos of the home of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera in Mapayapa Village, Quezon City. The Lumberas’ house helpers noticed the men taking photos of the house at all angles.

Alarmed, the Lumberas immediately called the Village security personnel who quickly responded to the residence. The security was only able to apprehend one of the men, identified by his Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ID as Corporal Hannival Mondido Guerrero. Guerrero’s companions quickly escaped when the village security arrived. 

Guerrero’ was questioned by village security why he was casing the Lumbera home. Guerrero insisted that he was only interested in the vacant lot beside the Lumbera home.

The village security turned over custody of Guerrero to the local police. The PNP released Mondido shortly after questioning and after Prof. Lumbera filed a complaint.

The Philippine Navy confirmed to the media that Guerrero is indeed a member of the Philippine Marines and that he’s undergoing “surveillance training” under the military’s Naval Intelligence Security Force.

On September 5, 2009, at around 2:00 PM, the victim Romulo Mendoba, with his wife Nora and their children Emiljon (9 years old) and Christine Joy (4 years old), left their village Sitio Cambabang, Brgy. Cogon for the town proper of Basey, Samar. While they were walking, not far from the community, they came across two unidentified men walking towards them. One of the men who had short hair, fair complexion and slightly fat, wore a white shirt and faded jeans; while the other one who was medium built, had a darker complexion, wore a black shirt and short pants and carried a back pack.

The men stopped and engaged Romulo in a conversation. One of the men told Romulo that it was late for them to go to the fiesta. Romulo answered that they weren’t going to the fiesta in a nearby barrio but was going to town instead. After that, they went on their way.

Romulo and Nora noticed that the men kept looking back at them and stopped again and asked something from two boys who were walking just a few meters behind the family. Getting suspicious, the family stopped a few meters ahead to wait for the boys and inquired what the men asked from them. The boys narrated that the men asked if Romulo was the councilor’s husband which the boys confirmed.

Meanwhile, the two men proceeded to Alejandro Lanigao’s residence, Nora’s father. The fatter of the men asked where the councilor of Brgy. Cancaiyas live; who lives in the house across Lanigao’s; and where its residents were at that time. Lanigao innocently answered that it was his daughter, Nora and her family, who live in the house across his. The stranger then asked Lanigao his name and the name of one of Nora’s son who, at that time, happened to cross from their own house to Lanigao’s.  The stranger then explained that they were there because of COCOFED (Philippine Coconut Producers Federation) and wanted to talk to the Barangay Council. The other man stayed away from the house and stood by a coconut tree while the other was conversing with Lanigao.

After a few minutes, the two men then left towards Bgy. Cogon.

When Romulo and his family returned from town to Brgy. Cogon at around 4:00 PM, they noticed that one of the men whom they met earlier was sitting outside a karaoke bar texting. Around ten (10) uniformed soldiers were at the village at that time, two (2) were at the fish stand while the others were sitting nearby.

Romulo just paid for their loaned fish, while Nora bought some bread and after that, started their hike home back to Brgy. Cancaiyas. On their way, they walked together with their neighbor and who was with his son.

They haven’t walked a kilometer away from Brgy. Cogon when a man, who was wearing a long brown curly wig and the same clothes as the darker man the Mendobas met earlier, jumped from the side of the road and ran towards them. He hurriedly confirmed Romulo’s identity, took a short M-16 rifle from his back pack and immediately shot him in the body and head. When Romulo fell to the ground, the man took a .45 caliber gun from his bag and shot him again in the head several times. Romulo even attempted to call for his wife before he lost his breath. The shooter pointed his gun at Nora who was embracing Christine Joy when she attempted to get near her husband. The shooter then ran towards Brgy. Cogon. The neighbor, Jerry Boy who was so surprised of what happened was not able to do anything while Romulo was being shot. Emiljon ran towards the side of the road when the shooting started.

After the shooting, Nora requested their neighbor to go home to their village to fetch their Barangay Captain to ask for help and ordered her son to go to Brgy. Cogon to ask for help. The Barangay Captain of Brgy. Cogon denied them help for the reason that Romulo was not a resident of the said village.

Meanwhile, in Brgy. Cogon, some residents heard the gunshots and saw the shooter, who was not wearing the wig anymore, ran through the village. The soldiers who were still in the village also saw the running shooter but did nothing.

