Summary
Once again serious
human rights violations have occurred and the military in
the Philippines have justified their actions on the
alleged continued threat from the New People's Army (NPA,
the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the
Philippines or CPP). Mr. Roberto Bornales, a fisherman of
Espanola, Palawan Province, was killed by the members of
the Philippines Armed Forces, while another, Mr. Abe
Sungit, a farmer from Espanola was arrested and tortured.
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| Action Requested Please write polite letters to Government
of the Republic of the Philippines expressing:
1. your concern about the extra-judicial execution of Mr.
Roberto Bornales;
2. your concern about the arbitrary arrest and torture of
Mr. Abe Sungit;
3. the opinion that:
* the military should not carry out extra-judicial
execution, arbitrary arrests or detention;
* suspects should not be subjected to any form of torture
during arrest and detention;
* suspects should not be forced to sign any documents;
and
* those responsible for the above atrocities should be
brought to justice.
SEND LETTERS TO
President Joseph "Erap" Estrada
Malacanang Palace, Manila, Philippines
Fax: 63-2-731 1325
c.c. copies to:
1. Diplomatic Representatives of the Philippines
accredited to your country.
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Background
(I) SHOOTING DEAD OF
BORNALES
On 19th October 1998, Mr. Roberto Bornales, 38, was shot
dead by soldiers belonging to the 1st Marine Battalion of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The commanding
officer of the Marines said that Bornales was a NPA
member who engaged his forces in an armed encounter in
the province of Palawan. At the time, Mr. Abe Sungit was
accompanying Bornales to visit their tribal leader at
Sitio Ganawang, in the mountains of Espanola, Palawan
province to discuss harvest matters. Sungit witnessed the
killing of Bornales by the soldiers which happened
without any provocation. Bornales died immediately and
Sungit was arrested.
Bornales' wife, Helen, told the media that her husband
was not a NPA member but only the organizer of a
fisherfolks association and was not involved in any acts
of military rebellion as alleged by the Marine commanding
officer.
(II) SUNGIT SUBJECTED TO
TORTURE
After the killing of Bornales, Sungit was then
arbitrarily arrested by the military. On the way to
detention, the soldiers kicked his stomach and hit his
back several times. When he was brought to the Marines
headquarters in Barangay Abo-abo, his captors tied his
hands with rope and subjected him to serious beatings
while interrogating him. Sungit reported that he was
forced to sign a document claiming ownership of a shotgun
which was then used as evidence to prove his membership
of the NPA. He is detained in Palawan provincial jail and
facing a charge of rebellion.
Sungit's father insists that his son was a farmer in the
area of Espanola. Sungit is a member of an indigenous
community in Palawan.
(III) CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE TRIBALS
AND THE MILITARY
Palawan province (a group of islands located in the
southwest of the Philippines archipelago) is rich in
natural resources. These are found offshore and in many
mineral deposits on the islands. A few years ago,
investors started to find it profitable to set up
business in Palawan and had plans to build plant there.
These plans are a threat to the indigenous inhabitants
and ecological environment of Palawan. Environmental
conservationists and human rights groups took up the
cause of the indigenous inhabitants and the environment,
successfully stopping some of these plans.
At the same time, under the pretext thart NPA forces have
increased by 280 percent, the military have increased
their activities on the island. However, these activities
seen to mainly consist of the arbitrary treatment of
indigenous, environmental and human rights activists.
Human rights groups believe that the military's actions
are mainly aimed at intimidating the opposition to
business interests.
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