Farmers abducted and later found dead in Mobo, Masbate, Philippines
submitted on Tue, 06/01/2010 - 12:00
UA case type:
<div>Abduction, Torture, Summary Execution</div>
Victim(s):
Julito Etang
- 37 years old, farmer, married with 2 children
- A resident of Brgy. Baang, Mobo, Masbate
Borromeo Cabilis
- 52 years old, farmer, married with 14 children
- A resident of Brgy. Baang, Mobo, Masbate
Place of the incident:
Brgy. Baang, Mobo, Masbate
Date of the incident:
4 June 2010
Alledged perpetrator(s):
around 12 armed men in civilian clothes believed to be elements of the 9th IBPA under the command of Col. Anthony Puruganan
At around 6:30 PM, Julito Etang was roused by his wife because the latter noticed the presence of armed men near their hut. The armed men ordered Julito to bring rice and other food items to the place where they were camping out, about a kilometer away from Julito's house. Julito's neighbor, Borromeo Cabilis was also ordered by the armed men to bring food items. Out of fear, the two brought what little they had to the place where the armed men were waiting.
Julito and Borromeo did not return home that night.
The folowing day, Julito's brother who is a barangay councilor sought the help of his fellow barangay officials and conducted a search together with some neighbors. They searched the wooded areas of Brgy. Baang but they did not find the two that day.
On June 3, the search team continued looking for the victims. At around 1:00 PM of that day, Julito's distraught wife went to the local radio station DYME to plead to the military to release her husband.
At 4:00 PM, Julito and Borromeo’s remains were found by the search team in an interior part of Brgy. Baang. Their hands were tied and their mouths covered with packaging tape.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director vowed to seek justice for the victims as a response to the plea of Julito’ wife.
Recommended action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
- The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into abduction, torture and summary execution of Julito Etang and Borromeo Cabilis.
- The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime/s of summary execution.
- The immediate and proper indemnification of the victims; and
- The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.
You may send your communications to:
H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+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
Sec. Annabelle T. Abaya
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
osec@opapp.gov.ph
Sec. Norberto B. Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com
Atty. Alberto C. Agra
Acting Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph
Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chr.delima_at_yahoo.com
