MANILA – The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) said it is deeply concerned over the renewed targeted attacks against journalists, human rights and political activists and indigenous people, in the Philippines.
The victims, journalists, who are known critical of corruption and in local politics; rights activists and indigenous people, who are engaged in advocacy against extrajudicial killings and for the protection of the ancestral land of indigenous, have been killed in separate incidents.
On November 29 at 9:30 p.m., it was reported that Joas Dignos, a block time commentator at the dxGT Radyo Abante in Maramag town in Bukidnon province, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen riding on a motorcycle. Prior to his death, Joas has been receiving threats. On June 2, two unidentified men threw a hand grenade at the station while his pre-recorded radio program was being played on air.
On December 1, human rights group Karapatan reported that Rolen Langala, 35 years old and member of an indigenous tribe Higaonon, was killed in Opol town in Misamis Oriental. He died from two gunshot and stab wounds. Rolen was with Ruel Tagupa, when they were attacked. Ruel, however, survived from the attack. Rolen and Ruel were on their way home from a town fiesta when they were accosted by Nestor Bahian, Eugene Papin and Ramil Salvan, all are members of the village council. Ruel saw Bahian allegedly shoot Rolen.
Rolen was a member of Pangalasag, an indigenous people’s organization whose former chairperson, Gilbert Paborada, was also killed in October 3, 2012. Pangalasag is opposed to the operation of A. Brown, an agribusiness corporation that has a palm oil plantation in Opol town in Misamis Oriental.
In December 5, Aldrin Rabulan, 44, was found dead in Del Gallego town, Camarines Sur. The soldiers were still present when a village guard saw Aldrin’s dead body lying on the ground. He suffered gunshot wounds to his back and feet. It said about 20 soldiers with the Bravo Coy of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Ragay, Camarines Sur entered the house of Aquino Salcedo. Aquino is a member of a village council.
The soldiers led by 1st Lt. Howard Ardedon allegedly tied Aldrin’s hands and feet after they found him in the house. Aldrin was one of those falsely charged with murder for the death of a certain Corporal Perillo in Labo, Camarines Sur. Rabulan was unarmed when he was killed.
On December 6, Pedro Tinga, 54, a farmer and leader of the Mansaka tribe, was reportedly killed by soldiers with the 71st Infantry Battalion in Compostela Valley province. Pedro was on his way to his farm when the soldiers shot him. He died instantly.
On December 6, it was also reported that Michael Milo, 34, and national supervisor of Prime Radio FM’s “Doc Alternatibo,” was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Tandag City. He was on his way home when two unidentified gunmen shot him at close range in the head.
The AHRC said it is shocked, but not surprised by these attacks. In its 20-page report on the State of Human Rights in 2013, it revealed that these types of killings are part of a systematic, widespread and continuing attacks against journalists, human rights and political activists, indigenous people, amongst others, in the country.
The report also notes that the strengthening of a legal framework has failed to displace, if not restructure, the problem of impunity that is deeply systemic.
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