To: Ms.Gloria M. Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Dear Madame President:
We, as members of CUFSA and the Filipino community here in
Canada, have received a number of reports recently from the Ontario Committee
for Human rights in the Philippines about increasing human rights violations
taking place in our country. We would like to bring to your attention
our concern about the case of Edwin Villaruz and Rowena Bayani. These
residents of Cabituculan West, Maria Aurora, Aurora (a small community in
Luzon) appear to have been disappeared by military intelligence operatives
last February 4th. We would request your assurances that these persons
are safe and have been surfaced by the military.
Rest assured we will bring this to the attention of our own
ministry of Foreign Affairs here in Canada.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely all of the undersigned,
CUFSA (Carleton University Filipino Students’ Association)
Carleton University
c/o Carleton University Students Association (CUSA)
1255 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1S 4B5
URGENT ACTION
UA Date: April 15, 2002
Case: FORCED DISAPPEARANCES
I. Victims:
EDWIN VILLARUZ
·
36 years old, married
· Tricycle
driver
·
Residence: Brgy. Cabituculan West, Maria Aurora, Aurora
ROWENA
BAYANI
· 32
years old
·
Small-scale entrepreneur
·
Residence: Brgy. Dinadiawan, Dipaculao, Aurora
II. Place Of Incident:
Brgy. Cabituculan West, Maria Aurora, Aurora
III. Date Of Incident:
4 February 2002
IV. Perpetrators:
Agents of the Intelligence Service Group and armed men allegedly
belonging to the 70th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
V. Account of the incident:
On February 4, 2002 at around 5:00 pm, Edwin Villaruz along
with his son Edison, 13 years old, whom he just fetched from Mt. Carmel High
School, was plying his route and was about to bring a lady passenger, Rowena
Bayani to Brgy. Cabiticulan, Maria Aurora.
While driving along the National Road from Brgy. Dimanpudso,
Brgy. Aurora towards their destination, they were tailed by two vehicles
a white Tamaraw FX and a closed delivery van while an army jeep was coasting
ahead of the tricycle. Upon reaching an unpopulated place, the tricycle was
overtaken by one of the vehicles following them. Edwin, finding that they
had been sandwiched and had nowhere to go, was forced to stop. The Army jeep,
then, sped off towards Baler, Aurora.
Several men inside the vehicles immediately got off armed
with high caliber firearms. They yanked Rowena out of the tricycle, grabbing
her hands and legs and forcing her into the van. One of the armed men, pointed
his gun at Edwin, grabbed the latter’s hands and forced him inside the other
vehicle. Another armed man pointed his gun at the boy Edison, who was then
able to run away. He would later inform his mother about the incident.
After forcibly taking the victims, the men immediately drove off towards
Baler, Aurora.
The incident was reported at once to the police who, as early
as 6:00 pm, called other police and army stations to inform them about the
abduction. The PNP also immediately set up checkpoints along possible exit
points. Later on, the police claimed that they did not find any of the suspects
nor saw any sign of the vehicles that were used in the abduction.
At around 9:00 pm, community members of the Brgy. Hiwalayan,
San Luis, Aurora noticed a white FX, a closed delivery van, escorted by an
Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and an Army jeep (hammer type) going towards
Baler town. The same convoy was also seen by members of Edwin’s family as
well as residents of Brgy. Cabituculan from Baler going to Maria Aurora.
Likewise, with community members of Brgy. Wenceslao, while the vehicles were
on its way out of Canili area. A businessman also reported having seen the
convoy at kilometer 10 at Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija that same night.
The following day, Edwin’s family contacted Cabituculan Brgy.
Captain Salvador Manais for help in asking questions to the community members
regarding their knowledge of the incident. Afterwards, Edwin’s family, accompanied
by Manais, went to the Army camp of the 70th IBPA in Brgy. Wenceslao, Maria
Aurora to look for Edwin and Rowena. The soldiers in the army camp denied
knowledge of and responsibility for the abduction.
It was only on February 5, meanwhile, that Joel Bayani and
Rowena’s family learned of the latter’s disappearance in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Joel confirmed that it was indeed Rowena after Edison described to him the
woman in the tricycle. According to Joel, Rowena engages in a buy and-sell
business and has a heart problem.
By February 6-7, 2002, there was still no sign of Edwin and
Rowena. Their family then proceeded to ask help to Justice and Peace Action
Group of Aurora (JPAG), the PNP Provincial Director, some military officers,
the Aurora Governor, and even to the local radio station (DZJO-FM). All of
those they asked for help promised the family that they will help in locating
their missing relatives. According to witnesses, the abduction was probably
done by intelligence agents and the military, specifically the 70th IB of
the Philippine Army. There is a strong possibility that the abductors have
already left the province with their captives.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. The immediate presentation of the victims,
Edwin Villaruz and Rowena Bayani, to their families.
2. The authorities to explain why the two
were abducted, why and where they are being detained.
3. The implementation of the Comprehensive
Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
Please send a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government
official to our address below:
H.E. GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila, Philippines
Voice:( +632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax:( +632) 736-1010
Cell # (+63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: [email protected]
Hon. EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
7F Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City, Philippines
Voice:( +632) 636 0701 to 0766
Fax:( +632) 635 9579
Email: [email protected]
Hon. ANGELO T. REYES
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City, Philippines
Voice:( +632) 912 9281
Fax:( +632) 911 6213
AURORA RECINA
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg, UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: [email protected]
URGENT ACTION Prepared by:
KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights)-
National Office 23-D Mabuhay Street, Central District, Diliman,
Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 434 1865 / Fax: (+632) 926 7877
Emails: <[email protected]> <[email protected]>
Website: <www.karapatan.org>