At around 5:30 PM, the Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Cancaiyas, along with some Councilors and Barangay Tanod arrived and helped carry Romulo’s body to Brgy. Cogon. A few meters away from the place of incident, they met the soldiers who just came from Brgy. Cogon. The soldiers’ team leader, who introduced himself as Morales, ordered to put the body down. He asked Nora about what happened, if her husband had any enemies and what firearm was used to kill her husband. Morales also talked to the Brgy. Captain. After that, they continued to Brgy. Cogon and brought the body to the town.

Eight bullet cases were recovered by the residents from the scene and covered the blood stains on the ground with dirt. The police did not investigate at the crime scene and only requested for a post-mortem examination for the body. Romulo sustained gunshot wounds in his body, neck, face and head.

Nora narrated that prior to the killing, Romulo was visited by members of the CAFGU on August 31 and September 1. Romulo was also accused of having knowledge of the August 30 raid conducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) on the CAFGU detachment near the Mendoba home.

On the morning of September 1, 2009, a CAFGU member went to the Mendoba home and told Romulo to go to their camp alone because their “sir” wanted to ask him some questions.

That day, Romulo proceeded to the camp despite apprehensions, and was interrogated in a hut near the camp’s gate. Three (3) soldiers took turns in asking him questions. One of them asked him his children’s name while looking at a list which came from a census from the Barangay Secretary. The soldier also told Mendoba that his wife, who’s a Barangay Councilor won in the election with help from the NPA’s which Romulo denied. The soldiers also accused him of having knowledge about the NPA’s attack last August 30 because someone from his village gave information to the rebels. For two hours, the soldiers repeatedly questioned him about the raid. The soldiers also informed Romulo that he was in the “OB” (order of battle) and threatened that he would be taken to the “higher authorities” if he would not admit to any of the soldiers’ accusations.

Because Nora got worried that her husband had not returned home after an hour, she went to the camp to fetch Romulo. When she arrived there, she saw her husband being interrogated in a hut nearby the gate. She was not allowed to go inside the camp so she decided to wait at a house which is nearby the camp.

Romulo was only allowed to go home when he insisted that he was hungry. His interrogator told him that they would visit him again. Romulo fetched his wife where she was waiting and told her about the interrogation when they arrived at their house.

After that, Romulo always had a hard time sleeping at night, out of fear of the military. He even attempted to convince his wife that he would stay at their hut in their rice field with his sons for the meantime but Nora didn’t give in to the request.

After the NPA’s raid at the CAFGU detachment, residents of Brgy. Cancaiyas also noticed that strangers frequently roamed their village, asking questions from residents. They suspect that they are intelligence agents connected with the military.

The victims were conducting a workshop-planning on Regional Development Center-Northern Luzon/ Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan’s (RDC-NL/KADUAMI) Projects Monitoring and Evaluation back-to-back with a Regional Leaders' Conference on Election and Governance. The participants were members of the partner organizations of RDC/KADUAMI and the activities were being facilitated by its staff. The workshop-planning and conference was for June 9 to June 11, 2009.  

Participants are known leaders of the mass organizations and peoples’ organizations DANGGAYAN-Cagayan Valley (CV), DAGAMI-Isabela, KAGIMUNGAN-Cagayan, AMIHAN-CV, Save the Valley Serve the People Alliance for the Environment-CV, KARAPATAN-CV, Anakbayan-CV, League of Filipino Students-CV, SAMASA-Ilagan, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Cagayan and Isabela; Citizens' Alliance for Reformed Elections (CARE); some are leaders of the partylists ANAKPAWIS, KABATAAN, GABRIELA, BAYAN MUNA; four (4) are RDC-NL/KADUAMI staff-Cagayan Valley.

The delegation arrived at the Mascoop Resort around noon of June 9, 2009.

At midnight of June 11, Vincent Guzman was smoking by the bedroom window when an M16 rifle was pointed at his face. As soon as he saw this, he immediately ran away from the window to wake up his roommate Ignacio Ugaddan. Both of them ran out of their room towards the session hall where they saw more armed men swarming inside the building. Guzman and Ugaddan ran back to their room and wakened Robert Pascua and Nestor Siddayao. Siddayao immediately ran to lock the bedroom door, but a man armed with a .45 caliber pistol forcibly pushed the door open and entered the room. Another man with an M16 rifle and bandolier followed suit. The perpetrators pointed their guns at the victims and commanded, “Dapa!” (“Drop to the ground!”).  One of the perpetrators demanded from Pascua, “Nasaan ang laptop? Nasaan ang laptop?” (“Where's the laptop?”). Pascua replied that he doesn't have a laptop.

