Another Pastor Abducted and Illegally Detained in Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

UA case type:

Abduction, Illegal Arrest and Detention, Criminalization of Political Offense

Victim(s):

Pastor Mel Abesamis

Male
United Methodist Church (UMC)-Mamburao Pastor
Former KARAPATAN-Mindoro Occidental human rights worker
Former Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Southern Tagalog (BAYAN-ST) Secretary General (2000-2003)

Place of the incident:

San Jose, Mindoro Occidental, Southern Tagalog, Philippines

Date of the incident:

15 March 2008, 7:30pm

Alledged perpetrator(s):

Provincial PNP of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental

On 15 March 2008 at around 7:30pm, Pastor Mel Abesamis, a human rights worker was abducted in the town of San Jose, Mindoro Occidental. No report as to the details of the abduction yet. The pastor had been missing for two days.

On 17 March, reports from Karapatan-Southern Tagalog confirm that he was brought to the Provincial Jail of Mindoro Occidental and is now facing trumped-up criminal charges, specifically four (4) counts of Murder and Theft, in relation to an alleged encounter that happened between the Philippine National Police 407th Provincial Mobile Group and the New People's Army (NPA) last May 10, 2007.

Pastor Abesamis was the secretary general of KARAPATAN-Mindoro Occidental and at the same time of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Southern Tagalog Region from 2000-2003. Currently, he serves as a pastor of the United Methodist Church.

Before the abduction of Pastor Abesamis, a similar offense was committed by state security forces to Pastor Berlin Guerrero of the United Churches of Christ in the Philippines on May 7, 2007 and Pastor Caloy Dela Cruz, also of the UCCP, and a companion named Dodong on March 29, 2007 in Cavite while they were outside of the seminary premises. Pastor Dela Cruz and his companion were released the following day. Pastor Guerrerro remains incarcerated.

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 Abduction, Illegal Arrest and Criminalization of Political Offense against Pastor Mel Abesamis.
The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime/s of Abduction, Illegal Arrests and Criminalization of Political Offenses.
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
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

Jesus D. Dureza
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
*Office of the Peace Process
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Mobile:
Fax:+63 (2) 635 9579
osec@opapp.gov.ph

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
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 sad@doj.gov.ph

Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph