From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: Philippines Alert
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:44:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700600:000:7516
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Oct  8 10:44:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: Philippines Alert

/* Written  3:13 pm  Oct  8, 1992 by geonet@gn.apc.org in igc:omct.sostortur */

Case PHL 071092
At the request of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP),
member of our network, we call upon you to intervene on behalf of the
following situation in the Philippines.
Brief description of the situation:
On 3 July 1992, the body of Joselito FURUGGANAN, aged 20, a resident
of Brgy. Magrafil, Gonzaga, Cagayan, a detainee in the custody of
General Roberto Manlongat of the 503rd BDE, was discovered at
Ballesteros, Cagayan.
According to the victim's mother, Mr. FURUGGANAN was apprehended at
Luna, Kalinga Apayao on 24 May by government forces of the 50th IB PA
during an encounter with the New People's Army. The victim was wounded
in the leg and placed under the custody of the 503rd BDE at Brgy.
Libertad, Abulag, Cagayan where he was detained for a week.
On 3 June 1992, the victim's mother was informed that on 2 June he had
been taken to Camp Melchor de la Cruz at Echague, Isabela.  Upon
arriving at the camp she discovered that her son was in the military
camp clinic and that he was being treated for his wound and
interrogated at the same time.
On 4 July 1992, the family was informed by the PNP in Ballesteros,
Cagayan, that Joselito FURUGGANAN had been killed in an ambush and
that his body was at the Ballesteros Municipal Hall.
Afterwards a relative of the victim, one Bernard Sichangco, a military
officer, investigated the claims that there had been an ambush and
discovered that no such ambush had occurred either in Allacapan or
Ballesteros on 3 July 1992.  In addition, it transpired that there was
only one gunshot wound in the victim's back in addition to the
original leg wound.
It is suspected that Joselito FURUGGANAN was summarily executed by the
military.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities in the Philippines expressing grave
concern about this incident and urging them to open a thorough and
impartial inquiry into Joselito FURUGGANAN's death in order to
identify those responsible and punish them in accordance with the law.
In the event that it transpires that state organs were implicated in
this death, insist that his family be granted compensation. Exhort
them to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the
population at all times and to ensure the respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in the country in accordance with international
standards.
Addresses:
President Fidel V. Ramos, Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines  Fax:
+63 2 731 1325 (via Press Secretary) / +63 2 832 3793 (via Department
of Foreign Affairs)   Tlx: 40414 MALCOM PN / 45618 RMC PM / 63370 PRES
PN /82361 PRES PU  //  Gral. Renato de Villa, Secretary of National
Defence, Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines  Fax: +63 2
721 3988  Tlx: 22471 DND PM / 42004 DCSLOG PM  //  Mrs Mary Concepcion
Bautista, Chair, Commission on Human Rights, Integrated Bar of the
Philippines Building, Julia Vargas Avenue Pasig, Metro Manila,
Philippines  //  Hon. Marcelo Fernan, Chief Justice, Supreme Court,
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines  //  Sec. Franklin Drilon,
Secretary of Justice, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
7 October 1992
Please inform us of any action undertaken, (kindly mention the code
number of the appeal in any related correspondence).


Case PHL 081092
At the request of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP),
member of our network, we call upon you to intervene on behalf of the
following situation in the Philippines.
Brief description of the situations:
TFDP has expressed its concern about the steady evacuation and exodus
of the inhabitants of the Marag Valley, caused by the constant
bombardments by the military in the region.  In particular the
following cases have been brought to our attention.
1/   On 15 July 1992, some 26 members of 7 families left their homes
Brgy, Calabigan, Luna, Kalinga Apayao because of the continuous
bombardments by the military into Marag Valley.  According to one
member of the party of evacuees, Talna DUGAY, these continual attacks
have led to sickness and hunger and the people live in permanent fear
of encountering the military.
2/   In July 1992, six members of the Isneg Tribe, all of whom are
farmers from Brgy. Cagandungan, Luna, Kalinga Apayao, decided to
evacuate the Marag Valley and take refuge in Pamplona.  Believing that
they would be safer, they took the route in Brgy Namuac, Sanchez Mira.
However, on arrival in Brgy. Namuac on 24 July 1992, they were
immediately accosted by members of the 41st IB PA.  Josefa SALVADOR,
67, Costi PACHECO, 65 and Candro AGPULDO, were arrested and taken to a
military camp in Sanchez Mira.  The next day, after undergoing a
vigorous interrogation, Messrs. SALVADOR and PACHECO who were sick,
were taken to hospital.  On the same day, 25 July 1992, Allet TRUMPO,
Rolen TRUMPO and Bobot BAYAGAN were also arrested.
One week later all six were turned over to a day-care centre in Brgy.
San Andres, Sanchez Mira which is supervised by the Inter-Agency
Coordinating Council, a group of government agencies headed by the
military who declared them to be rebel returnees.
3/   On 5 August 1992, 126 people from 32 Isneg and Aggay families
evacuated their homes as the Philippines Armed Forces continued their
operations in Marag Valley.  One old woman with the group, Adora, is
reported to have said that since the military began their operations
in the area, the people have been driven into the forests and hunted
by government troops.  In addition, she is reported to have said that
on one occasion, the military burned to death one of their folks and
that there has been no respite in the bombings and mortar shellings.
Action requested:
Please write to the authorities in the Philippines demanding that the
military put an end to the bombardments of the civilian population in
the Marag valley and that they guarantee the physical and
psychological integrity of the inhabitants and evacuees at all times.
In the event that they are still in detention, demand that Josefa
SALVADOR, Costi PACHECO, Candro AGPULDO, Allet TRUMPO, Rolen TRUMPO
and Bobot BAYAGAN be released immediately if no charges can be brought
against them.  If charges can be proven demand that they be brought
before an fair and impartial tribunal and that their physical and
psychological integrity be guaranteed at all times. Urge them to
ensure the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
country at all times in accordance with international standards.
Addresses:
President Fidel V. Ramos, Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines  Fax:
+63 2 731 1325 (via Press Secretary) / +63 2 832 3793 (via Department
of Foreign Affairs)   Tlx: 40414 MALCOM PN / 45618 RMC PM / 63370 PRES
PN /82361 PRES PU  //  Gral. Renato de Villa, Secretary of National
Defence, Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines  Fax: +63 2
721 3988  Tlx: 22471 DND PM / 42004 DCSLOG PM  //  Mrs Mary Concepcion
Bautista, Chair, Commission on Human Rights, Integrated Bar of the
Philippines Building, Julia Vargas Avenue Pasig, Metro Manila,
Philippines  //  Hon. Marcelo Fernan, Chief Justice, Supreme Court,
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Philippines  //  Sec. Franklin Drilon,
Secretary of Justice, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
8 October 1992
Please inform us of any action undertaken, (kindly mention the code
number of the appeal in any related correspondence).
LAYOUT 000