PASTOR JOSE BUENDIA

Former Born-Again Pastor Killed in Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines

     Murder and Frustrated Murder

Victim          

Jose Buendia (killed)

(male,  39 years old, married with six children, a resident of Barangay Matawi, Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines)

Josie Buendia

(female, married to Jose with six children, a resident of Barangay Matawi, Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines)

The Buendia children ages 12, 8, 6, 4 and 3 years old

Place of Incident:         Barangay, Matawi, Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines

Date of Incident:           19 November 2003, 5:30 AM

Perpetrators:                  

Major Damaso Calaian; Capt. de Vera, Lt. Careza, and 30 other soldiers belonging to the 71^st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) based in Barangay Tanawan, Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines

Account of Incident

In the early morning of November 19, 2003 at around 5:30AM a group of 30 soldiers under the leadership of Major Damaso Calaian, Capt. de Vera and Lt. Careza of the 71^st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army raided the house of Jose Buendia in Barangay Matawi, Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines. Without any warning and under the cover of the night they surrpinded the house and started shooting at it. Jose came out to plead for their lives but was hit and instantly died. His face was shattered due to the strength of the firepower. Josie and their children managed to stay inside the house unharmed but very much shaken.

Jose incurred other gunshot wounds on his body. Their house was peppered with bullets. According to the Military they found no New People’s Army rebels inside the house.

Jose Buendia was a tricycle driver and former pastor of the Born Again Church. He left behind six children aged 12, eight, six, four and three years old.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

ISAIAS DRUMMOND MANANO

ANAKPAWIS Secretary General Killed in Mindoro Oriental

Murder and Frustrated Murder

Victim/s:                

        Isaias Drummond Manano (killed)

·         23 years old, male

·         Secretary General of ANAKPAWIS*-MO (Mindoro Oriental)

·         Acting Secretary General of KASAMA-MO

·         Former Chairman of Anakbayan-MO

·         Former Secretary General of Kwerdas ng Bayan a cultural group in Mindoro Oriental

·         a resident of Barangay Nacoco, Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental Philippines

Guillermo Coz

·         47 years old, male

·         Vice-Chairman, ANAKPAWIS*-MO

·         a resident of Barangay Labasan, Bongabong, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines

Date of Incident:   28 April 2004 at around 9:30 PM

Place of Incident: Pachoca, Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines

Perpetrators: A large unidentified man wearing a black shirt, shorts and slippers 

Summary of Incident

On April 28, 2004, Wednesday, at around 6:30PM Isaias Manano and Guillermo Coz, met at the office of ANAKPAWIS*-MO located at Block 3, Sta. Maria Village, Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental. ANAKPAWIS* is a partylist group seeking a seat in Congress for the May 10, National Elections. At around 8:00 PM both men proceeded to the house which also doubled as headquarters of Mr. Bojie Ignacio located at Block 4 Pachoca, Calapan City. Mr. Ignacio is a mayoral candidate in Calapan City.

At around 9:00 PM Isaias and Guillermo left the house of Mr. Ignacio. Since there were no tricyles or other forms of public transport in the place at that time, the two decided to walk. A few minutes later, Guillermo felt like they were being followed. And true enough when he turned around a big guy wearing a black shirt, shorts and slippers, carrying a backpack on his left shoulder was three meters behind them. Guillermo nudged Isaias to signal him to quicken their steps. When Guiillermo looked behind them, the gyy also increased his pace.

Upon reaching Block 1 in Pachoca, Calapan City which was 200 meters away from Bojie Ignacio’s house, Guillermo told Isaias “Tol, hiwalay.” (“Bro, lets go separate ways”). Isaias immediately crossed the street, as soon as he did Guillermo heard a gunshot and Isaias crying out in pain, “Aray!” (“Ouch!”). Guillermo rolled on the ground and stood up, running in a zig-zag direction to duck from the bullets he heard was continuously being shot. He shouted for help that attracted the attention of some barangay officials from the place. They called for the police, while two women agreed to drive Guillermo to the ANAKPAWIS office in Sta. Maria Village, Calapan City, 2 kilometers away from where the incident happened.

Isaias’ family and colleagues later found him in a funeral parlor. A post mortem was conducted the day after, April 29. Isaias had two gunshot wounds, one on his stomach and another one on his right temple.

Isaias is the eldest of three children and a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). He replaced Ramon Ternida as Chairman of Anakbayan-MO when the latter was killed by soldiers belonging to the 204^th Infantry Brigade on April 15, 2001 in Masipit, Calapan City. He was also the former Secretary General of Kwerdas ng Bayan, a cultural group in Mindoro Oriental whose former Chairman was Erwin Bacarra. Bacarra was later killed in August 1, 2001 in Montealgo Naujan. Isaias was the former Provincial Coordinator of ANAKPAWIS*-MO before being elected to Secretary General.

After Leima Fortu, the former KARAPATAN-MO Acting Secretary General was killed last February 13, 2004, Isaias did the coordination for KARAPATAN.  He figured prominently during the recent hostaging of the Fact-Finding MissionTeam that was headed to Bongabong last April 16, 2004. He was a marked man after that incident.

Isais is the 40^th  murder victim from the province.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

JOEL BARRAMEDA BACLAO

Church Worker and PCPR Regional Coordinator from Albay, Philippines Shot Dead

Summary Execution

Victim:                   

Joel Barrameda Baclao

·         40 years old; married with two children

·         Male

·         A resident of Purok 6, Lacag, Daraga, Albay, Philippines

·         Coordinator of Andurog-Bikol a Disaster Relief Program of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Bicol and Regional Coordinator of the *Promotion for Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Daraga, Albay, Philippines

Place of Incident:                 Outside of the victim’s residence in Purok 6, Lacag, Daraga, Albay, Philippines

Date of Incident:                  10 November 2004 at around 8:00 PM

Perpetrators:                         An unidentified gunman

Account of Incident:

According to Joel’s wife, Rowena on November 10 at around 8:00 PM, while watching television along with their neighbors, they noticed their dogs were barking rather noisily and incessantly. Joel went out to check why their dogs were restless. Since they had no light near the doorway Rowena followed her husband on his way out and told him not to go too far away because it was dark. After a few seconds, Rowena heard gunshots and her husband shouting “Ugh!”. She was six meters away and despite the darkness saw her husband fall down amidst sparks caused by the gunshots. When she tried to come near him she saw an armed man carrying a long rifle lean over her husband. The armed man continued firing at Joel. She failed to identify the gunman because it was dark.

