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National Secretariat Office: 2F Erythrina Bldg.,
#1 Maaralin cor. Matatag Streets, Brgy. Central District, Quezon City
TeleFax: 632-4354146
Email: endimpunity02@gmail.com, info.endimpunity@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE
August 16, 2011

Reference: Cristina Palabay, Convenor, End Impunity Alliance (0917-5003879)
Angge Santos, Media Liaison, End Impunity Alliance (0915-2117610)

Rights defenders, civil libertarians and families of victims of rights violations to hold CONFERENCE vs IMPUNITY

The National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP), Karapatan, Ecumenical Mission for Peace and Development (EMPD) and organizations and individuals under the Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines (Ecumenical Voice) will hold a national conference on August 18, 2011 in Adamson University in Manila to kick off a nationwide campaign to end impunity in the Philippines.

The said national conference will gather more than 200 human rights defenders and advocates; victims of human rights violations and their families, friends and supporters; civil libertarians; church people; members of the law profession, media and the academe; other professionals; progressive legislators and government functionaries; and all other freedom-loving individuals to amplify the call for justice of victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo government and to call on Pres. Noynoy Aquino to stop to extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.

“Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should get well to answer the many questions regarding her accountability not only for the massive corruption and fraud under her previous administration, but also on her responsibility for the gross human rights violations under her watch. Impunity prevails because no one has been put behind bars for the human rights violations up to the present. Thus, it is important that freedom-loving individuals call on the Aquino administration to decisively stop the human rights violations in the country and end the reigning climate of impunity by ensuring justice is rendered to victims,” Cristina Palabay, convenor of the End Impunity Alliance, said.

Under the Arroyo administration, Karapatan has documented 1,206 victims of extrajudicial killings, 206 victims of enforced disappearances and thousands more victims of other forms of human rights abuse. Since Pres. Aquino assumed office on July 1, 2010 up to July 21, 2011, Karapatan has already documented 50 cases of extrajudicial killings, eight cases of enforced disappearance and more than a hundred cases of illegal arrests and detention

The End Impunity Alliance, a newly formed network of personalities and organizations that support the calls and initiatives for justice for victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo government, will be officially launched in the said conference. Among the initial convenors of the alliance are Rev. Fr. Rex RB. Reyes Jr., General Secretary of the NCCP; Most Rev. Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., D.D., Co-chair of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum; Bp. Solito K. Toquero of the United Methodist Church; Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP, Co-chair, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines; Most Rev. Eprhaim Fajutagana, Obispo Maximo of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente; Bp. Reuel Norman O. Marigza, General Secretary, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP); Bp. Elmer Bolocon, Bishop Emeritus of the UCCP; Dr. Editha Burgos, Chairperson of Desaparecidos and mother of abducted activist Jonas; Marie Hilao Enriquez, Chairperson of Karapatan; film director Joel Lamangan; Cristina Palabay of women’s rights group Tanggol Bayi; Glenda Co, wife of slain botanist Dr. Leonard Co; Gwen Pimentel, and Atty. Ephraim Cortez of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.

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Victims of human rights abuses knock at door of Carpio-Morales Torture survivors urge new Ombudsman to resolve case vs military

Submitted on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 17:50 Karapatan National Press release
 

“Kahit gaano katagal, hindi kami susuko. Ang mahalaga mabigyan ng katarungan ang nangyari sa amin. Nananawagan kami sa bagong Ombudsman na si Conchita Carpio-Morales na umaksyon sa mga nakabinbing reklamo at bigyang-katarungan ang mga biktima ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.” (However long this takes, we will never give up. What is important is we get justice for what was done to us. We urge newly-appointed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to act on the cases filed before the agency that aim to seek justice for victims of human rights violations.)

These were the words of farmer Raymond Manalo, a survivor of torture and enforced disappearance, who together with former security guard Oscar Leuterio and their lawyers, filed a motion today to resolve the administrative and criminal charges they filed against their captors on September 2008 and November 16, 2006 respectively, at the office of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Manalo and Leuterio stand as key witnesses to the abduction and disappearances of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan and farmer Manuel Merino. In 2007, they testified before the Court of Appeals that they saw Karen and Sherlyn inside a military camp, and they suffered severe torture in the hands of soldiers then under retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.

