Victim/s: Francisco Gatdula

1. Place of Incident: Barangay Poblacion I, Sta. Cruz, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines
2. Date of Incident: 24 December 2004 between 8:00 PM – 9:00PM
3. Perpetrators: three (3) men believed to be members of the death squad team of the 16^th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Jericho Mangalos and Col. Salih Indanan based in Mindoro Occidental, Philippines
4. Account of Incident:

Between 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Christmas Eve, 1^st Councilor Francisco Gatdula just came from his house and was walking towards the church for the Christmas Eve mass when he chanced upon a single motorcycle traveling the opposite direction. It had three riders who started shooting at him. After making sure that he was dead, the gunmen immediately fled from the crime scene.

Councilor Gatdula bore three gunshot wounds on his foot and chest. He initiated and led the opposition on the recruitment of CAFGUs (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) or militia to the Armed Forces in their province. He is an advocate for the respect of human rights and was in fact a protector of human rights violations victims in his hometown. He helped torture victim Jomar Torreliza and his family escape from their perpetrators last September, 2004.

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 Councilor Francisco Gatdula ;
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of summary execution committed.
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 to 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

President of the Republic

Malacanang Palace,

JP Laurel St., San Miguel

Manila Philippines

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