Joel suffered four gunshots, two on his head (near his chin and in between his nose and upper lip), another, on his right side and one more located two-inches on top of his navel. The top right part of his head and his right underarm was shattered.

Rowena likewise said that the night before the incident their dogs were also barking nonstop, it was her father who went out to make them stop. A week before her husband told her and some of his colleagues that a Butch Javier warned him on October 30 to take extra care because he was already included in a “list”. Human rights workers believe the list referred to here could be an OB or Order of Battle released by the military. An OB usually contained names of rebels who are wanted by the government.

On September 26 some government soldiers went to Joel’s house and tried to conduct a search, but his father-in-law prevented them from doing so. He asked them if they had a warrant and told them that the owners of the house were not there.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

JUANCHO SANCHEZ

Killing of seven farmworkers and supporters in the Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac

Hacienda Luisita Massacre

A Fact-Finding Mission Report

17 November and  20-21 November 2004

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights and

  EMJP Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace

Presented to the joint Committee Hearing of the House Committee on Labor and

Committee on Human Rights

25 November 2004

A farmworker and sakada’s life in Hacienda Luisita, one of the largest sugar plantations and mills in the country is not as sweet as the sugar we put on our coffee or food.

Hacienda Luisita, situated in the heart of Luzon, owned and managed by one of the biggest landlords in the Philippines – the Cojuangcos, has long been in the midst of agrarian reform struggle as farm workers continue their fight for genuine agrarian reform, just wages and benefits.

On the bloody day of November 16, 2004, striking farm workers of the Hacienda were massacred in front of the gates of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac.  It was reminiscent of the Mendiola Massacre 17 years ago where 13 farmers were shot and killed by policemen while driving them away from Malacañang when Corazon Cojuangco Aquino was president of the Philippine Republic.

Prior to to the dreaded incident, workers of United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) went on strike on November 6, 2004 because of union busting and unfair labor practice. On the other hand CATLU just suffered a CBA deadlock with management. With ULWU on strike and with the management’s refusal to deal and meet the CATLU workers’ demands, the CATLU union leaders saw this as a sign of what the future might be for them. Thus on that same day, CATLU workers also went on strike for their own demands as well as supported the ULWU cause.

That evening, elements of the PNP staged the first dispersal against the picketing workers of both unions. In the morning of November 7, picketers were told that they will be dispersed if they did not leave the picketline. They stayed put while the police attacked them once again. On November 15, another violent dispersal was staged against the workers. Coming from outside the compound, police unmercifully hit striking workers with sticks and bats. Several were wounded in the incident. The day after the massacre occurred.

As early as November 6, KARAPATAN-Tarlac, .the human rights group based in the province was on hand to support and give assistance to the striking workers. After the massacre, the KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) National Office and EMJP (Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace) along with members of the religious sector,  health groups and volunteers and members of people’s organizations responded through the creation of a QRT and FFM to document the human rights violations suffered by the striking workers and their supporters. They conducted this on November 17 as well as held another one on November 20-21.

Massacre and other violations

On November 16, 2004, at around 3:00 PM at least a thousand soldiers  and local police came with two Armed Personnel Cars (APC) and two fire trucks. They kept their post inside the Central Azucarera de Tarlac of the Hacienda, while the striking workers were outside at gate 1 of the milling central.

Rogelio Figueroa, 38 years old, of Brgy. Pasajes, Hacienda Luisita was one of the injured workers who attested to hearing Chief Supt. Dela Torre as saying, “bibigyan namin kayo ng limang minuto kapag hindi kayo umalis maraming masasaktan.”

Water cannons were first used against the workers who stood their ground.  The soldiers then lobbed canisters of teargas at the workers. Still the workers continued to maintain their rank and move on towards the gate separating the 5,000 strong striking workers and elements of the 69^th IB. The workers were also throwing stones at soldiers to defend themselves and make the soldiers retreat. Next, the APC hit and destroyed the gate and more cans of teargas were released. As a result, the workers scurried to different directions because of the sting and suffocation they suffered from the teargas. However, most of them stood their ground and went back towards the gate. People from the nearby communities came rushing with pails of water to help the afflicted workers.  A volley of gunfire from the soldiers followed.

As farm workers and sakadas who were hit fell on the ground, their colleagues and other rescuers tried to carry the lifeless bodies as well as those injured away from the gate. The soldiers barged in and continued shooting. They also started hitting whoever they chanced upon with sticks and baseball bats. They destroyed vehicles, bicycles, cooking utensils, etc. as well as picked up any individual running away from the picket line including the sakada’s who were not involved in the strike . They kicked, slapped and hit them in different parts of their bodies. The women complained of being sexually harassed by the soldiers.

One hundred and ten (110) men and women were arrested, bound in the wrists, forced inside a bus and brought them to Camp Macabulos (PNP headquarters in Tarlac). They arrived between 6:00 – 7:00 PM at the camp. They were tied together like carabaos and were cramped inside a 35-40sq.m cell.  The next day, 60 men from the group were transferred to the CIDG multipurpose hall and all 16 women were brought to the second floor of the same building. One of the women who was pregnant was released that same evening and given to the custody of her Barangay Captain from Barangay Bantog.

Those unjustifiably arrested were threatened by the military that they will be shot if they made any attempt to run away. Fearful for their lives, they had no choice but to go with the soldiers.

Immediate relief

The fact-finding mission team held on November 17, 2004, was composed of KARAPATAN human rights workers, Congressmen and members Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anak Pawis Party List and representatives in Congress, doctors and medical workers, nuns and priests. 

The mission was conducted for two reasons:  to show support to and condole with the victims and to gather evidences and testimonies that could be used in congressional investigation among other venues where remedy and indemnification could be sought. 

