UA Date: 15 March 2006
UA Title: Bayan Muna Member killed, while other co-members harassed in Nueva Ecija, Philippines
UA Case: Summary Execution, Frustrated Killing, Threat/Harassment/Intimidation
Victim/s: Arturo Caloza (killed)
· 28 years old, married with one child
· Male
· A peasant
· A resident of Zone 3, Barangay Villa Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
· Member, Bayan Muna (People First)
Geronimo Pablo
· 45 years old, married with four children
· Male
· A peasant
· A resident of Zone 3, Barangay Villa Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Ursula Tabelin
· 65 years old, married with eight children
· Female
· A resident of Zone 3, Barangay Villa Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Adelaida Corpuz
· Married
· Female
· A resident of Zone 3, Barangay Villa Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
· A Barangay Tanod of Barangay Villam Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
· Member, Bayan Muna (People First)
Place of Incident: Zone 5, Brgy. Villa Marina, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija Center
Date of Incident: 4 March 2006
Alleged Perpetrators: soldiers of the 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) and of the 70th
Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) led by 2nd Lt. Ruizal and S/Sgt Fronda
Account of Incident -
According to Arturo's wife, Julita, on the night of March 4 at approximately 9:00 PM, her husband told her that he was going to the wake of a member of their community at Zone 5. Before he left, Julita remembered that he even reminded her to shut the door and that he will be back soon. Arturo left with Clemente Somera, his father-in-law and his uncle, Dionisio Caloza.
When the three came to the wake, they sat at one of the tables to play a game of cards. They played until about 10:30 PM, when suddenly Arturo was shot by a man wearing a ski mask, black and blue jacket, with dark complexion and short hair.
According to witnesses, Arturo fell from his chair after the first bullet entered his back and exited below his left armpit. When Arturo tried to look at his assassin, the gunman shot at him again this time hitting Arturo on his left chest which exited on his back.
One of the witnesses, Ursula Tabelin, was hit by a bullet that exited Arturo's body. She got hit on her right ankle. Another witness Geronimo Pablo was likewise hit on his left foot by another bullet which exited from Arturo's chest. They both saw Arturo fall down after the first gunshot.
When Ursula saw that she was also hit, she started screaming for help. Her son, Benjamin immediately responded and brought her to a nearby hospital where she was given first aid and then transferred to another medical center for proper treatment.
Meanwhile, the people at the wake had already scampered for safety and had left Arturo sprawled on the floor for almost two hours. Luis Cariaga was the only one who bravely took Arturo to the Heart of Jesus Hospital at Malasin, San Jose City where he was declared dead on arrival.
When Arturo was shot, not a single soldier helped the victim, despite them being only 60 meters away from the place of the incident.
Prior to the incident, on January 21 and 30 soldiers of the 48th and 70th IBPA conducted a survey of Barangay Villa Marina. On January 23, they converted the Barangay Hall and made it into their detachment, a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law. The community members were uncertain of the extent of their stay. The soldiers also conducted a census among the residents.
At first the Caloza family wondered why the soldiers did not include them in the census, but when they did come one day, it was Julieta who was interviewed by the soldiers and who was told that her husband was known as a certain "Ka Ambot" and that Arturo was a member of the New Peoples Army (NPA). She was also asked what the names of their children were.
In 2002, one Julie Casungsong who was a former NPA, went down from the hills, left the rebel movement and eventually became a military asset under the care of the 7th Infantry Division. Julie became a CAFGU element and was killed in November 2005. Police investigations revealed that Julie's wife put the blame on the killing of her husband against Arturo Caloza, but no charges were filed against him.
According to the residents, before the soldiers came to their community, their barangay used to be a quiet place.
Presently, Adelaida Corpuz, another Bayan Muna member and barangay tanod of Barangay Villa Marina had been "invited" twice by the soldiers to report to them at the Barangay Hall, but she refused each time. When she failed to heed their "invitation" the soldiers accused her of being a communist sympathizer. They also pointed out her active participation in protest rallies and her involvement with the struggle of peasants in the whole of San Jose City. The soldiers have tried to take pictures of her but she firmly prevented them from doing so. Together with other members of Bayan Muna in their community, the soldiers have continually threatened them and because of this Adelaida and the other Bayan Muna members are afraid that something bad would also happen to them.
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 summary execution of Arturo Caloza, frustrated killing of Ursula Tabelin and Geronimo Pablo as well as the threats/harassment and intimidation of Adelaida Corpuz.
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime/s of summary execution, frustrated killing and threat/harassment/intimidation.
3. The immediate and proper indemnification 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:
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: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
Hon. Rene V. Sarmiento
*Office of the Peace Process
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Mobile:
Fax:+63 (2) 635 9579
Hon. Avelino J. Cruz,
Jr.
Secretary
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue
Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
osnd@philonline.com
Hon. Raul M. Gonzalez
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344;
5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email
sad@doj.gov.ph
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph
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: < karapatan@tri-isys.com > / karapatan@edsamail.com.ph
Website: www.karapatan.org