Together with counsels from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, human rights alliance Karapatan, organization of victims of human rights violations Hustisya and Desaparecidos, Manalo and Leuterio filed respective motions to resolve the charges they filed against retired AFP officers Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez and other officials and personnel of the 24th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and members of the Citizen’s Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

The respondents were accused of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, physical injuries, maltreatment of prisoners, threats, involuntary servitude, torture, gross misconduct, and grave abuse of authority, among others.

Victims’ accounts all point to the AFP
Leuterio, a former security guard at the Iron Ore Mining Corp. in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, was abducted by military personnel in April 17, 2006 together with his three companions. They were repeatedly tortured in Camp Tecson, San Miguel, Bulacan and in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, where Leuterio was able to see Empeño and Cadapan. He was released by the military after he “agreed” told to cooperate with them.

Meanwhile, in his sworn statement, Manalo said they were abducted in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on February 14, 2006 and were detained in three military camps and two safehouses. They were first brought to Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija before being transferred to Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan and later in a safehouse in Zambales. They were again transferred to the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Battalion in Limay, Bataan and lastly, to another safehouse in Pangasinan where the Manalo brothers finally escaped on August 13, 2007.

Within 18 months of captivity, they suffered from severe torture, endured involuntary servitude and inhumane treatment in the hands of their military captors. This is also when Manalo witnessed the torture of Karen, Sherlyn and farmer Manuel Merino, who all remain missing to this day. The Court of Appeals (CA) has granted the Writ of Amparo for Manalo in 2007, while the Supreme Court affirmed the findings of the CA.

Time to act for Ombudsman
In the motion filed by NUPL in behalf of Manalo, they averred that “Considering that the complaint has been filed as early as September 12, 2008, that some of the respondents have already filed their Counter Affidavits, "Pinagsamang Sinumpaang Salaysay" and Position Paper, while the other respondents are deemed to have waived the right to file and submit their Counter Affidavits or controverting evidence, the instant cases are now ripe for resolution.”

Similarly, they also asserted in their motion on Leuterio’s behalf that since no counter affidavits have been filed by any of the respondents and since the Office of the Ombudsman has not resolved Leuterio’s case despite the fact that the complaint has been filed as early as November 16, 2006, the criminal and administrative complaint should be immediately resolved.

“Sa tagal na inupuan ang aming kaso sa ilalim ni Ombudsman Gutierrez at Pangulong Arroyo, hustisya pa rin ang hangad namin ilang taon pagkatapos ng nangyari sa amin. Walang mangyayari kung matatakot lang kami, samantalang napakaraming biktima ang naghahangad ng hustisya. (After years that our cases were not acted upon by Ombudsman Gutierrez and Pres. Arroyo, we still call for justice years after our ordeal. Nothing will happen if fear overcomes us, while so many victims are seeking justice),” said Raymond.

The Department of Justice is currently conducting a preliminary investigation on the charges of illegal arrest, arbitrary detention, rape, serious physical injuries, among others filed against Palparan and military officials last May 4 by the mothers of Karen and Sherlyn. The next hearing of the DOJ panel will be on August 3, 2011. ###
 

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Torture Victims are not Liars, P-noy, Punish other Torturers—Karapatan
Submitted on Fri, 08/05/2011 - 11:04 Karapatan National Press statement
 

Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez challenged P-Noy “to punish other members of the AFP and the PNP who are likewise involved with the torture of those suspected as rebels, “terrorist’’ and their so-called supporters or sympathizers.‘’ According to Hilao-Enriquez “the image of the tortured Abdul Kan Ajid, suspected member of the bandit group ASG, calls to mind the 29 other persons who suffered torture under the one year old P-Noy government.”

It’s the height of cruelty how Malacanang, through Secretary Ricky Carandang, dismissed the torture of Abdul Kan Ajid as ‘allegations’ and deny that it is the government’s policy to torture ‘suspected criminals’, added Hilao-Enriquez. Carandang earlier said in a statement that Malacanang will have to "see the allegations if there are basis, it's easy to make accusations."

The first torture case documented by Karapatan under the P-Noy administration happened on July 3, 2010, three days after P-Noy’s inauguration. Alex Ortile, 34 year-old peasant from Albay, was slapped and beaten using the butt of an armalite to force him to admit that he is a supporter of the NPA. Because of the beating, Ortile vomited blood. The military, a certain Lt. Palacio, even ordered him to lick the blood. Lt. Palacio also threatened to punch his face with a broken glass.