Doctors and health workers from the Health Action for Human Rights rendered treatment and medical relief to injured persons.  KARAPATAN human rights workers conducted interviews and gathered data pertinent to reported human rights violations.  Those injured and families of those killed executed their affidavits.

Partylist Representative from Bayan Muna Satur Ocampo, accompanied by members of the FFM team was able to visit St. Martin de Porres, a hospital inside Central Azucarera de Tarlac that afternoon and interviewed a Dr. Melvin Ramos who told them that they were able to accommodate and give first aid to the strikers and their supporters who were injured during the violent dispersal on November 16 but failed to give the group the names of those they treated. Those injured were later transferred via an ambulance to the Tarlac Provincial Hospital.

Gabriela Party List Representative Liza Maza, Atty. Nenita Mahinay and human rights workers from the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), along with other members of the team checked on the condition of those detained and negotiated for the release of 110 persons who were victims of unjustified arrest.  They were released on recognizance.

On November 20-21 another Fact-Finding Mission was again conducted by KARAPATAN, EMJP, KARAPATAN-Tarlac and KARAPATAN-Central Luzon in cooperation with PCPR, NCCP, UCCP, CTUHR, GABRIELA, KMP, IOHSAD and SALINLAHI.

This time, the group concentrated on the execution of affidavits by victims and witnesses, as well as to gather more data for the filing of charges against the perpetrators of the hideous crime.

Statistics

The Fact-Finding Team was able to interview victims and witnesses during the FFM on November 17.

Aside from the 110 who were unjustifiably arrested and detained in Camp Macabulos, KARAPATAN, was able to document 78 victims of looting, and114 were injured. Out of that number 72 were hospitalized hospitalized, 34 are gunshot wound victims. Seven persons were confirmed dead.  They are as follows:

1.        Jun David, 27 years old, a resident of Brgy. Cut-Cut

2.        Jhaivie R. Basilio, 20 years old, a resident of Brgy. Mapalacsiao

3.        Jesus Laza, a resident of Brgy. Parang

4.        Jessie Valdez, 30 years old, a resident of Brgy. Balete

5.        Juancho Sanchez, 20 years old, a resident of Brgy. Balete

6.        Adriano Caballero Jr., 23 years old, a resident of Brgy. Balete,

7.        Jaime Pastidio, a resident of Brgy.  Parang

Victims of strafing and restriction or dispersal of mass action also totalled to at least 5,000 people.

These are partial data gathered by the FFM team. There are still reports of other unaccounted deaths at the Central Azucarera de Tarlac. However, security restrictions prevented the team from going further into the site, which was being heavily guarded by government soldiers and the PNP.

In the succeeding FFM last November 20-21 at least 39 have been reported missing. These are sakadas who belong to four contractors (Boy Malic, Eddie Inacay, Vivencio Sangil and a certain Tobias) responsible for employing casuals to the hacienda.

The team likewise gathered testimonies from family members of the dead who decried allegations by the Conjuangcos and their cohorts that their massacred kin were members of the New People’s Army and that at least three are positive with gun powder burns. Family members of Jhaivie Basilio, Jun David and Juancho Sanchez executed affidavits attesting to the fact that there were no other medical examinations or procedures done to their dead relative other than the autopsy. Likewise the Arceo Funeral Homes issued certifications stating that they rendered services to Sanchez, David and Valdez and that there were no paraffin tests done by the PNP or any other agency on their bodies.

Conclusion

Testimonies of the victims and witnesses point to the military and the police as the perpetrators of the massacre and other documented human rights violations.  The Union leaders also hold Secretary Sto. Tomas liable to this gruesome crime when she deputized the army to support the local police in serving the AJ. Five of those who were killed were legitimate workers of the Hacienda while two were relatives of the strikers.

Military presence was a first at the picket line, but they have long been staying in the community. The 69^th Infantry Battalion is currently deployed at Baragangays Pando and Texas as well as at the Aqua Farm inside the hacienda.

Likewise, those touted to be outsiders by both the military and Tarlac Rep. Noynoy Aquino who were engaged in the strike are legitimate workers or sakada’s from different provinces of Western Visayas and were hired by contractors who produced these workers to tend and cut sugar canes at the Hacienda Luisita. In fact they live under inhumane conditions on bunkhouses just outside of the sugar central.

In light of the people’s legitimate course of action to seek redress for their grievances these barbaric human rights violations point to the continued political repression being inflicted by landlords, the state and their cohorts against the marginalized Filipinos.

Prepared by:

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights and

 EMJP Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace

ABE SUNGIT

Indigenous Person fighting against large scale mining shot dead

Summary Execution

Name of Victim/s

Abe Sungit –  44 years old, married, indigenous person belonging to the tribe Palaw’an, a member of KARAPATAN-Palawan , UCCP- IDPIP, PAGSAMBATAN and is a resident of Brgy. Quezon, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Place of Incident:                                 Brgy. Malcampo, Roxas, Palawan

Date of Incident:                  05 February 2005 at around 7:00 am – 8:00 am

Suspected Perpetrators:     Two unidentified men on board a single motorcycle

Possible Motive                    An Active leader and member of a human rights group.

Account of Incident:

On 05 February 2005, at around 4:00 am, Abe together with his colleague, Melvin, were on board a single motorcycle going towards the town of San Vicente from Puerto Princessa City to attend an activity for indigenous peoples’ by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

As they were traversing a road in Barangay Malcampo, Roxas on board the bike, Abe was shot at by two motorcycle riding men from behind him. He got hit on his right shoulder and fell off the bike. Melvin, who was driving the motorcycle quickly rode off despite of a flat rear tire which was hit by a bullet.

Abe was left behind. Melvin recalled that after speeding away, he heard four gunshots being fired.

Members of the UCCP, KARAPATAN-Palawan and other indigenous people’s organizations tried but failed to locate the whereabouts of Abe two weeks after the incident.

On February 20, Abe’s corpse was found beneath a creek where the incident happened on February 5. His decomposing body bore two gunshot wounds on the head aside from the shot he got on his shoulder.

Abe had been in the Order of Battle (OB) list of the military since 2003. This was because Abe had consistently opposed and resisted development projects of the government which had devastating effects on the people of Palawan, mining concerns and often exposed human rights violations of soldiers deployed in their province.

