Philippines:Eleven persons, among which are two children, arbitrarily detained

Case PHL 080306 - Case PHL 080306.CC

Urgent Appeal / Child Concern
Arbitrary Arrest / Detention / Torture

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in the Philippines.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a member of the OMCT network, of the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of eleven members of a group of punks by elements of the 1604th Philippine National Police (PNP) from Camp Molintas in Buguias, Benguet. Among the eleven persons, who were arrested on 14 February 2006 between 11.30 am and noon, are two children:

• 
  Runden Berloize G. Lao, Davao City
  
• Anderson Tabocanon Alonzo, 18 years old, Malagos, Baguio St., Purok 2, Calinan, Davao City
  
• Aldoz Christian Maòoza, 18 years old, #2 Sampaloc St., Santolan, Pasig City
  
• Ron Baquiran Pandino, 20 years old, Brgy. Mayatba, Siniloan, Laguna
  
• Jethro Villagracia, 21 years old, Malagos, Baguio St., Purok 2, Calinan, Davao City
  
• Neil Russel Sarmiento Balajadia, 25 years old, #026 Tawiran, St., Santolan Pasig City
  
• Darwin Padilla Alazar, 21 years old, Brgy Tipuso, Urdaneta, City, Pangasinan
  
• Arvie Molmog Nuñez, 21 years old, Brgy Silangang Mayao, Lucena City
  
• Jefferson delacruz DeLaRosa, 20 years old, #211 A.M. De Leon St., Santolan, Pasig City
  
• Frencess Ann Galdonez Bernal, 15 years old, Camupang, Marikina City
  
• Ray Lester Esguerra Mendoza, 16 years old, Blk. 157 Lot 32 San Francisco St., Barangay Rizal, Makati City

According to the information received, on 14 February 2006 between 11.30h and noon the eleven persons were on their way in a dump truck to Sagada, Mountain Province. When they reached the road near Camp Molintas the truck was stopped by elements of the PNP. The police elements allegedly asked the eleven persons where they kept the firearms that were confiscated from the military barracks in Mankayan, Benguet, during a gunfight earlier that week. Moreover, the eleven persons were accused by the police of being members of the New Peoples Army (NPA).

On that same day, the victims were handcuffed and brought to Camp Molintas in Buguias. The eleven persons were allegedly punched, slapped and kicked on various parts of their bodies during the interrogation by the said elements of the police. They were also blindfolded under the heat of the sun and electrocuted. Some of them were dumped in a hole that was later filled with soil. The genitals of other victims were whacked with wood. Due to the pain and the fear that they were going to be killed, the victims admitted that they are NPA members and that they were the ones who attacked the military barracks.

According to the information received, on the night of 16 February 2006 the police elements, while drinking liquor, once again interrogated and tortured the victims. Runden Berloize, the oldest one of the eleven persons and the alleged commanding officer, was able to escape that night. The following day, on 17 February 2006, he reached Baguio City where he went to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to ask for help. However, on that same day, he was again arrested by the PNP members, this time with a warrant of arrest. He was then brought to the Benguet Provincial Jail in La Trinidad, Benguet.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of the nine adults and two children.

OMCT is also gravely concerned by the continuous violations of human rights and individual liberties in the Philippines.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in the Philippines urging them to:
i. Ensure the physical and psychological integrity of the eleven above mentioned persons.
ii. Order the immediate release of these eleven persons in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into these events, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them to trial and apply to them the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iv. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses:

• Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines, New Executive Building, Malacañang Palace Compound, J.P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines, Fax: +632 735 6192; +632 736 1010; Email: opnet@ops.gov.ph; corres@op.gov.ph
  
• Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr., Department of National Defense, 3rd Floor, DND Building, Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines, Fax: +632 911 6213, Email: sndcruz@dnd.gov.ph; ajcruz@dnd.gov.ph
  
  
• Hon. Raul M. Gonzalez, Secretary, Department of Justice, Padre Faura Street, 1004, Manila, Philippines, Telefax: +632 521-1614, Email: sad@doj.gov.ph
  
  
• Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, Chairperson, The Commission on Human Rights, SAAC Building, Commonwealth Avenue, U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, Fax: +632 929-0102, Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph
  
  
• Arturo C. Lomibao, Police Director General, Chief, Philippine National Police, National Headquarters, PNP Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines, Tel: +632 726-4361/726-4366/726-4329 Fax: +632 724-8763
  
  
• Hon. Bienvenido Abante, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights, House of Representatives, Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, Telefax: +632 931 6288, Email: conglapr@nsclub.net
  
  
• Hon. Loretta Ann Rosales, member of the Committee on Human Rights, House of Representatives, Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Philippines, Telefax: +632 931 6288, Email: conglapr@nsclub.net
  
  
• Hon. Francis Pangilinan, Senator, The Senate, Rm. 526 GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines, Fax: +632 552-6747, Email: kilosko2004@yahoo.com
  
  
• Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue Blanc 47, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 (0)22 716 19 32, Email: mission.philippines@ties.itu.in

Please also write to the embassies of the Philippines in your respective country.

***
Geneva, 8 March 2006
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.