Dear Friends,

 

It is unfortunate that in the past three months alone we have been sending you urgent actions like every week or every other week. This is the rampage being done by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Administration as it wreaks havoc on the lives of every Filipino as we approach the 55th year of the United Nations Declaration of the International Human Rights Day on December 10. 

 

We are sending you another case of human rights violation  --the abduction of a muslim priest at the time of the ramadan.

 

Please continue supporting our efforts in showing to the world this very alarming human rights situation in the country today.

 

in solidarity,

KARAPATAN-National Office

Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights

 

 

 

UA Date:         02 December 2003

 

UA Title:                          ISLAMIC PRIEST ABDUCTED

DURING RAMADAN IN PALAWAN,

PHILIPPINES

 

UA Case:        Forcible Abduction

 

I.                     Victim:                        Ustadz Yahcub “Benjamin” Basug

·         male

·         34 years old, married

·         Maguindanaoan and Tausug

·         An Imam (Islamic Priest) of Barangay Bagung Silang and Abad Santos Mosque in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

·         a resident of Barangay Bagung Silang, Roxas St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

 

II.                   Place of Incident:      A temporary public market in Malvar St., Calero Area,

Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

 

III.                Date of Incident:       23 November 2003

 

IV.                Perpetrators:                        Two unidentified elements believed to belong to the

Philippine National Police

 

V.                  Account of Incident:

 

On November 23, 2003, at 5:00 PM, while buying food for bukaan  (breaking of fast) in a temporary public market in Malvar St., Calero area, Puerto Princesa City, two unidentified men mauled and abducted Ustadz Yahcub Basug, an Imam of Gy. Silang mosque in Puerto Princesa City.

 

The next day, Mrs. Maryam Basug, the wife of Ustadz Basug, went to the provincial Philippine National Police (PNP) Headquarters in Barangay Tiniguiban, Puerto Princessa City to look for her husband. She was attended by Col. Garraez, PNP provincial commander, who told her that Ustadz Basug was arrested for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with the bombing of Fitmart Shopping Center in General Santos City last year. Col. Garraez, informed them that Ustadz Basug was to be detained in Camp Crame for these charges.

 

Col. Garraez showed no warrant of arrest, except for a note from the team leader of the arresting unit, signed by SPI Benjamin Que Cruz (PNP), which stated a certain criminal case no. 43918, which implicates Ustadz Basug for multiple murder and frustrated murder. However, in the paper shown, there was no information as to which Regional Trial Court was the case filed or of the identity of the judge handling the case. When Mrs. Basug tried to ask for SPI Cruz, she was informed that the arresting officer did not wish to talk to them.

 

The last time Mrs. Basug saw her husband was when the police officers boarded Ustadz Basug in a Philippines Airlines Plane for a 10:30 flight bound for Manila on November 24, 2003.

 

Mrs. Basug said that days following the abduction of her husband, she heard the military in Palawan state in media interviews that Ustadz Basug is an Abu Sayyaf member charged with the bombing spree in General Santos last year.

 

She has yet to confirm if her husband is indeed detained at Camp Crame. She has sought the assistance of the Moro Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA), a Moro people’s organization to help find her husband when she comes to Manila and to find a lawyer to handle her husband’s case.

 

Mrs. Basug has just given birth and would need to rest before her travel to Manila, aside from the fact that her family is still raising her money for her travel fare.

 

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 forcible abduction Ustadz Yahcub “Benjamin” Basug;

2.      The prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of forcible abduction as well as investigations of other atrocities committed not only by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Puerto Princesa 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:

 

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]