Prepared by:

Dorris T. Cuario

Acting General Secretary, KARAPATAN

February 21, 2005

REV. FR. WILLIAM TADENA

IFI Priest supporting Hacienda Luisita Farmers gunned down

Frustrated Massacre / Murder / Frustrated Murder

Victim/s:                 Rev. Fr. William Tadena, 37 years old, married, Parish priest of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in La Paz, Tarlac, resident of Barangay Matindeg, Pura, Tarlac

Carlos Barsolazo, 38 years old, married, resident of Barangay San Roque, La Paz, Tarlac

Charlie Gabriel, 24 years old, single, resident of Pura, Tarlac

Ervina Domingo, 20 years old, single, resident of Barangay San Roque, La Paz, Tarlac

Date of Incident:  March 13, 2005

Place of Incident: Barangay Guevarra, La Paz, Tarlac

Perpetrators:         Two (2) unidentified gun men

Summary of Incident:

On March 13, 2005 at about 7:00 A.M., Rev. Fr. William Tadena celebrated Mass at the mission chapel of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente at Barangay Guevarra, La Paz, Tarlac.  After the mass, at around 8:00 in the morning, he prepared to leave for La Paz town proper for the next mass schedule. Together with his sacristan Charlie Gabriel, parish secretary Ms. Ervina Domingo and guitarist Carlos Barsolazo, he boarded their vehicle, an owner-type jeep. 

As they traveled along the provincial highway, a road hump prompted them to slow down in front of the Guevarra Elementary School, approximately 50 meters away from the IFI chapel.  Someone from the right lane of the provincial highway called out to him, saying “father” at the same time waving for them to stop.  The unidentified persons then approached the jeep.  Father Tadena already sensed some danger and told Ervina “ambush na ito!” and at that moment the perpetrator immediately shot Father Tadena three times at the back.   The gunman shot at the passengers in the backseat, hitting Carlos and Charlie, positioned himself beside the jeep, parried Ervina and again fired his gun, hitting Father Tadena at the nape and head.  Thereafter the perpetrator boarded their motorcycle and drove towards the town of Victoria, Tarlac.

Several parishioners rushed to the scene of the incident and seeing the wounded Fr. Tadena, carried him to a tricycle and rushed him to the La Paz Medicare Center.  Carlos and Charlie were likewise brought to the same hospital.  Fr. Tadena was immediately transferred to the Central Luzon Doctors’ Hospital at Tarlac City where medical attention was given but he succumbed to death.  Carlos was in critical condition and underwent surgery. Charlie sustained two gunshot wounds in the legs and was later pronounced out of danger. Ervina sustained bruises on the wrist and leg and is in a state of shock as of this writing.

Fr. Tadena served as parish priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in La Paz, Tarlac.  He was appointed chairman of the Human Rights and Social Concerns Committee of the IFI Diocese of Tarlac, was a member of the local chapter of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) and KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights.  As a staunch human rights defender, he comes to the defense of the homeless and underprivileged sectors, and has supported the cause of the striking workers and farm workers of the Hacienda Luisita, Inc (HLI) until his untimely and violent demise.

Reference:            

Sr. Cecile C. Ruiz, KARAPATAN Central Luzon Chairperson

Emil Paragas, KARAPATAN-Tarlac

March 13, 2005

ALFREDO DAVIS

Indigenous Person fighting against large scale mining shot dead

Summary Execution and Frustrated Killing

FACT-SHEET

KATUNGOD-SB Case # 05-04-15 (NL)

Time/date:                              Past 8:00am on April 15, 2005.

Place of Incident:                                 At the vicinity of Mahaplag, Leyte

Perpetrators:                         Two (2) suspected military men in civilian clothes on board a single motorcycle.

The driver had a helmet and the gunman with a caliber .45 pistol with a silencer

attached to its nozzle.

Victim/s:

ALFREDO DAVIS, 40+ yrs. old and wife EVELYN DAVIS, active supporters of BAYAN MUNA Mahaplag chapter. Alfredo was a municipal clerk of court at the Mahaplag Municipal Court and the son of Bonifacio Davis, Sr. former chairperson of Samahan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas (Eastern Visayas Regional Peasant Alliance or SAGUPA-SB for brevity).

IMELDA DAVIS, of legal age, wife of Alfredo.  She was also wounded during the attack.

Motive:

The said incident is in accordance with the counter-insurgency operation currently conducted by the government forces under the 8^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

The incident was perpetrated after Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan declared an all-out campaign against suspected insurgents and anti-government rallyists in the region, “clearing them out” within a six-month period.

The manner of gunning down was similar (modus operandi) to that of assassination of Atty. Felidito C. Dacut, regional coordinator of Bayan Muna Party-list in Eastern Visayas and Alden Boy Ambida, provincial coordinator of BM-Eastern Samar. The perpetrators have certain similarities (both rode motorcycles, both used a short pistol with a ‘silencer’).

It was known that he was listed on Order of Battle (OB) of the military in the place.

Circumstances/Details of Incident:

At around 8:00am of April 15, 2005, Alfredo Davis and his wife Imelda (previously reported as Evelyn) were aboard their family vehicle.  Alfredo was driving the vehicle (multicab) bound for the municipal trial court were he works as a clerk.

On the way, two (2) unidentified assailants on board a single motorcycle fired at them using a caliber .45 pistol with silencer attached to its nozzle. Five (5) gunshot wounds hit Alfredo on different parts of his body while his wife sustained a gunshot wound on her arm.

A week before the incident, a certain military element asked him, “Familiar man imo apelyido nga Davis?” He replied, “Damo man it Davis nganhi (Mahaplag)”. The military says, “Aw, oo.” + + +

Documented by:

Documentation Committee

KATUNGOD-SB-KARAPATAN

Document Finalized on April 27, 2005

REV. EDISON LAPUZ

UCCP Conference Minister Killed in Leyte, Philippines

Summary Execution

Narrative Report of the Documentation Team Visit to San Isidro, Leyte

Date:                       May 13, 2005
Profile of the Area:
The place, San Isidro Leyte is 3 hours from the city of Tacloban. From the town proper the barangay where the scene of the crime and also the residence of Rev. Lapuz, Sitio Motor, Barangay Crossing, is approximately 15 minutes
tricycle ride. The area is located at the tip of the town, near the pier. There is only one exit and entry in going to the place. From the residence of Rev. Lapuz and the scene of the crime, it takes about 7 minutes to access the main road.

