Call for justice for the victims of human rights violation in Maguindanao province

Dear friends,

Please join us in our call for justice for the four-month old child victim of indiscriminate firing and the call to surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and his 14-year-old son Mehad Mohammad.

These cases continue to show that the military’s presence in the communities endanger civilians, especially children.

Below is the account based on the initial report received by Karapatan:

Enforced Disappearance of father and son

Dear friends,

Please join us in our call for justice for the four-month old child victim of indiscriminate firing and the call to surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and his 14-year-old son Mehad Mohammad.

These cases continue to show that the military’s presence in the communities endanger civilians, especially children.

Below is the account based on the initial report received by Karapatan:

Enforced Disappearance of father and son

On July 3, 2014, Mohammad Abdulkarim and his son Mehad Mohammad were stopped by members of the 45th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army at a checkpoint in Brgy. Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao. Witnesses reported the two were taken into military custody soon after they were stopped at the checkpoint.

Abdulkarim’s relative went to the Army’s detachment and inquired about the father and son. But, the military reported they already released the two.

The whereabouts of Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad are still unknown as of this writing.

A few days after the abduction, soldiers of the 45th IB were seen near the home of Mohammad. The family believes  the military may be conducting surveillance activities on their community.

Strafing of civilian homes leave a baby injured

On the evening of June 7, 2014, Mohammad Panigas and his family were preparing to go to bed when they heard several shots fired.

Mohammad’s wife quickly picked up their four-month old baby from the cradle and saw the child wounded in his left leg. The couple sought their neighbors’ help to bring the child to the hospital.

Not far away from the Mohammad’s home is the detachment of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Philippine Army.

We call on friends and human rights advocates to send letters of concern to call for:

  1. The government to immediately surface Mohammad Abdulkarim and Mehad Mohammad.
  2. Justice for the child of Mohammad Panigas.
  3. 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 to look into these incidents of human rights violations; and, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
  4. The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counter-insurgency program, which victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
  5. The Philippine Government to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all the major Human Rights instruments that it is a party and signatory to.

 

You may send your communications to the following agencies through mail, e-mail or fax:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III

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

E-mail: op@president.gov.ph


Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles

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

stqd.papp@opapp.gov.ph


Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin

Secretary, Department of National Defense

Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,

E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City

Voice:+63(2) 911-6193 / 911-0488 / 982-5600

Fax:+63(2) 982-5600

Email: osnd@philonline.com, dnd.opla@gmail.com


Atty. Leila De Lima

Secretary, Department of Justice

Padre Faura St., Manila

Direct Line 521-1908

Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.211/214

Fax: (+632) 523-9548

Email: lmdelima@doj.gov.ph, lmdelima.doj@gmail.com, lmdelima.doj2@gmail.com


Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales

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: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com

 

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below: