Two farmers abducted by soldiers found dead in Negros Oriental, Philippines
submitted on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 15:00
UA case type:
Abduction, Summary Execution
Victim(s):
- Ronel Raguing, male, 25 years old, farmer and resident of Sitio Sinamohe, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental
- Julito Quirante, male, 48 years old, married, farmer and resident of Sitio Magsarse, Brgy. Omanod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental
Place of the incident:
Sitio Kalabasaan, Brgy. Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina
Date of the incident:
February 02, 2009 (found on March 9, 2009)
Alledged perpetrator(s):
suspected elements of the 79th Infantry Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. Erwin Neri
Account of the incident:
Julito Quirante left home on January 31, 2009 to loan corn from his cousin Francisco Namoco in Sitio Buwang, Brgy. Milagrosa, Sta.Catalina, Negros Oriental.
Ronel Raguing went to his farm to harvest pumpkins and some vegetables on February 1, 2009. He had intended to sell these in Sitio Lag-asan, Brgy. Nagbin-lod, Sta. Catalina.
It was the last time that each of their families would see Julito and Ronel alive.
Witnesses said were seized by an undetermined number of soldiers in Sitio Kalabasaan, Brgy. Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental and brought to a wooded area. They were not seen with the soldiers when the latter came out.
Initial efforts of the families to locate their kin were steadfast but fruitless. The families then asked assistance from police on February 20, 2009 but allegedly no actions were taken.
The families finally approached KARAPATAN, which launched a fact finding mission on February 27, 2009 at Sitio Kalabasaan, Brgy. Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina. In the following days, the mission was able to speak to witnesses who had come forward. They pointed to the site where the victims were brought by the soldiers. An inspection of the area generated a suspicion of a possible gravesite. The NBI in Region 7 (NBI-7) assisted the fact-finding team and on March 9, 2009, a team of NBI-7 led the exhumation at about 2PM in Sitio. Junob (an hour’s walk from Sitio Kalabasaan). At about 4PM, two male bodies in an advanced stage of decomposition were found, their hands tied behind their backs.
The families of Ronel and Julito identified them through their apparel and the sack that belonged to Julito.
At about 6PM of March 9, 2009, the bodies were brought to Clarin Funeral Parlor in Poblacion, Sta. Catalina for an autopsy. The autopsy report has not been released as of this writing. ###
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 the summary execution of farmers Ronel Raguing and Julito Quirante.
- The immediate indemnification of victims and their families of military atrocities and human rights violations, and the immediate persecution of these violators.
- 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
Malacanang 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
Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
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
Hon. Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.
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
Hon. Raul M. Gonzalez
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: raulgonzalez_doj@yahoo.com
Hon. 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: atty_delima@yahoo.com.ph
Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government officials, to our address below.
URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights-National Office
2/F Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin cor Matatag Sts., Brgy. Central, Diliman
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Emails: <karapatan.ua (a) gmail.com> / <karapatan.pid (a) gmail.com>
Website: www.karapatan.org