Profile of the Victims:
Rev. Edison Lapuz, Conference Minister of North Eastern Leyte Conference (NELCON) UCCP, Coordinator of Eastern Visayas Convenors of Visayas Jurisdiction UCCP, Chair of Katungod-Karapatan Eastern Visayas, Founding Member of Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), Main Convenor of Justice for Attorney Dacut Alliance.

Alfredo Malinao, Barangay Councilor of Barangay Crossing, San Isidro, Leyte. A peasant leader and organizer.

Report:

A. The Incident

The incident happened at around 6:30 in the evening. According to Emma Lapuz, the wife of Rev. Lapuz, they just come from the burial of her father. After the burial, they immediately went home. They had their dinner and they
went on to the house of his father. Rev. Lapuz went on to relax with his relatives and friends. All in all, there were 13 people who were there at the time of the incident, including the other victim, Alfredo Malinao. Emma was sleeping just across Rev. Edison. When she woke up, she saw two (2) unidentified men, both wearing some kind of long sleeve shirts. One of them shot Rev. Lapuz two times, hitting him in the left temple and in the stomach. The other man shot Malinao in the center chest, near his heart. The gunmen were approximately two (2) meters from the victims. Rev. Lapuz died on the spot due to the shot on his temple. Malinao was at “50/50” condition when brought to the hospital. The doctors who attended Malinao told them that they could no longer revive Malinao. The two gunmen still managed to shoot the parked vehicle of Rev. Lapuz on the rear wheel before they fled from the crime scene. The two went on to the two (2) motorcycles waiting at about 210 meters from the crime scene where another two (2) unidentified men were waiting. Each gunman joined a waiting motorcycle with driver, fleeing the place and heading to the main road.

B. Related Incidents

Before the incident, the residents noticed two unidentified motorcycles passing by their place. Both motorcycles had two riders on them. One motorcycle even went to the tip of the port as if catching some fish. Before 6:30 in the evening, the two (2) motorcycles with two (2) riders parked in a nearby store. The four (4) men bought some soft drinks and stayed on for some time. All four of them were wearing helmets even when drinking.

The sister of Rev. Lapuz told the documentation team the last October 2004 there were military med in uniform who went to the house of the father of Rev. Lapuz. The soldiers asked for (1) the work of Rev. Lapuz, (2) the residence of Rev. Lapuz in Tacloban City, 3) the office of Rev. Lapuz, and (4) other information related to the whereabouts of Rev. Lapuz. The soldiers even asked for the latest picture of Rev. Lapuz. The father of Rev. Lapuz entertained them because the soldiers identified themselves to be members of the UCCP.

At the wake of Rev. Lapuz, May 14, 2005 at around 11:00 in the morning five (5) soldiers went to the house where the body of Rev. Lapuz lay. The sister of Rev. Lapuz identified one of the soldiers to be also one of the soldiers who went to the house of their father and asked for the whereabouts of Rev. Lapuz. Any legal authority did not warrant the “visit” of the military men.

At the burial mass of Alfredo Davis, where Rev. Lapuz was the celebrant, there were unidentified persons who were continuously vending all sorts of things, which is very unusual for a burial mass.

From the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)
Contact Person: Bishop Ebenezer C. Camino, Assigned to Visayas Jurisdiction
Cellphone 09189214975

REV. RAUL DOMINGO

UCCP Pastor Shot, In Critical Condition

Frustrated Summary Execution

Lugar ng Pinangyarihan:                     Sityo Andres Lomboy, Brgy. San Jose, Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan

Petsa at Oras ng Pangyayari :             August 20, 2005 , humigit kumulang sa ika-11:00 ng umaga hanggang

ika- 12:00 ng tanghali

Biktima:

Pastor Raul Domingo – 43 taong gulang, may asawa’t 5 anak, isang pastor ng United Church of Christ of the Philippines ( UCCP) sa Bayan ng San Vicente, tumatayong Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng KARAPATAN-Palawan at Taga-pangulo ng BAYAN- Palawan at nakatira sa Sityo Andres Lomboy Brgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Taong 2000, napabilang na sa (Order of Battle) OB list ng mga militar na nakabase sa Palawan. Pinaratangang miyembro ng New People’s Army at may alias na “Ka Roy.”

Pinaghihinalaang  may Kagagawan:

2 kalalakihan na sakay ng isang motorsiklo at elemento nang mga militar sa ilalim ng Western Unified Command Headquarters, nakabase sa Brgy. San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan 

Posibleng Motibo:

Tinugariang miyembro ng CPP-NPA. Kilalang tumutuligsa sa mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga militar at pulis  na nakabase sa palawan.

Ang Kaganapan:

Ika-20 ng Agosto 2005, humigit-kumulang ika-11:00 ng umaga hanggang ika-12:00 ng tanghali, bumalik si Pastor Domingo sa kanilang bahay dahil may nakalimutang dalhin gamit.   Bago siya bumalik sa kanilang bahay, dumaan muna siya sa tindahan ni (kanino kung may pangalan o kung sino ang may-ari?) para magpa e-load na matatagpuan sa kanto ng Sitio Andres, humigit-kumulang sa dalawang daan at limampung metrong layo  mula sa kanto.

Matapos ito, tumungo siya sa kanilang bahay. Habang papalapit si Pastor Domingo sa kanilang bahay, may dalawang kalalakihan nakasakay sa isang Enduro type motorsiklo  (Yamaha made) na nakasuot ng helmet na dumaan at binaril si Pastor Domingo. (Kung may nakasaksi sa gamit na baril, maaaring ilagay-Ayon sa nakasaksi, kalibre  .45mm pistol ang ginamit sa pamamaril at agad itong umalis papalayo sa lugar ng insidente. Nagtamo  ng tama ng baril sa tiyan at ? Agad dinala ng nakasaksing sibilyan si Pastor Domingo sa Adventist HospitalHumigit-kumulang ika-10:00 ng gabi nang matapos ang operasyon kay Pastor Domingo. Ika- ? ng Agosto 2005, inilipat ng hospital si Pastor Domingo sa Lung Center of the Philippines – Quezon City for further management mula sa Adventist Hospital-Palawan.. Sa kasalukuyan, nasa Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) ng Lung Center of the Philippines si Pastor Domingo. 

