Dear Friends,

We are enraged over this latest development as we seek your support against the military's summary execution of two more human rights workers in the island province of Mindoro Oriental, Philippines. They are the 12th and 13th human rights workers killed under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Please send this urgent action to your farthest network. Thank you.

In solidarity, KARAPATAN-National Office Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights

p.s. we are resending with corrections, our apologies for any inconvenience we have caused you.

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UA date: 13 February 2004

UA title: Two more human rights activists murdered a new in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines

I. UA case: Summary Execution

II. Victims: 

Vice Mayor Juvy M. Magsino

. Female
. 34 years old, single
. Vice Mayor of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines
. Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and Peace
. Chairperson of the Vice Mayors' League - Mindoro Oriental,
Philippines
. Human Rights Lawyer
. Honorary Member of Gabriela
. Candidate for Mayor of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines endorsed by Bayan Muna, Partylist Group for the May 2004, National Elections
. A resident of Barangay Adrealuna, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental,
Philippines

Leima Fortu

. Female
. 27 years old, single
. Acting Secretary-General of KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental
. Volunteer Staff of Mindoro for Justice and Peace
. Member of Bayan Muna - Calapan City
. Public School Teacher at the Suqui Elementary School, Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines
. A resident of Barangay Maidlang, Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental,
Philippines

III. Date: 13 February 2004 at about 11:00 PM

IV. Place: Brgy. Amuguis, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines

V. Perpetrators: 

Elements of the 204th Infantry Brigade, whose Commanding Officer is Col. Ferdinand L. Mesa with General Headquarters at Pinagsabangan Uno, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines under the 2nd Infantry Division of which Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr. is Deputy Commander; A para-military group and incumbent Mayor Norberto Mendoza of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines

VI. Summary of Incident:

At around 11:00 PM of February 13, 2004, Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino, 34 years old and a resident of Barangay Adrealuna, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines along Leima Fortu, 27 years old and a resident of Barangay Maidlang, Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines were on their way to Vice Mayor Magsino's friend to get a computer in Pinagsabangan, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental. After passing through a place called "Curba" In Pinagsabangan going to Amuguis, they were already being tailed by elements believed to belong to the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army. In Barangay Amuguis, the two men on board a motorcycle with no plate number peppered the Vice Mayor's vehicle with bullets. Witnesses claimed that the two were armed with a 9mm and an armalite. The General Headquarters of the 204th Infantry Brigade was only a hundred meters away from the ambush site.

Vice Mayor Magsino suffered three gunshot wounds on her head without exit points; and one each on her chest, shoulder and neck. Leima also had gunshot wounds on her chest, near her right ear, knee and shoulder.

At the time of her death Vice Mayor Magsino was the Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and Peace, Chairperson of the Vice Mayors' League in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines, honorary member of Gabriela and was running for Mayor of Naujan against the incumbent Mayor Norberto Mendoza. She was also a known human rights lawyer for KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental and the fisherfolks group PAMALAKAYA-Mindoro Oriental.

Leima Fortu was a public school teacher at the Suqui Elementary School in Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines. She was Acting Secretary General of KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental, a volunteer staff of Mindoro for Justice and Peace and a member of the partylist group Bayan Muna – Calapan City Chapter.

Prior to her death, Vice Mayor Magsino was known to be very vocal against former 204th IBPA Commanding Officer Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr. and the increasing military deployment in the island province.

KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog spokesperson Irein Cuasay, told the KARAPATAN National Office that Vice Mayor Magsino had recently called her a few days before she was shot dead. Vice Mayor Magsino informed Irein that she had received two death threats claiming that she would no longer live beyond February 15, 2004.

Her body lies in state at the Varcenaga Funeral Homes in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines. The place is teeming with military men and a soldier reportedly took a picture of the Vice Mayor's wake.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

1. 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 the summary execution of Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino and Leima Fortu of Mindoro Oreintal, Philippines;

2. The prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of summary execution by the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine but by others as well being employed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) to commit atrocities against civilians and organized individuals and groups;

3. The immediate and proper indemnification of the family/relatives of the victims; and

4. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of its provisions.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

Hon. Teresita Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
7F Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 636 0701 to 0766
Fax: (+632) 638 2216
Email: [email protected]

Hon. Eduardo R. Ermita
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. de los Santos Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 912-9281
Fax: (+632) 911 6213

Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: [email protected]