Protest at the 19 extrajudicial killings perpetrated in the Philippines since January 1, 2014- Philippines Australia Union Link

March 29, 2014,



H. E. Benigno C Aquino III
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
San Miguel, Manila
Philippines
Email: op@president.gov.ph



Protest at the 19 extrajudicial killings perpetrated in the Philippines since January 1, 2014

Dear Excellency,

Our organisation has been working with the trade union movement in the Philippines since 1984. We find that your presidency is becoming just as deadly for trade union leaders, peasant leaders, political activists and all kinds of human rights advocates as was the notorious presidency of your predecessors, the dictator Marcos and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Here is the deadly tally of 19 people so far this year:

January 03, 2014 - MONTERONA, Marcelo, 41, Farmer, Indug Kautawan, Maco, Compostela Valley
January 12, 2014 - TOLENTINO, Antonio, 62, Farmer, Aniban, Hacienda Dolores, Porac, Pampanga
January 30, 2014 - ORBINA, Henry, Worker, Cabadian, Sorsogon
January 31, 2014 - AMBONGAN, Datu Rolando, 39, Higaonon tribe, Katribu Partylist member, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte

February 05, 2014 - LAURON, Julieto, 41, Farmer, Kasama - Bukidnon, Valencia, Bukidnon
February 06, 2014 - RAYTERAN, Rosaldo, Driver, Albay People's Org, Libon, Albay
February 06, 2014 - RAYTERAN, Rasty, 18, Youth, Libon, Albay
February 18, 2014 - ARCHIVAL, Noel, 53, Lawyer, Dalaguette, Cebu
February 18, 2014 - MIÑOZA, Candido, 47, Archival's aide, Dalaguette, Cebu
February 18, 2014 - JAYME, Alejandro, 45, Archival's driver, Dalaguette, Cebu

March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Fermin, 29, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Anakbayan/Kastan (CPA provincial chapter), Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Eddie, 45, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Kastan, Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 03, 2014 - LIGIW, Licuben, 77, Binongan-Tinguian tribe, Kastan, Baay-Licuan, Abra
March 15, 2014 - CAPALLA, Romeo, 65, entrepreneur, PFTC, SELDA, Oton, Iloilo
March 22, 2014 - LUBIANO, Julio, 31, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - LUBIANO, Rene, 28, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - VIRTUS, Salem, 24, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 22, 2014 - BRONDIA, Jesse, 35, Small-scale miner, Caramoan, Camarines Sur
March 25, 2014 - BUGATTI, William, 43, CHRA, CPA, BM provincial coordinator, Kiangan, Ifugao

Among all these fine Filipino people who have been murdered for their political activity, we especially note the workers Henry Orbina, Rosaldo and Rasty Reyteran, and selfless people’s advocates Romeo Capalla, Noel Archival, and William Bugatti.

We condemn these political murders and urgently call on your government to act now for justice for these victims of extra-judicial killing.

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 these incidents of human rights violations, and to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators.
The withdrawal of Oplan Bayanihan, the Philippine government’s counterinsurgency program that victimizes innocent and unarmed civilians.
3. 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.

Yours sincerely,



Peter Murphy
Secretary

Cc: Sec. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
doj.delima2@gmail.com

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com lorettann@gmail.com

Hon Julie Bishop MHR
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
foreignminister2013@dfat.gov.au