Inihanda ni:

Dorris Cuario

Pangkalahatang Kalihim, KARAPATAN- Southern Tagalog

Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights

Agosto 22, 2005

JOSE ‘PEPE’ MANEGDEG III

Church and Ecumenical Leader Executed

Summary Execution

Name of Victim:

JOSE ‘PEPE’ MANEGDEG III, 37 years old, male, married and a native of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.  He is the regional coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Ilocos and Cordillera.  He was also the former coordinator of the Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera (RECCORD).

His wife Florence Umaming Macagne and two (2) daughters survive him.

Place of Incident:                 Along the national highway at Barangay Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur.

Date of Incident:                                  November 28, 2005, at around 10:00 p.m.

Perpetrators:                         Unidentified assassins believed to be members of the military

Accounts of the Incident:

Unidentified assassins shot dead at a little past 10 o’clock pm (November 28, 2005), JOSE ‘PEPE’ MANEGDEG III in Apatot, Ilocos Sur.  Manegdeg is the coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Cordillera and Ilocos.  He was also the former coordinator of the Regional Ecumenical Council in the Cordillera Region (RECCORD) and currently an editorial staff of its publication Writing on the Wall.

He was a speaker-trainer of a Paralegal Training Seminar at the Ursa Major Resort in Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur.  The Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA)-KARAPATAN sponsored the Training. 

According to his co-trainees, he left the Training Seminar at about 10:00 pm and took a tricycle to the highway where he was to take a bus to Manila.  He was to meet his wife who would be arriving from Hong Kong this afternoon.

Manegdeg alighted at the waiting shed in the highway.  Suddenly, a van approached and a man from the van shot at Manegdeg.  Gunshots were heard by the tricycle driver who was about to leave the area.  Fearing for his life, he sped off, and returned to the resort and informed Manegdeg’s companions.

His colleagues at the resort immediately contacted the police and went to the scene of the killing.  They found his body approximately 15 meters from the waiting shed.  His bag, cell phone and other belongings were missing.  A surface inspection of the body indicated twenty-two (22) bullet wounds from a .45 semi-automatic pistol.

Manegdeg was shot barely a year after the killing of Romy Sanchez who was also summarily executed March 9 this year at Kayang St., Baguio City.

His body is still in Sta. Maria undergoing autopsy.  His family and friends will bring his remains to Baguio probably tonight at the Cathedral of the Resurrection (Episcopal Diocese of North Central Philippines, Magsaysay Ave.) for the wake.

In a similar incident in Abra at 9:00 a.m. today, unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot ALBERT TERREDANO, a volunteer staff of the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples’ Legal Center (DINTEG).  He sustained two (2) gunshot wounds that pierced his lungs.  Fortunately, he survived the shooting and is now confined in a hospital in Bangued.

Prepared by: 

Beverly L. Longid

Vice-Chairperson, Cordillera Human Rights

MATEO MORALES

Religious of the Good Shepherd-Tribal Filipino Ministry Worker Killed

Summary Execution

PLACE OF INCIDENT:          Prk. 2 Brgy. Doña Flavia, San Luis, Agusan del Sur

DATE OF INCIDENT:             January 24, 2006 at around 7:30 pm

VICTIM:                                  Mateo O. Morales

PERPETRATORS: two (2) John does

Mario Napongahan (CAFGU) 23^rd IB and “Datu Suprem”(Chieftain) of the Banwaons;

Noel Napongahan(CAFGU) 23^rd IB;                                                      

“Boyboy” Napongahan (CAFGU), all of 23^rd IB

Joel Napongahan (PA) 29^th IB;

Marceliano Tunogan(PA) 29^th IB;

Edna Napongahan

POSSIBLE MOTIVES:          counter-insurgency in the guise of family reprisal

CIRCUMTANCES:

On January 24, 2006, at around 7:30 pm, Mateo O. Morales was summarily executed by two unidentified assailants in the presence of his wife Ailyn Morales at their store adjacent to their house at Prk. 2 Brgy. Doña Flavia, San Luis. The victim sustained a gun shot wound in his chest that caused his premature death. Mateo was serving the Lumads for years under the health program of the Religious of the Good Shepherd-Tribal Filipino Ministry as being the administrator of its Lumad Infirmary Hospital (LIH).

RGS-TFM has a reputation of serving and educating Banwaons in the area for more than 25 years; advocating the minorities’ inherent and inalienable rights to self-determination and ancestral domain. The military have always been using the Napongahan family in their massive military operations and other counter-insurgency programs (of which “divide and rule” tactic has always been the basic strategy as was proven by several fact-finding missions in the area) to which the RGS-TFM have always been assisting the Lumad organizations for seeking justice against such grievous violations.

Before the incident, on November 18, 2005 at around 7:00 pm, a certain Fernando “Yangko” Matibulig, a close relative of the allege perpetrators but a close friend of Mateo, went to Mateo’s residence imploring him to resign from his job for the Napongahan family (listed in the ‘perpetrators’ section above) has a plan to kill him if he will not do so as a reprisal of their son’s [Archie Napongahan ] death who was allegedly killed by the New People’s Army on November 17, 2005. Matibulig said,

“dili ko gusto nga magluib kanimo, kung mahimo undang na lang sa imong pagtrabaho isip administrator sa Lumad Infirmary Hospital tungod kay  ang pamilyang Napongahan (Mario Naponagahan, amahan ni Archie, Edna Napongahan, inahan ni Archie, Boyboy igsoon ni Archie,Tata, igsoon ni Archie, Noel, Joel, Marceliano “bagwis” Tunogan, bayaw ni Archie) adunay plano nga ipapatay  ka agig pagpanimalos sa kamatayon ni Archie”;

 Translated as, “I don’t want to betray you; if possible resign from your job; of being the administrator of the Lumad Infirmary Hospital for the Napongahan family has a plan to have you killed as a reprisal of Archie’s death”.

