Dear friends,

Your urgent appeal is once again requested as four family members from a minority tribe in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines were massacred by elements of the now infamous 204th Brigade belonging to the 16th Infantry Battalion, 90 days after the same Brigade killed Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy in Mindoro Oriental.

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

URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION

UA Date :            09 May 2003

UA Title:             MANGYAN* FAMILY MASSACRED IN MINDORO OCCIDENTAL

I. Case:                Massacre

I. Victim/s:

Rogelio Blanco
· 25 years old, male
· married and with three children
· a resident of Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

Olivia Batikulin
· 19 years old, female
· married,with three children and eight (8) months pregnant with her fourth child
· a resident of Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

John Kevin Batikulin
· three (3) years old, male
· son of Rogelio and Olivia
· a resident of Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

Dexter Batikulin
· one and a half (1 1/2) year old, male
· son of Rogelio and Olivia
· a resident of Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

Len-len Batikulin - LONE SURVIVOR
· female
· daughter of Rogelio and Olivia
· a resident of Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

II. Place of Incident:     Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental, Philippines

III. Date of Incident:     21 July 2003, at around 6:00 - 6:30 AM

IV. Perpetrator/s:         Around 20 soldiers of the 16th Infantry Battalion led by 1st Lt. Danilo Escandor under the 204th Brigade

V. Summary of Incident:

At around 6:00-6:30AM some 20 soldiers of the 16th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army led by 1st Lt. Danilo Escandor came and open fired at the house of Rogelio Blanco, Olivia Batikulin and their children, a Mangyan* family living in Sitio Talayog, Barangay San Nicolas, Magsasay, Mindoro Occidental.

A sibling of Olivia witnessed the massacre. That sibling said that while they was busy preparing to go out to work to be able to buy some food for the children they heard loud gunshots being fired in their direction. John Kevin, Olivia's eldest child was instantly hit and fell on his bloodied back. The next to get hit was Dexter whom Rogelio tried keep away from the indiscriminate bullets but failed to do so. Rogelio was also fatally shot in the process. Likewise, Olivia was not spared when she vainly tried to protect her children from the shots. She herself got hit and her eight month unborn child died with her. The lone survivor was Len-len who only suffered a minor injury on her hand.

The sibling who witnessed the incident said that she saw four soldiers firing at the house of the Blanco's. She was screaming for them to stop and take pity on the family but the soldiers kept right on with their carnage. After killing them, the soldiers then ordered those around to quickly bring the bodies to the hospital.

Col. Fernando Mesa Commanding Officer of the 204th Brigade, Philippine Army admitted to the incident but said that this was a result of an encounter between the Philippine Army and the New People's Army in Burirawan. Other witnesses however, claim that there were no New People's Army rebels in their area. The Barangay Captain attested to this, saying his community was always peaceful.

*Mangyan - an indigenous people's tribe found in the island of Mindoro.

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 massacre of the Blanco family in Mindoro Occidental.

2. The prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of massacre as well as investigations of other atrocities committed by elements of the 16th Infantry Batallion and the 204th Brigade of the Philippine Army and the local Philippine National Police.

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

4. That the Philippine Government 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] / [email protected]

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

Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 926 6188
Email: [email protected]