The commotion woke up the other male participants billeted in the same room, Aldwin Kenneth Baldovino, Reymel Remoso and Wyner Tamayo, but they were also ordered to drop face down on the ground. The armed men then proceeded to search through the victims' belongings and took Pascua's wallet and Tamayo's sling bag.

Another group of armed men were forcing their way inside the other male participants' quarters next door, where Noven Concepcion and Reynaldo Abrogena were sleeping. Awakened by the banging on their bedroom door, Concepcion braced the door with his body. But the men outside banged and finally kicked the door open.

Concepcion was dragged out of their room and was kicked hard by one perpetrators who commanded him, “Dapa! Dapa! (“Get down!”). He was forced to get down on his knees and was hit on his back with a riffle butt, while the other perpetrators were already seizing his and his companions' belongings, including a laptop. Concepcion screamed in pain.

The victims from the first room saw what was happening to Concepcion  and reacted, but their captors said, “Walang magre-react, babarilin ko” (Nobody react, or i'll shoot you!).

In another sleeping quarters, Virgilio Corpuz had already seen through the windows the perpetrators’ entry into the building and woke up his roommate, Jessie Alan. Alan hid inside the adjacent bathroom and Corpuz threw himself under one of the beds. Their bedroom door was also forced open, and from where he was hiding, Corpuz saw 2 men, one in combat boots and camouflage pants, and another in maong (denim) pants, enter the room. The perpetrators also forced open the bathroom door, grabbed Alan, threw him on the bed amd pointed the barrel of a rifle on his neck. The perpetrators seized their bags and other belongings.

The women, sleeping in the rooms at the other side of the building, also suffered a similar ordeal. Some of the perpetrators also banged against, kicked at and hit with rifles the bedroom door where Lita Iloreta, Gretchen Valdez, Angelita Bulesco and Joelida Garcia were sleeping.

Iloreta, Valdez and Bulesco ran inside their bedroom's adjacent bathroom, as Garcia ran to the window to shout for help. Seeing no other residential houses nearby, she tried to prevent their bedroom door from being opened by pushing herself against it.

The perpetrators outside the women's bedroom continued to hit against the door and was able to break the doorknob. A rifle was poked through the hole where the doorknob used to be, and when Garcia saw this, she immediately ran for safety inside the bathroom where her companions were already hiding. The bedroom door was finally forced open and an armed man ran after Garcia who locked themselves inside. The man banged against the bathroom door and shouted, “Buksan n'yo ito! Lumabas kayo diyan!” (Open this door! Get out of there!). Again, the bathroom door was forced open and the man pointed and cocked his rifle at the fear-stricken women, and ordered them to keep quiet, “Walang maingay!”. The women raised their hands and pleaded, “Huwag kuya!” (Please don't).

Other perpetrators were already collecting the women’s bags and a laptop. The victims heard another man saying, “Tayo na!” (Let's go!) and the armed men left the room.

In another female quarters next door to Garcia's, more armed men forced their way inside the room where Jasmin Nelmida, Wilma Valencia and Rubylyn Alabo were sleeping. Alabo screamed in fear and a rifle was pointed at her face by a man who ordered her to shut up.

Alabo attempted to jump out of the bedroom window but was grabbed and dragged back inside the room. She was forced to the ground and was hit with rifle butts on her thighs. Alabo heard the man who grabbed her shout to another, “Panyo, panyo!” (Handkerchief!) Fearing that she will be tied and gagged, she willed herself to stand up and she jumped out the window.

Alabo was able to crawl her away around the seminar house, hoping to escape, but she saw more armed men surrounding the building. She then crawled back to her bedroom window and her colleagues helped her back inside. By this time, the armed men had already left their bedroom, taking with them all the women's belongings and a laptop.

Isabelo Adviento was alone in his sleeping quarters during the entire incident. His bedroom door was also being kicked and banged against, but he pushed himself against it to prevent the perpetrators from entering the room. Adviento heard a voice outside the room saying, “Tara na! Tara na!” (Let's go! Let's go!) and the banging on the door stopped.

