UA Date: 24 May 2006
UA Title: UCCP Pastor killed in Nueva Ecija, Philippines
UA Case: SUMMARY EXECUTION
Victim/s: REV. ANDY PAWICAN
· 30 years old
· married with three (3) children
· Male
· A resident of Sitio Maluyon, Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
· Licentiate Pastor, United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Place of Incident: Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Date of Incident: 21 May 2006, around 11:00 AM
Alleged Perpetrators: elements of the Philippine Army 48th Infantry Battalion Delta Company led by Lt.
Tagliwag
Account of Incident –
On May 21, at around 11:00 AM Pastor Andy Pawican had just concluded his regular Sunday service in Sitio Maluyon Barangay Fatima, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, and was having a small chat with some women church members when armed men in uniform forcibly took him away. He was supposed to have lunch with one of his church members when the soldiers blocked their way and told the women to leave.
At around 5:00 PM the same day, residents from within the area heard five shots being fired. The pastor's dead body was found not too far away from among the houses in the community.
When relatives of the Pastor went to the local police station to have the incident blottered, the police immediately claimed that the Pastor died in a legitimate encounter which happened in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay Tayabo, San Jose at dawn that same day. But the relatives insisted that the pastor did not die that morning but in the afternoon of that day after hearing gunfire being shot not far from their community.
Pantabangan had been militarized since October, 2005. Residents from the area are complaining that their farm animals are being stolen from them by government soldiers. This accusation has angered the soldiers, and they resorted to more harassment in the community.
Pastor Andy's body was brought back to his native Ifugao province, where an autopsy will be conducted.
The reverend pastor is known to be active in his community, especially in addressing the concerns of his church members.
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 Reverend Andy Pawican.
2. The arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the crime/s of summary execution.
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 these instruments' provisions.
You may send your communications to:
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Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
osnd@philonline.com
Hon. Raul M. Gonzalez
Secretary, Department of Justice
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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
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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:
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