On May 8, 2011, Malik Daggung Abdurahman was just strolling in a mall in Manila when PNP Intelligence operatives illegally arrested him. He was forced to admit that he is ‘Kirih Hamid Sahirun,’ an alleged member of the MILF accused of involvement in the 2007 ambush of Philippine Marines. Abdurahman was blindfolded and tortured with water cure.
Abdul Kan Ajid and the 29 others documented by Karapatan point to the AFP and the PNP as torturers. All victims were tortured because they were suspected as “terrorists” or rebels, and all in the name of ‘’anti-terrorism” or “national security.”

“What makes it worst is the barefaced denial that this government uses torture against those whom they arrested and detained, making it appear that the victims and witnesses are liars,” claims Hilao-Enriquez.
“Let it be known that the use of torture did not end with the martial law regime of Marcos. It did not end with GMA. It is still in practice even under the P-Noy administration,” said Hilao-Enriquez. Karapatan claims that there is no essential difference between the present administration and the Arroyo regime, between Oplan Bantay Laya and the current Oplan Bayanihan. “No one can deny that human rights violations, including torture, continue up to the present,” added HIlao-Enriquez.

“It has already been a year but the P-Noy government has yet to correct the injustices committed against the vicitms by going after the perpetrators –GMA and her generals, and those who are liable under his own rule,” concludes Hilao-Enriquez.

The Philippine government is a signatory to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. GPH ratified the said convention in June 1986. Republic Act 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 was likewise signed into a law on November 10, 2009. ###

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Palparan, AFP officials still lying, witnesses say “Stop insulting the missing, tell the truth now”
Submitted on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 15:01 Hustisya National Press release
 

Days after seeking resolution on the charges filed before the Ombudsman against their captors, torture survivors Raymond Manalo and Oscar Leuterio belied once more the claims made by retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan and other AFP officials that they have nothing to do with the abduction and disappearance of the two UP students and a farmer in June 2006.

“Ilang beses nang napatunayan sa korte na totoo ang aming mga pahayag. Hindi na nila malaman paano maitatago ang katotohanan kaya puro na lang sila deny at pagsira sa kredibilidad namin,” said Manalo. (For a number of times, our statements have been proven true by the Courts. They could no longer hide the truth so they just deny it, and destroy our credibility).

At the third preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice today, mothers Erlinda Cadapan and Concepcion Empeño filed a joint reply to dispute the counter-affidavit of the respondents, namely: Palparan, Ret. Col. Rogelio Boac, Col. Felipe Anotado, Jr., 2Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, Arnel Enriquez, M/Sgt. Donald Caigas, and M/Sgt. Rizal Hilario.

Also filed today was an affidavit of Wilfredo Ramos who identified one of the “John Does” in the case as the man who attended the July 19 hearing at the DOJ. The said John Doe, according to Ramos, was the person who tied him up on the night that Cadapan and Empeno were abducted. The affidavit included a picture of the said John Do and requested that the said person be named.

Last May, charges of rape, serious physical injuries, arbitrary detention and maltreatment of prisoners were filed at the DOJ. Shortly after, the Supreme Court also issued a resolution ordering the AFP to surface Cadapan and Empeno and affirming that Palparan and other AFP officials were responsible for the abduction and disappearances of the two students.

Manalo also said the respondents should stop offending the missing and the relatives by discrediting them. It only shows their callousness on the issue of abduction and disappearance.

“Pakiusap lang, huwag na nilang sirain ang pangalan pati ng mga nawawalang sina Karen, Sherlyn at Tatay Manuel. Matagal na silang nagdusa sa kamay ng mga militar. Sabihin na lang nila ang totoo,” Manalo said. (Please, they should stop destroying the names of the disappeared Karen, Sherlyn and Tatay Manuel. They suffered long enough in the hands of the military. They should just tell the truth.)

Furthermore, the complainants also criticized the attempts made by Palparan to escape responsibility by saying that the 24th and 56th Infranty Batallions of the Philippine Army and Task Force Bulacan were not under his direct command, control and supervision. All of the respondents belong to either the 24th or the 56th IB, all under the 7th ID of the Philippine Army of which Palparan was the Commanding General.

The reply affidavit of the complainants stated his counter-affidavit is a “self-righteous indignation and refutation of charges.”