Having believed to be innocent himself, and for his devotion to serve the lumads in the communities, Mateo did not resign until his death.

On the afternoon of January 22, 2006, wife Ailyn sold some cigarettes to two (2) unidentified men in their store at Doña Flavia. The day after [January 23, 2006], Ailyn noticed that the same two suspicious men went back to their store. Being in a small town, Ailyn was able to identify that one of the men was not a local resident of their municipality.

On January 24, 2006, at around 7:30 pm, after supper, Mateo went just outside their store to take some rest. It was then that Ailyn saw the same two men approaching. She tried to ask them of their intentions but the two men did not acknowledge her and instead, headed directly to where Mateo was seated.

Suddenly, Ailyn heard a gun shot fired at the direction of her husband. As she was looking for Mateo where he was supposedly resting, she saw that her husband was able to run inside their house and then heard him asking for her help; saying,

                “Lyn, gipusil ko (Lyn, I was shot)!”.

Ailyn then run to Mateo’s side and hugged him; let him sit so she can examine the wound in his chest. She then asked their children to ask for help so they can bring Mateo to the hospital.

Mateo was declared DEAD ON ARRIVAL at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital at Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur dated January 24, 2006, 9:40 p.m.

Demands:

The family demands that Mateo’ death be given justice; the perpetrators be punished accordingly and their family be indemnified.

Prepared by:

KARAPATAN –Northern Mindanao Region

NESTOR ARINQUE

Peasant Leader shot dead in Bohol, Philippines

Summary Execution

Victim/s:

Nestor Arinque – 39 years old, married and with five children, male, a resident of Sitio Cabangahan, San Roque, Mabini, Bohol, Phils., Chairman of *Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Mabini (HUMABI) a municipal chapter of **Hugpong sa mga Mag-uumang Bol-anon-Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (HUMABOL-KMP) a province-wide farmers organization in Bohol  (* United Peasants in Mabini / ** United Boholano Peasants – Peasant Movement of the Philippines)

Place of Incident:                 Provincial Road of Purok I, Abaca, Mabini, Bohol infront of the house of Gregorio

Fostanes near Dairyand Meat Processing Center

Date of Incident:                  7 March 2006 at around 12:00 nn

Allege Perpetrators:              three motorcycle riding gunmen

Account of Incident:

On March 7(Tuesday), 2006 at around 11:30 in the afternoon, Nestor Arinque and his wife were buying some goods during the market day at Brgy. San Roque (Cabulao), Mabini, Bohol. While Nestor’s wife was busy buying some of the goods, Nestor was at the store owned by Tony Salaum with two other companions, the other one was a CAFGU member from Brgy. Abaca, Mabini, Bohol.

Thirty (30) minutes later, a drunken old man named Jorge Tutor, 60 years old, approached Nestor and requested the latter to bring him home to Brgy. Abaca, Mabini, Bohol where the old man resides. Nestor was used to drive home Jorge Tutor every time the old man got drunk because the old man trusted Nestor and knew that Nestor would take care of him. So, without hesitation Nestor carried Jorge Tutor on his motorcycle to his (Jorge) house in Brgy. Abaca, Mabini, Bohol.

When they reached Purok 1 of Brgy. Abaca, in front of the house of a certain Gregorio Fostanes near the Dairy and Meat Processing Center, Nestor stopped to fix his motorcycle’s chain, while Jorge went on the side of the road to urinate. All of a sudden, one motorcycle with two (2) back riders without wearing masks and their driver wearing a bonnet suddenly stopped and immediately fired several shots at Nestor. He died instantly. Nestor incurred eleven (11) gun shot wounds all over his body from a .45 caliber pistol.

Background:

Prior to this incident, Nestor’s wife reported that on March 2, 2006, at around 11:00AM, some elements of 15^th IB PA based at Sitio Mahayag, Brgy. San Roque, Mabini, Bohol and some CAFGU members, were sitting at the front yard of Nestor’s house. Nestor asked them why they were there, the military merely answered that they were just roaming around. He knew some of them but there were those whose faces were unfamiliar to him. He also noticed that they were observing him and became uncomfortable with this and their unusual silence. Before the soldiers left for their detachment, Nestor invited them for lunch in his home but the men refused.

There were also several occasions when Nestor was invited by the military for interrogation to their detachment at Sitio Mahayag, Barangay San Roque, Mabini, but he firmly refused all of them. There were also times when the military found ways to talk to him and discourage him from actively involving with peasant causes, issues and further upholding his principles, but Nestor only engaged them in debates and defended his principles. Because of this, he was put on the military’s so-called Order of Battle (OB).

He was also one of the three leaders, the other two being Rev. Dodo Valliente of UCCP and Willy Boybanting, Chairman of HUMABOL, who were threatened by the relatives of a CAFGU who was killed by members of the New People’s Army last March 7, 2006.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

REV. JEMIAS TINAMBACAN

Pastor killed and wife injured in ambush by Army intelligence elements

in Misamis Occidental, Philippines

Summary Execution and Frustrated Summary Execution

Victim/s:

Rev. Jemias Tinambacan (summary execution)

·   49 years old, married with two children

·   Male

·   A resident of Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental, Philippines

·   Resident Pastor, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Calaran, Calamba, Misamis Occidental

·   Active Member, Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN), Ecumenical Center for Development

·   Active Member, Promotion of Church People’s Response-Western Mindanao

·   Active Member, Gloria Step-Down Movement (GSM)-Misamis Occidental

·   Provincial Chairman, Bayan Muna-Misamis Occidental

·   Chairman, Center for Relief and Development (CENRED)

·   Executive Director, Mission for Indigenous and Self Reliance People’s Assistance Incorporated (MISPA, Inc.)

