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UA Date:
September 20, 2004
UA
Title:
RAMOS FAMILY ABDUCTED BY AFP ELEMENTS IN
PANABO CITY, SOUTERN MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
UA Case:
Abduction/
Enforced Disappearance/ Illegal Arrest and Arbitrary detention
Victim/s:
Mr. Manuel Ramos aka Pipoy
·
Male
·
44 years
old, married
·
Farmer
·
A resident
of Purok 5, So. Malitbug, Barangay Nanyo, Panabo City, Philippines
Mrs. Dolores Ramos
·
Female
·
23-25 years
old, married
·
Housewife
·
A resident
of Purok 5, So. Malitbug, Barangay Nanyo, Panabo City, Philippines
Maylene Ramos
·
Female
·
2 years old,
child
·
A resident
of Purok 5, So. Malitbug, Barangay Nanyo, Panabo City, Philippines
I.
Date of
Incident:
16 September 2004 between 4:00-5:00 P.M.
II.
Place of
Incident:
Inside the
residence of Ramos family in Purok
5, So. Malitbug, Barangay Nanyo, Panobo City,
Southern Mindanao, Philippines
III.
Perpetrators: Armed men wearing ski masks and
on-board of a
multi-cab
with no plate number. They are allegedly elements of Military Intelligence Group
(MIG), Task Force Davao and 73rd IB of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines
* Col.
Eduardo del Rosario (TF Davao Commanding Officer), Lt. Col. Prayno (73rd
IB PA Commanding Officer); Pfc. Toto Palma (rebel returnee turned CAFGU element
and now a regular element of the 73rd IB PA; alias “Kidat”, a
rebel returnee turned CAFGU element under the supervision of the 73rd
IB PA.
IV.
Possible Motive:
Political Repression
V.
Summary of Incident:
Last September 16, 2004 at around four o’ clock
in the afternoon, an armed men wearing ski masks who are believed to be elements
of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG), Task Force Davao and 73rd
Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) suddenly barged
into the house of Mr. Manuel Ramos who they suspected as a former NPA member.
After a few minutes, the said perpetrators abducted Mr. Ramos, his wife and
their two-year-old daughter in their own residence in Barangay Nanyo, Panabo
City.
Witnesses identified that a certain “Kidlat”,
a well-known rebel returnee turned to CAFGU element was seen together with the
missing Ramos family on-board of a multi-cab vehicle on that same day. Some
witnesses also observed that Loreto “Toto” Palma was seen in the area hours
before the incident happen. Palma was also observed to be as if looking for
someone earlier that same day.
On September 18, 2004 unconfirmed reports reached
KARAPATAN Regional Office (SMR) that the aforementioned missing family believed
to be brought to the Regional Headquarters of eth Military Intelligence Group,
Region 11 in Camp Panacan. Immediately, relatives of Mr. Manuel Ramos together
with the KARAPATAN-SMR QRT went to Camp Panacan to look for the victims, Upon
reaching the Camp, only the relatives were allowed to enter the camp’s
compound. The relatives asked for any information regarding their missing kin
but the AFP elements denied any knowledge about the incident and retorted that
the members of the NPA possibly took the victims.
Immediately after receiving the report of the
incident, KARAPATAN QRT dispatched media advisory for urgent action. On
September 18, 2004 around 5:00 P.M., a concern media man from Mindanao Times
responded and called KARAPATAN Regional Office. The said media man confirmed
that during an interview, Col. del Rosario admitted that Manuel Ramos aka “Ka
Pipoy”, a high ranking NPA officer was arrested by his men and presently
detained in 73rd IB headquarters in Malagos, Davao City.
On September 19, 2004, Sunday, on the local
prints Col. del Rosario, aka Ka Pipoy, a high ranking NPA officer and that the
alleged NPA faces string of charges in court. Later in the night, while in 73rd
IB Headquarters in Malagos, Davao City, Lt. Col. Parayno was interviewed on the
television (ABS-CBN) and footage of Manuel and his family were shown in public.
On September 20 2004, Monday, around 1: 00 P.M.
relatives of Manuel Ramos together with KARAPATAN went to 73rd
Headquarters in Malagos, Davao City to see and visit Manuel and his family, but
around 100 meters away from the headquarters’ camp, 30 elements of Task Force
Davao and 73rd IB PA barred the group from entering the camp. A
certain Lt. Alex Banatao came out, spoke in behalf of Lt. Col. Parayno,
commanding officer of 73rd IB, and told to Ariel Casilao of
KARAPATAN-SMR and Leticia Doldolia (Manuel Ramos’ sister) that Pipoy is no
longer in their custody and that Pipoy was turned over to Task Force Davao
earlier that day. The group then proceeded to Task Force Davao headquarters in
Ecoland, Davao City and upon reaching there, Col. Jumlani (OIC of TF Davao) said
that no Manuel Ramos aka Pipoy was turned over to them and that they do not have
any idea of Pipoy’s whereabouts. The victims’ relatives, to be assisted by
KARAPATAN-SMR, filed a writ of Habeas Corpus in proper courts for (the bodies
of) the victims be produced. Up to now, Pipoy, his wife and their two-year-old
daughter, Maylene, are believed to be still under the custody of the 73rd
IB as the two commanding officer Lt. Col. Prayno (73rd IB) and Col.
Eduardo del Rosario (Task Force Davao) announced to the media that they will be
having a joint press conference on Thursday to present Manuel Ramos in public.
*Manuel Ramos and his family were abducted by the
AFP to use Manuel in the case
of Alvin Luque since Mr. Ramos is co-accused of Alvin and their star witness,
Toto Palma, is no longer a credible witness due to murder and other charges
already filed against him (Palma).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send letters, email or fax messages calling for:
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, enforced disappearance, illegal arrest and arbitrary detention of the
Ramos family.
The
prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime of arbitrary arrest and enforced
disappearance as well as other atrocities committed by those found to be guilty
of the crime.
The
immediate and proper indemnification of the family/relatives of the victims; and
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 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 of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace,
J.P. 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
Email: [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. Avelino Cruz, Jr.
Secretary , Department of National Defense
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo
E. delos 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]