Families of disappeared militants challenged Malacañang over the weekend to sign an international treaty that requires the investigation of cases of enforced disappearances.
In a statement, the Pamilya ng Desaparecidos Para sa Katarungan (Desaparecidos) said this is the only way to make sure the government acts on disappearances.
“To stop the continued rise in disappearances, we challenge the Arroyo regime to sign the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons against Enforced Disappearance which requires the states to investigate enforced disappearances and punish those who are found guilty of such crime," the group said in a statement on the Kilusan website www.kilusan.net
.Families of the victims said they have been subjected to risks and continued psychological torture as they continue to search and remain uncertain of the fate of their missing loved ones.
According to the group, those who remain missing have reached 199 from 2001 to May this year.
From January to May this year, 16 persons were abducted and had remained missing, including six women and one minor. In 2006 was recorded the highest number of disappeared, with 75 victims.
“As part of the regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya, elite intelligence and operation groups of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have conducted the surveillance, abduction, torture, concealment and possibly execution of their victims, who were mostly members of cause-oriented groups and even the underground Left," the group said.
Worse, the group said cases of disappearance pointed to the involvement of state security forces, use of government resources and facilities.
The group cited the cases of:
* Joseph Jonas Burgos, 37, was abducted by armed men suspected to be soldiers on April 28, at the Ever Gotesco mall in Quezon City. The abductors’ Toyota Revo had the license plate TAB 194 which was traced to an XLT jeep impounded at the 56th ID headquarters in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
* On April 3, Cavite urban poor leader Lourdes “Nay Ude" Rubrico was abducted by armed men who identified themselves as agents of the “NBI" (National Bureau of Investigation) and used a brown van with license plate XRR 428 which was traced to Army Major Darwin Sy.
* Oscar Leuterio, a former security guard in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan, was also abducted last year and kept incommunicado for five months, inside the Fort Magsaysay where he saw other victims of disappearance. He had filed criminal and civil charges against his abductors and captors, including now ret. Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr.
* Last April 12 in Cebu, soldiers abducted and tortured Bayan Muna coordinator Preciosa Daño, 48 and Kabataan partylist’s Beethoven Avila, 28. The military later released them to the Regional Intelligence Investigation Division in Toledo City.
* Last March 27, in Sta. Ana, Pampanga, peasant Villamor Adona was abducted by armed men who carried Armalite rifles with laser devices, which are used by military and policemen.
* Soldiers in civilian clothes were involved in the May 7 illegal arrest of Virgilio Borja in Ormoc, Leyte which could have also led to another disappearance, were it not for the presence of Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Teddy Casiño who accompanied Borja.
* Manuel Sioson Jr., abducted May 5 in brgy. Lambakin, San Miguel, Bulacan by armed men suspected to be soldiers of the 56th IB PA led by Lt.Col. Noel Clement
* Benedicto Magdaong, 52, Anakpawis member, abducted May 5 in Pampanga by 2 armed men in ski masks.
* Leoniso Ragudos, 33, farmer, abducted May 6 in Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental.
* Philip Limjoco, 52, NDF consultant, disappeared May 8 in Dau, Pampanga.
* Roland Rallo Porter, 50, member of Bayan Muna and First Quarter Storm Movement, abducted May 16 in brgy. Olympia, Makati City.
* Virgilio Tranquilino, 34, abducted May 17 in Nueva Ecija.
* Fidel Palting, worker of the United Church of Christ in the Phils., abducted May 21 by suspected soldiers of the 71st IB PA.
* Dionelo Borres, 45 and Roberto Marapo, 44, peasants, abucted May 28 by suspected operatives of the 61st IB PA.
Earlier, the group branded the Philippines’ election to the United Nations Human Rights Council a supreme form of irony.
It said that despite its standing, the Philippine government has not shown any respect, much less protection of human rights.
“Ironically, the Philippines was reelected as member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, after finishing a one year term. We at Desaparecidos, however maintain that the country’s membership to the recently-created UNHRC has not reflected in any show of respect, much less protection of human rights of Filipinos, as shown by the rising cases of disappearances and extra-judicial killings," it said. - GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/45852/Sign-intl-treaty-vs-disappearances-Palace-urged
Posted by marga at Junio 10, 2007 3:15 AM | TrackBack