UA Date: 21 March 2007
UA Title: Another Civilian Victim of Extra-Judicial Killing Under Oplan Bantay Laya II in Agusan Del Sur
UA Case: Extra-Judicial Killing
Victim/s: Cipriano Ligaspo
· 43 years old, married with 2 children
· Male
· A resident of Sta. Monica, Bunawan Brook, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines
· Motorcycle driver
Place of Incident: Masapia, San Andres, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines
Date of Incident: 14 March 2007, at around 1:30 in the afternoon
Alleged Perpetrators: two unidentified armed men wearing bonnets believed to be agents of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines
Account of Incident –
On March 14 at about 1:30 in the afternoon, motorcycle driver Cipriano Ligaspo, 43 years old, of Sta. Monica, Bunawan Brook, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur was shot dead while on his way home by 2 unidentified men wearing bonnets in Masapia, San Andres, Bunawan. Masapia is about 18 kilometers from Sta. Monica and just several meters where military men were encamped. He was shot 16 times with .9mm and .45 caliber guns. Cipriano left behind a wife and 2 children.
Prior to Cipriano's death, soldiers have been harassing him and even threatened to kill him. The military believed that Cipriano was a sympathizer of the New People's Army.
Last February 20, 2007, Cipriano along with his brother and five other peasants were forcibly loaded by 14 military men belonging to the 36th IB PA into a military truck. They were brought to the 36thIB PA Headquarter in Scaling, Brgy San Roque, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. They were accused of supporting the NPA.
In the Headquarters, photos and videos were taken of the seven. They were interrogated in separate rooms where they were asked about their organizational affiliation and their knowledge of the NPA and their supporters. They were interrogated without counsel and were subjected to psychological torture.
At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, relatives and family members of the seven went to the 36th IB PA Headquarters to inquire about the whereabouts of the seven. They were only allowed to see their husbands at around 5pm when the military released the seven and only upon signing a waiver that stated that they were in good condition upon their release.
They were also threatened to be killed if they continued supporting the NPA. Today, military presence in Sta. Monica and adjacent barangays or villages, remain and no suspect has been apprehended. Statements to the local media from the 36th IBPA alleges the killing as the work of the NPA but sources who decline to be named points a finger to the AFP because of the incidents prior to Cipriano's death.
Military operations cover the municipalities of Tagbina and Bislig in Surigao del Sur and Trento and Bunawan in Agusan del Sur. Hinterland communities have been subjected to aerial/land bombardment, civilian residents are being harrassed, intimidated and threatened by the military forces.
Cipriano is a victim of the massive counter-insurgency campaign under Oplan Bantay Laya II implemented by the composite team of 36th IB PA, 58th IB PA, 401st and 402nd Brigades of the Philippine Army in the hinterland communities of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur since January of this year.
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 Cipriano Ligaspo.
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime/s of extrajudicial killings.
3. The immediate and proper indemnification of the victims;
4. The immediate pullout of military forces in Sta. Monica and other barangays in Bunawan; and
5. 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 these instruments' 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
Department of National Defense
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
34 Maamo St. Sikatuna Village, Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Emails: <karapatan@tri-isys.com > / karapatan.pid@gmail.com / docu_krptn@yahoo.com
Website: www.karapatan.org