Whereabouts of Ms. Josephine Nogoy remain unknown

Geneva, 29 October 2007

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has received new information in the following situation in the Philippines.

New information

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights (KARAPATAN), a member of the SOS-Torture network, that the whereabouts of Ms. Josephine Nogoy, 32 years old, married with little twins, resident of Talaga village, in Tarlac province, Central Luzon, remain unknown more then six months after her abduction by armed men, allegedly military elements, on 27 March 2007.

According to the information received, no serious investigation has been undertaken by the relevant authorities to locate Ms. Josephine Nogoy.

The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ms. Josephine Nogoy, as her whereabouts remain unknown, giving rise to fears that she may be subjected to ill-treatment, torture or potentially extra-judicial execution. OMCT calls on the authorities to immediately locate her whereabouts and guarantee her personal integrity at all times.

Reminder of the Situation

According to the information received, Ms. Josephine Nogoy was abducted while she was visiting, with her then two-month old twins, her sister-in-law, Ms. Divina Guevarra, at their house in Purok Masagan, Iba village, San Jose town. At around 1:00 am on 27 March 2007, two vans, one colored black, another dark brown or maroon and without license numbers, came to the Guevarra’s house. About 15 armed men wearing black long sleeves, bonnets and gloves and combat shoes, reportedly got out of the vans and divided into two groups.

According to the information, one group of eight armed men forcibly entered the Guevarra’s house and threatened all the members of the Guevarra’s family (two adults and two children) at gunpoint. They reportedly searched the rooms and when two of the armed men saw Ms. Josephine Nogoy, they forced her at gunpoint out of the house and into one of the waiting vans outside.

The other group of about seven armed men reportedly barged into the neighboring house of the Patricio family allegedly in search of Ms. Josephine Nogoy. The armed men also reportedly threatened the Patricio family at gunpoint.

Action requested

Please right to the authorities in the Philippines urging them to:

1. Immediately locate Ms. Josephine Nogoy’s whereabouts;
2. Take all measures necessary to guarantee her physical and psychological integrity;
3. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the abduction and disappearance, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
4. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.

Addresses

• H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic, New Executive Building, Malacanang Palace, JP Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines ; Tel: +632 564 1451 to 80 ; Fax: +632 742-1641 / 929-3968 ; Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462 ; E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph / kgma@yahoogroups.com;
• Mr. José de Venecia Jr., Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rm. MB-2, House of Representatives, Constitution Hills, Quezon City, Philippines ; Tel: +632.9315001;
• Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, SAAC BUIlding, Commonwealth Avenue, U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines ; + 632 928 5655 ; Fax: 632 929 01 02;
• Mr. Raul Gonzales, Minister of Justice, Department of Justice, Building Padre Faura, 1004 Manila, Philippines ; Tel: +63 (2) 5238481 ; Fax: +63 (2) 521 1614 ; Email: sechbp@info.com.ph
• Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 716 19 32, Email: mission.philippines@ties.itu.int
• Embassy of the Philippines in Brussels, 297 Avenue Moliere, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 340 33 77 / 2 340 33 78, Fax: +32 2 345 64 25.

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

Geneva, 29 October 2007

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.