Rev. Marilou Tinambacan (frustrated summary execution)

·   50 years old, married with two children

·   Female

·   Wife of Rev. Jemias Tinambacan

·   Former Conference Minister, District Conference of Northern Mindanao (1999-2000)

·   Active Member of Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN), Ecumenical Cener for Development

·   Active Member of Promotion of Church People’s Response-Negros Oriental

Place of Incident:                 Along the national highway in Brgy. Mobod, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines

Date of Incident:                  09 May 2006 at around 5:30 PM

Alleged Perpetrators:           a certain “Mamay Guimalan” who is a known military intelligence agent and three

(3) other unidentified assailants on board two (2-black & blue) DT Yamaha-Type Motorcycles

Account of Incident:

On May 9, 2006 at around 5:30 PM Rev. Jemias and his wife Rev. Marilou Tinambacan were on their way to visit some relatives in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental on board their BESTA van. When they reached Barangay Mobod in Oroquieta City, four armed men on board two DT Yamaha-Type motorcycles suddenly appeared on their side and began shooting at them. One of the assailants was identified as Mamay Guimalan a Philippine Army intelligence agent.

Upon seeing that they were being shot at, Rev. Marilou immediately hid beneath the dashboard. Rev. Jemias lost control of the car after being hit as they crashed into a Gemelina tree. The suspects continued firing at the vehicle. Rev. Marilou even saw one of the suspects, Mamay Guimalan, who cried out “Buhi pa ang baye!” (“The woman is still alive!”). But he failed to see her because she was hidden from them.

Rev. Jemias was hit thrice on his head, while Rev. Marilou has a scrape wound on her head that was narrowly missed by a bullet and some bruises on her shoulder as a result of the car crash.

The victims were immediately rushed to the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital in Oroquieta City, but Rev. Jemias was declared dead on arrival. Rev. Marilou was treated for her wounds.

Rev. Jemias’ body lies in state at the MISPA office in Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

PASTOR ANDY PAWICAN

UCCP Pastor killed in Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Summary Execution

Victim/s:                

REV. ANDY PAWICAN

·         30 years old

·         married with three (3) children

·         Male

·         A resident of Sitio Maluyon, Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

·         Licentiate Pastor, United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Place of Incident:                 Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Date of Incident:                   21 May 2006, around 11:00 AM

Alleged Perpetrators:           elements of the Philippine Army 48^th IB Delta Company led by Lt. Tagliwag

Account of Incident:

On May 21, at around 11:00 AM Pastor Andy Pawican had just concluded his regular Sunday service in Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, and was just having a small chat with some women church members when armed men in uniform forcibly took him away. He was supposed to have lunch with one of his church members when the soldiers blocked their way and told the women to leave.

At around 5:00 PM the same day, residents from within the area heard five shots being fired. The pastor’s dead body was found not too far away from among the houses in the community.

When relatives of the Pastor went to the local police station to have the incident blottered, the police immediately claimed that the Pastor died in a legitimate encounter which happened in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay Tayabo, San Jose at dawn that same day. But the relatives insisted that the pastor did not die that morning but in the afternoon of that day after hearing gunfire being shot not far from their community.

Pantabangan had long since been militarized since October, 2005. Residents from the area are complaining that their farm animals are being stolen from them by government soldiers. This accusation has angered the soldiers, which in turn has caused more harassment in the community.

Pastor Andy’s body had been brought back to his native Ifugao province and will be autopsied there.

The reverend pastor is known to be active in his community, especially in addressing the concerns of his church members.

Prepared by KARAPATAN

NOEL NOLI CORTEZ CAPULONG

Bayan Muna-Southern Tagalog Deputy Secretary General killed in Laguna, Philippines

Summary Execution

Victim:   

NOEL NOLI CORTEZ CAPULONG

·         married with two (2) children

·         Male

·         A resident of Barangay 7, Calamba, Laguna, Philippines

·         Lay Worker, United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)- Calamba, Laguna

·         Regional Council, Member BAYAN – Southern Tagalog,

·         Deputy Secretary, BAYAN-MUNA- Southern Tagalog,

·         Spokesperson, STEAM ( Southern Tagalog Enviromental Action Movement)

·         Former member, KASIMBAYAN- ST ( Kapatiran at Simbahan para sa Mamamayan-Southern Tagalog)

·         Convener, MCCCL ( Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil & Liberties )

·         Member, STOP- Gloria (Southern Tagalog for the Ouster of Gloria)

Place of Incident:                 Purok Ilaya, Barangay Parian, Calamba, Laguna, Philippines

Date of Incident:                  27 May 2006,  between 4:00-5:00 PM

Alleged Perpetrators:           2 armed men wearing bonnets on board an L-2 motorcycle colored blue and black

Account of Incident:

In the morning of May 27, 2006 Noel Noli Cortez Capulong or Noli to his family and colleagues went to Aplaya in Calamba together with Samuel, a BAYAN Staff, to visit the Botikang Bayan (People’s Drugstore) Project which was supposed to be opened on May 31, 2006. After their visit, they went home to Noli’s house to have lunch.

At around 4:00 PM, Noli, this time together with Charlie Garcia of Migrante-Southern Tagalog went to a Bayan Muna community area in Purok Ilaya, Barangay Parian to meet and consult with the community officers regarding their land problem.

Barangay Captain Bernarda Naredo was already in the midst of a meeting with the community residents when Noli arrived with Charlie. They went straight to Demi’s house, one of the community leaders, but when they failed to reach him in his house, Noli excused himself and told Charlie that he would go home ahead of him. Charlie agreed and decided to stay behind to meet with the community leaders.

Noli then went to his vehicle which was parked near Saint John the Baptist Hospital. As he was maneuvering to leave the place, a man suddenly appeared on his left side and shot him. The man was wearing a black shirt, pants and green bonnet. He was of fair complexion and a bit chubby.

The assailant hurriedly rode off on a blue L-2 motorcycle that has a driver who was wearing a white shirt, brown shorts, slippers and a black bonnet. The driver was waiting some five meters away from the crime scene. They both sped off towards the National Hi-way in Barangay Parian.

Noli obtained four gunshot wounds - one on his left side, another on his back which exited to his breast, a gunshot wound on his chin which exited to his neck and one on his left arm near his wrist. He died from these wounds.

Prepared by KARAPATAN