Dear friends,

 

Rights abuses continue against legitimate people's organizations and their members with the abduction and forced disappearance of 1 Anakbayan youth and two of his companions.

 

We seek your urgent action on this latest case in the Philippines.

 

In solidarity,

KARAPATAN-National Office

Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights

 

 

 

 

UA Date:         02 November 2003

 

UA Title:                     1 ANAKBAYAN YOUTH AND 2

OTHER COMMUNITY YOUTHS

   MISSING IN DAVAO CITY,    

            PHILIPPINES

 

UA Case:        Abduction and Forced Disappearance

 

I.                     Victim:                        Rendon Amal

·         Male

·         21 years old, single

·         Carpenter

·         Anakbayan member, Lizada Chapter

·         a resident of Barangay 26-C, Davao City, Philippines

 

Ramonito Delante

·         Male

·         23 years old, single

·         Out-of-School Youth

·         a resident of Barangay 26-C, Davao City, Philippines

 

Elias Telo

·         Male

·         23 years old, single

·         Out-of-School Youth

·         a resident of Barangay 26-C, Davao City, Philippines

 

II.                   Place of Incident:      Along J.P. Laurel St., Bajada, Davao City, in front of the

Victoria Plaza Mall.

 

III.                Date of Incident:       04 October 2003, between 11:00 AM – 12:00 NN

 

IV.                Perpetrators:            Suspected Members of the Heinous Crime and

Investigation Section of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Davao City

 

 

V.                  Account of Incident:

 

About 11:00AM Rendon Amal along with his neighbors, Ramonito Delante, Anacito Delante and Elias Telo were riding a public utility jeepney (PUJ) bound for Ma-a and alighted in Acacia St., near The Convenience Store. As they alighted, Rendon noticed a white L300 van. When they rode another PUJ in Acacia going to Victoria Plaza Mall, Rendon felt alarmed that the white van was still following them. He also saw one of the passengers of the van whom he identified as Julius Cadungog alias Uliong. According to Anacito, Uliong is an identified asset of the Heinous Crime Investigation Section of the Davao City Police office in their community.

 

With this development, the four began discussing among themselves on what to do next, afraid that something bad might happen to them. According to Baby Delante, mother of Anacito and Ramonito, Anacito suggested to the group that they immediately go home. But Ramonito and Elias ignored the suggestion with Rendon saying “Nganong mahadlok man ta nga dili man ta mga dautan” (“Why should we be afraid when we are not doing anything wrong.”)

That morning, Anacito went home alone. Later in the afternoon, Baby asked Anacito why his brother has not come home yet.  The day after, Teresa Amal mother of Rendon began to worry since his son also failed to come home. That same day, Anacito visited Rendon’s house to check whether he got home but Rendon’s mother only asked Anacito where her son was because they were together the day before.

 The parents and relatives of Rendon, Ramonito and Elias, immediately searched for them in every police precinct in the city if they were arrested or detained but to no avail.

 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 abduction and forced disappearance of Rendon Amal, Ramonito Delante and Elias Telo;

2.      The prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of abduction and forced disappearance as well as investigations of other atrocities committed not only by the Heinous Crime Investigation Section of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Davao City but by other PNP precincts in different parts of the country as well.

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]