Victims of human rights violations, human rights workers and advocates charged with criminal offenses

Dear friends,

Please join us in our call to stop criminalizing human rights work and advocacy; and withdraw false criminal charges against human rights victims, human rights workers and other leaders of people’s organizations assisting victims of military atrocities in Davao and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao. We also call on the military to pull-out troops from hinterland communities as their mere presence in these communities already endangers the civilian population.

Dear friends,

Please join us in our call to stop criminalizing human rights work and advocacy; and withdraw false criminal charges against human rights victims, human rights workers and other leaders of people’s organizations assisting victims of military atrocities in Davao and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao. We also call on the military to pull-out troops from hinterland communities as their mere presence in these communities already endangers the civilian population.

22 leaders of Church groups and people’s organization and human rights workers and victims of human rights violations in Socsksargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani and Gen. Santos City); falsely charged with criminal offenses

On June 17, 2015, a certain PO2 Jegz Bryan L. Salutan of the Philippine National Police-Alabel and Pfc. Charlito B. Tunggak of the 73rd Infantry Battalion-Philippine Army (IBPA) filed charges against leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), progressive people’s organizations and human rights groups for attempted murder, violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity.

Those charged were Ryan Lariba, Secretary General of Bayan-Socsksargen; Rev. Allen Bill Veloso, Chairperson of Karapatan-Socsksargen; Pastor Sadrach Sabella, Secretary General of Karapatan Socsksargen; Pastor Roger Rafalez of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines-Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR); Bert Padayao, Chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Socsksargen; Anelfa Gemilo, Chairperson of Kaluhhamin (a Lumad organization), Lorna Mora, Secretary General of Kaluhhamin and 15 others, including victims of human rights violations, two staff members of CLANS (Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services) and members of Lumad community organization.

The 22 individuals were charged with attempted murder in relation to an encounter between members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and 73rd IBPA in Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani. They were also charged with violation of Republic Act 7610 in relation to the evacuation of more than 400 Blaan who fled their homes when the military conducted combat operations in their communities and human rights violations were committed against them.

Almost the same individuals were also charged with the same case at the Malapatan Municipal police station on May 28, 2015 with a certain pastor Mendoza Masalon as complainant.

Two other criminal charges were earlier filed against the evacuees and other victims of human rights violations, including Brgy. Upper Suyan resident and torture victim Ruben Wating.

These trumped up criminal cases stemmed from the assistance of human rights groups and progressive organizations to victims of human rights violations. The individuals who were criminally charged were those who assisted the evacuees and those who participated in a fact-finding mission in Sitio Akbual, Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani province on April 27-29, 2015. The mission was held to investigate the human rights abuses committed by elements of the 73rd IBPA against the Blaan tribe.

Almost 150 elements of the 73rd IBPA conducted military operations on March 27 until April 10, 2015, affecting some 358 families or 1,800 individuals who became victims of abuses and human rights violations. The team documented military atrocities in the Blaan villages; among them were torture, aerial bombings, indiscriminate firing, and food blockade.

After the fact-finding team left the community, indiscriminate firing continued which prompted some 441 villagers to leave the area on May 18 and sought shelter in nearby villages but eventually decided to go to General Santos City. The evacuees were assisted by groups like Karapatan, Kaluhhamin, Clans and Bayan-Socsksargen, providing them food and medicine. The evacuees, 200 of them children, were brought to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Compound. While at the evacuation center, elements of the 73rd IBPA frequently visited them.

From May 23 to June 10, a series of “dialogue” between the evacuees and representatives of the local government and the 73rd IBPA was held. The government and AFP representatives scolded the evacuees and urged them to go home, ignoring the evacuees’ demand for a military pull-out. In one of the dialogues, 2nd Lt. Faith Sela accused the evacuees as among those responsible for the ambush of members of the 73rd IBPA.

On June 13, the evacuees decided to return to their communities but backed out when they heard of some 300 soldiers still in the community. The following day, however, they were definite to go back home.

Evacuees and torture victims face four trumped-up criminal charges

Farmer Ruben Wating, a resident of Sitio Akboal, was tortured on April 5, 2015 by soldiers of the 73rd IBPA during their military operations in civilian communities in Brgy. Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani Province. He now faces four false criminal charges before the court.

A certain “Gober,” said to be the Commanding Officer of the Reconnaissance Company of the 73rd IBPA, two soldiers named Ricky Sotal and Toto Sukal, and one unnamed member of the PNP-Malapatan went to the house of Ruben Wating. Soldiers accused Wating to be among the NPA members they encountered three days before. When Wating disputed their claim, the soldiers forced him to drink two gallons of “tuba” or coconut wine with them. At 9 p.m., after they finished the wine, they brought Wating to a nearby creek where he was tortured—kicked in the neck, clipped his left thumbnail with pliers while another punched the right side of Wating’s limb. Desperate, a soldier pulled a .45 cal. and aimed at Wating’s forehead. He was ordered to drop to the ground and when he did, the soldiers repeatedly stepped on Wating’s legs on to his back. Later, they instructed to stand up and run. He refused to follow for fear that soldiers would shoot him.