Dear friends, 

We denounce this latest brutality against the Filipino people! the current shooting of an organized group that led to the killing of a peasant on human rights day even, is condemnable!

We urge for your immediate action on this latest case human rights violation.

In solidarity, KARAPATAN-National Office Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights ----------------------------

UA Date: 	11 December 2004 

UA Title: 	Human Rights Day Shooting in Camarines Norte, Philippines 

UA Case: 	Killing, Frustrated Killing and Harassment 

I. Victim/s:

· Edmundo Salcedo (killed)
· 43 years old
· Male
· Peasant
· A resident of San Jose, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines
· A member of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas-Camarines Norte or KMP-CN (Peasant Movement of the Philippines-Camarines Norte)

· Arsenio Paylan (with bullet-wound on the chest)
· 42 years old; married with two (2) children
· Male
· Peasant
· A resident of San Pedro, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines
· A member of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas-Camarines Norte or KMP-CN (Peasant Movement of the Philippines-Camarines Norte)

· Eduardo Ordinario (grazing wound from a bullet on his left shoulder)
· 52 years old; married with six (6) children
· Male
· Peasant
· A resident of San Jose, Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Philippines
· A member of the Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas-Camarines Norte or KMP-CN (Peasant Movement of the Philippines-Camarines Norte)

· Angelo Ibita (bullet-wound on the lower side of his abdomen)
· 10 years old
· Male
· A resident of Barangay Maot, Labo Camarines Norte, Philippines
· An unidentified woman whose whereabouts are still being located (also a gun-shot wound victim)

· Beverly Quintillan
· 23 years old; single
· Female
· A resident of Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines
· Public Information Officer of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance) or BAYAN-Bicol

II. Place of Incident: In front of the Elevated Town Plaza in Daet, Camarines Norte, Philippines 

III. Date of Incident: 10 December, 2004 at around 11:58 AM 

IV. Perpetrators: 

An unidentified gunman who according to witnesses wore a denim-blue jacket, a cap, a pair of shades and had a face towel covering the lower part of his face; meanwhile the harasser was a tall, heavy-weight guy who wore a jacket and a cap.

V. Account of Incident: 

At around 8:00 AM on December 10, Human Rights Day, peasants, workers, members of the urban poor community and other basic sectors gathered together to hold a mobilization to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.

At least 600 people participated in the event. They came from different areas in Camarines Norte: Labo, Capalonga, Daet, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Mercedes and Basud. The said activity was led by KARAPATAN- Camarines Norte and BAYAN-Camarines Norte

The program began at 11:40 AM. By 11:58 gunshots where heard amidst the organized crowd. According to witnesses, the lone gunman who wore a denim-blue jacket, a cap, a pair of shades and had a face towel covering the lower part of his face clearly shot at the crowd and in the process hit 5 people. He was at least a meter away from his victims.

Edmundo Salcedo a member of KMP-CN was hit on his head and was declared dead-on-arrival at the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital. Angelo Ibita who was hit on the lower part of his abdomen and Arsenio Paylan who suffered a gunshot wound on his chest, are both fighting for their lives at the same hospital. Eduardo Ordinario only incurred a graze on his left shoulder from a bullet while another victim who was also hit, a woman, is still being located.

While all this commotion was happening, Beverly Quintillan, BAYAN-Bicol Public information Officer was nearly abducted by a tall and heavy-weight guy who wore a jacket and a cap. She had the presence of mind to cling on to a comrade and this made the suspicious looking man to withdraw from his attempt of kidnapping Beverly.

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 killing of Edmundo Salcedo, the frustrated killing of four others and the harassment of Beverly Quintillan ;
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crimes of killing, frustrated killing and harassment 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

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 

Hon. Avelino Cruz 
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] 

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official to our address below. 

URGENT ACTION Prepared by: 

KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People?s Rights)-National Office 
43 Masikap St. Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES 
Voice: (+632) 435 4146 / Fax: (+632) 928 6078 
Emails: <[email protected]> / [email protected] 
Website: www.karapatan.org