Published on Karapatan (http://www.karapatan.org)
Peasant leader assassinated, another wounded in Davao Oriental, Philippines
By admin
Created 05/11/2009 - 14:12

UA case type: 
Assassination, Frustrated Extrajudicial Killing
Victim(s): 

Ludenio Monson (Assassination)

•    Male, 40 years old, married with 5 children, farmer, resident of Brgy. Caatijan, Boston, Davao Oriental

•   Chairman, Nigkasinabot koy Mag-uuma ta Boston (NIGKUMB)

Angelito Artiza (Frustrated Extrajudicial Killing)
•    Male, 36 years old, married with 4 children, farmer, resident of Brgy. Caatijan, Boston, Davao Oriental

•    Member, Nigkasinabot koy Mag-uuma ta Boston (NIGKUMB)

 

Place of the incident: 
Junction of Boston-Cateel, Boston, Davao Oriental
Date of the incident: 
April 29, 2009
Alledged perpetrator(s): 
2 unidentified assailants on board a black DT or KXM motorcycle, believed to be state agents 

Account of Incident: 

Ludenio Monson and his colleague in the peasant organization NIGKUMB, Angelito Artiza, wrapped up their busy day in the afternoon of April 29, 2009 by going to a grocery in the poblacion (town proper) of Boston, Davao Orienal.

They had spent the day coordinating with other farmers for the May 1 demonstration.   NIGKUMB sends a delegation in solidarity with workers on Labor Day.

At about 4:30 in the afternoon, Ludenio and Angelito finished their business and headed home to Caatijan aboard a motorcycle they borrowed from a friend. Ludenio, who was driving, told Angelito that they will drop by the Corazon Pawaon carinderia located in junction Boston-Cateel to pay his bill.

They slowed down and stopped there. They were about to alight from their vehicle when Angelito saw a black motorcycle with two men onboard. They were wearing shorts, black jackets, and ski masks. He saw the men slowing down and approaching them. Angelito saw one of the men pull out a .45 caliber pistol and eventually shoot at Ludenio.

Angelito pushed Ludenio away from the line of fire.  Another shot was fired but both of them were able to escape it. Just when the victims fell out of balance, a third shot was fired, hitting Ludenio near the left side of his armpit.

Before falling face down on the ground, Ludenio told Angelito to run for his life.  The assailants fired three more shots at Angelito who was hit in the left leg but was able to survive the attack.

Ludenio Monson is the tenth peasant victim of extrajudicial killing in the Southern Mindanao Region since the assassination of Celso Pojas [1] in Davao City last May 15, 2008.

Recommended action: 
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
  1. 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 assassination of Ludenio Monson and the frustrated killing of Angelito Artiza.
  2. 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.”
  3. 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 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@gmail.com> / <karapatan.pid@gmail.com>
Website: www.karapatan.org [2]

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Source URL: http://www.karapatan.org/ua-monson-artiza

Links:
[1] http://karapatan.org/node/116
[2] http://www.karapatan.org