The victims recounted that the perpetrators ran off towards the direction of the beach. The incident happened in only about five minutes.

The perpetrators took a total of 15 cellphones, 3 laptops, cash amounting to almost PhP20,000, a digital voice recorder, 2 digital cameras, flash drives and other gadgets, notebooks, planners, bags containing clothes, wallets and other personal belongings such as IDs, vital documents, jewelries, and ATM cards.

The victims’ food supplies were also destroyed.

The police, who later responded to the incident, recovered three (3) live M16 ammunitions from the site. The police also noted that the lock on the sliding glass door in the main hallway was bent, which they suspect that the armed men also forced the door open discretely.

Prior to the attack, the victims noticed that they seem to be under surveillance. On their arrival at the resort, a member of the delegation reported to the secretariat that he noticed that their group was being followed by two men on-board a motorcycle during their journey.

On June 10, some of the participants noticed  two unidentified men and two unidentified women standing outside at the front of the seminar house taking pictures of the building. The group of strangers then entered a cottage, approximately 100 meters away from where the delegation was staying.

At around 5PM of the same day, while taking a break from the workshop, the participants saw an owner-type jeep parked in front of the same cottage where they saw the strangers enter that morning. Some of the participants decided to go to the beach that afternoon, and while walking towards the beach, they passed by near the cottage. They saw a man setting up a video camera on top of the jeep, who seemed to be taking video of the group. Later, the group saw another man went out of the cottage and watch them from the shore.

The police investigators said that these suspicious-looking people called themselves “human rights evaluators.”

Some of the victims have also reported other prior incidents of being followed or being under surveillance during the course of their work.

In the height of the mounting protests against the Philippine Congress’ attempts for constitutional amendments through Charter Change, local organizations from Negros Oriental staged their own protest action on June 10, 2009 at the baywalk plaza in Dumaguete City.

After it dispersed at around 4PM that afternoon, Lorico supervised the trip home of some participants, chit-chatted with other leaders before walking off with other attendees.  They were to proceed to KARAPATAN/PCPR’s (Promotion for Church People’s Response) office in San Jose Extention, Dumaguete City for a meeting. On the way to KARAPATAN/PCPR, other participants noticed three men following him and overheard them say, "Unsaon nato ni og pin-down si Fermin, ha?" and "Manyutralisa ra man na ba?"  (How can we pin down Fermin…and neutralize him?) They were not seen in the crowd again.

Earlier, the three suspects were seen by other rally participants observing the rally and taking down notes.  They were suspected to be agents of the 79th IB.

At about 300 meters from the office and 800 meters from the police station, at least three shots rang as the two were walking by the roadside. Fermin's companion dropped on the ground. When the shots fell silent, he glanced at Fermin who was already bloodied and lying by the roadside.

Fermin sustained three gunshot wounds—two just below the nape and a fatal shot in the head.  He died shortly thereafter.  His body was brought to the provincial hospital.

Fermin has been consistently maligned and hounded with threats by the AFP.  The 79th Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Bernard Neri and 302nd IBde CO Col. Ceasar Yano have been openly branding Fermin in radio interviews and dialogues as an NPA leader.

Kahugpongan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros (KAUGMAON) is a local chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas or KMP, a progressive peasant alliance in the Philippines that was included in the Armed Forces of the Philippine’s “Knowing the Enemy” powerpoint presentation. This presentation features a list of organizations blatantly branded as terroristic.

Fermin is the fifth victim of extrajudicial killings in Negros Oriental this year.

Account of Incident: 

Ludenio Monson and his colleague in the peasant organization NIGKUMB, Angelito Artiza, wrapped up their busy day in the afternoon of April 29, 2009 by going to a grocery in the poblacion (town proper) of Boston, Davao Orienal.

They had spent the day coordinating with other farmers for the May 1 demonstration.   NIGKUMB sends a delegation in solidarity with workers on Labor Day.

At about 4:30 in the afternoon, Ludenio and Angelito finished their business and headed home to Caatijan aboard a motorcycle they borrowed from a friend. Ludenio, who was driving, told Angelito that they will drop by the Corazon Pawaon carinderia located in junction Boston-Cateel to pay his bill.

