Human rights worker shot dead in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
submitted on Tue, 06/15/2010 - 12:00
UA case type:
Assassination
Victim(s):
Benjamin E. Bayles
- 43 years old, single, parish worker of Independent Church of the Philippines
- A resident of Sitio Pamandayan, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental
- Member, September 21 Movement (member organization of KARAPATAN)
- Coordinator, Aglipayan Forum
- Member, Bayan Muna
- Member, Negros Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW)
Place of the incident:
Crossing Sitio Antolo, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental
Date of the incident:
June 14, 2010 at around 4:30 PM
Alledged perpetrator(s):
Roger Bahon and Ronnie Caurino both are “organic” member of the 61st IBPA
Benjamin E. Bayles was waiting for a ride at the crossing Sitio Antolo, Brgy. Suay when two men wearing helmets on board a black Honda TMX 155 with no license plate stopped nearby. The back rider disembarked and walked towards Benjamin. At about 3 meters away from him, the gunman shot him at different parts of his body. When the victim fell down, the driver of the motorcycle also came near the victim and shot him to ensure his death. Then the perpetrators left the area on board the motorcycle. Bystanders took Benjamin to the Valeriano Gatuslao District Hospital but he was pronounced dead-on-arrival.
Among the bystanders who witnessed the incident was a government employee who immediately called someone he knows from the Himamaylan City Philippine National Police (PNP) to report the incident.
The Himamaylan City PNP alerted the nearby Kabankalan City PNP who set up a check point and apprehended Roger M. Bahon and Ronnie L. Caurino. Two .45 caliber pistols were confiscated from the suspects.
The Kabankalan police, in their statement to DYEZ “Aksyon Radyo” Bacolod said that the suspects confessed to be “organic” members of the 61st IBPA. The two were turned over to the Himamaylan PNP and are now detained at the Himamaylan City Jail.
This morning, the Himamaylan PNP retracted from the Kabankalan police's initial statement to the same radio station claiming that the suspects are not connected with the military.
Fred Caña, who also experienced unmitigated harassment and threats for his active involvement as Secretart General of KARAPATAN-Negros Occidental, expressed apprehension over the incident because Benjamin had been his constant companion in fact finding missions.
Recommended action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
- The immediate, impartial and credible joint investigation by the Himamaylan and Kabankalan PNP on the assassination of Benjamin E. Bayles;
- The immediate filing of criminal charges against Ronnie L. Caurino and Roger M. Bajon and their handlers from the military;
- The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
- The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch).
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
