Fear for life of farmer illegally arrested by state security forces
submitted on Mon, 04/27/2009 - 13:23
UA case type:
Illegal Arrest, Coercion
Victim(s):
Noli Bendersin
-male, 30 years old, married, farmer, resident of Sitio Lukdo, Brgy. San Francisco, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental,
-member, municipal peasant group Kapunungan Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmay’ng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros (KAUGMAON)
-son-in-law of Julito Quirante, who was abducted, disappeared and executed by 79th IB soldiers in early part of 2009 (see UA No. 2009-03-03 )
Place of the incident:
Brgy.4, Poblacion, Siaton, Negros Oriental
Date of the incident:
March 20, 2009
Alledged perpetrator(s):
elements of 79th IB under the command of Lt.Col. Cesar Yano
Account of the Incident:
In the morning of March 20, 2009, a unit of the 79th Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army went to Noli’s residence and, amidst his protestations, took him with them.
Fearful for his safety, his parents insisted in accompanying him.
The soldiers brought the farmers to the 79th IB headquarters in Brgy.4, Poblacion, Siaton, Negros Oriental.
Noli was forced to sign an affidavit disclaiming military accountability in the abduction, disappearance and the summary execution of his father-in-law, Julito Quirante early this year.
He was released after signing the document.
Worried that the soldiers will return, Noli has avoided staying home.
Noli has all the reason to be fearful. In the first two months of this year, four activist farmers in his hometown of Sta.Catalina have been executed. Among the victims was his father-in-law Julito Quirante whose body and that of peasant Ronel Raguing were exhumed by KARAPATAN in a Fact-Finding Mission on March 9, 2009 in Sitio Junob, Sta.Catalina, Negros Oriental.
With Noli’s illegal arrest by the 79th IB, it is clear the government is dead-set in covering up its tracks, whitewashing the case and in engendering a climate of impunity. ###
Recommended action:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
1. Concrete actions from local government agencies for the protection of Noli Bendersen and other relatives of summary execution victims Julito Quirante and Ronel Raguing.
2. 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 launch a public inquiry into the illegal arrest of Noli Bendersin and its implications on the just resolution of the summary executions of Julito Quirante and Ronel Raguing.
3. Administrative action against Col. Cesar Yano and Lt. Col. Bernard Neri for the actions of their troops.
4. The military to stop the persecution and targeting of activists as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state".
5. 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: chr.delima@yahoo.com
Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the abovenamed government officials, to our address below.
URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
KARAPATAN-CENTRAL VISAYAS
Regional Center, Door 2-Annex Bldg., UCCP-Cendet Cmpd., No. 85 Osmeña Blvd.,
Cebu City 6000 PHILIPPINES
TeleFax No.: (+632) 255-5549
Email: <karapatan.ua@gmail.com> / karapatan.cenvis@gmail.com
Website:www.karapatan.org blog: www.hrdefenders.wordpress.com