They slowed down and stopped there. They were about to alight from their vehicle when Angelito saw a black motorcycle with two men onboard. They were wearing shorts, black jackets, and ski masks. He saw the men slowing down and approaching them. Angelito saw one of the men pull out a .45 caliber pistol and eventually shoot at Ludenio.

Angelito pushed Ludenio away from the line of fire.  Another shot was fired but both of them were able to escape it. Just when the victims fell out of balance, a third shot was fired, hitting Ludenio near the left side of his armpit.

Before falling face down on the ground, Ludenio told Angelito to run for his life.  The assailants fired three more shots at Angelito who was hit in the left leg but was able to survive the attack.

Ludenio Monson is the tenth peasant victim of extrajudicial killing in the Southern Mindanao Region since the assassination of Celso Pojas in Davao City last May 15, 2008.

Account of the Incident:

In the morning of March 20, 2009, a unit of the 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army went to Noli’s residence and, amidst his protestations, took him with them.

Fearful for his safety, his parents insisted in accompanying him.

The soldiers brought the farmers to the 79th IB headquarters in Brgy.4, Poblacion, Siaton, Negros Oriental.

Noli was forced to sign an affidavit disclaiming military accountability in the abduction, disappearance and the summary execution of his father-in-law, Julito Quirante early this year.  

He was released after signing the document.

Worried that the soldiers will return, Noli has avoided staying home.

Noli has all the reason to be fearful. In the first two months of this year, four activist farmers in his hometown of Sta.Catalina have been executed. Among the victims was his father-in-law Julito Quirante whose body and that of peasant Ronel Raguing were exhumed by KARAPATAN in a Fact-Finding Mission on March 9, 2009 in Sitio Junob, Sta.Catalina, Negros Oriental.  

With Noli’s illegal arrest by the 79th IB, it is clear the government is dead-set in covering up its tracks, whitewashing the case and in engendering a climate of impunity. ###

Account of Incident:

On March 12, 2009, Fr. Rex Reyes, Jr., General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) received a text message from another priest inquiring if there is any truth to the news that Rev. Dionito Cabillas, IFI had been “arrested in Manila for a Rebellion case.”

The priest, from the same church as Fr. Cabillas and based in Negros, said that his Bishop received the information from retired IFI priest and a former chaplain in the Armed Forces in the Philippines (AFP).

The former chaplain claimed the news was aired on March 9, 2009.  He informed the bishop and the priest that Fr. Cabillas is “blacklisted” by the military and that the latter is in the “top ten” individuals listed in the military’s “order of battle.”

An order of battle is an organizational tool used by the military intelligence to list and take action against its enemies.

Cabillas, who is fondly called Fr. Diony by his parishioners, colleagues and the human rights victims he has assisted, was surprised because he has no knowledge of any rebellion case or any felony lodged against him.

Fr. Diony’s colleagues in the church and human rights organizations are surprised with the news and are concerned for his safety.

In recent years, the Philippines has seen a rise in extrajudicial killings of civilians, mostly human rights defenders and activists.  These victims have been included in the AFP’s order of battle and subjected to a vilification campaign before they were executed.   This is part of the Philippine government’s enhanced national internal security plan called Oplan Bantay Laya.

Oplan Bantay Laya is likewise responsible for the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) that fabricates criminal charges filed against leaders of legal, democratic organizations.

This is not the first time that Fr. Diony faced persecution for his strong human rights advocacy.  In 1993, during his ministry among the poor in Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte, the military had abducted him and detained him for 6 days.

On February 9, 1993 soldiers brought him to the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Tabak Division, Philippine Army in Pulakan, Zamboanga del Sur.  At gunpoint, he was forced to admit that he was an official of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

He was released without charges on February 14, 1993.  Nineteen days later, on March 5, a certification signed by Capt. Melquiades L. Feliciano of the Philippine Army (then Commanding Officer of the Military Intelligence Company (MICO) of the Tabak Division) tagged him as the “former Secretary of the White Area Committee.”  Capt. Feliciano cited him as having “surrendered” and that he was “cleared by this unit.”

By March 29 of the same year, the military ordered Fr. Diony to lead the prayers in a village meeting they convened.  To his surprise and chagrin, he was presented as a “rebel returnee.”

Despite this experience, he has continued to work for human rights, assisting victims of human rights violations, visiting prisoners, attending court hearings and joining search and quick reaction teams that respond to reports of human rights abuses. ###