HONG KONG MISSION

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HONG KONG MISSION

• For Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines

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We Came. We Saw.

• And we are Speaking up.

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• The HK Mission is a collaborative effort of
  different grassroots groups in HK to contribute
  to the ongoing effort to defend human rights in
  the Philippines.
• The HK mission was held on 23 to 28 July, 2006
• Organized in Hong Kong by the HK Campaign for the
  Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the
  Philippines (HKCAHRPP)

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• The Mission comprised persons from various
  sectors in HK, including members from the Bar
  Association, the Journalist Association, human
  rights NGOs, church, migrant and student groups.

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• The mission concentrated on the Central Luzon
  region, north of Manila.
• We met with the following persons or
  organizations during the fact-finding mission
  (FFM)
• 7 family members of victims who have been either
  killed or abducted
• 1 child witness of an abduction

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• 2 victims of Harassment
• Counsels for the Defense of Liberties
• Chairperson of the New Patriotic Alliance
• Executive Directors of AI Philippines
• Batasan 6 (Crispin Beltran)
• Mayors (Plaridel, Hagonoy, Bulacan)

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• NCCP
• Bishop Alberto Ramento
• Task Force Usig
• Philippine Commission on Human Rights
• Justice, Peace Integrity of Creation
• International Federation of Journalists
• Nation Union of Journalists of the Philippines

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HK Mission for Human Rights and Peace in the
Philippines

• But when we made requests to meet with members of
  the Dept. Of Justice, Dept. of Agrarian Reform
  and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we
  received no reply.

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CODAL

• According to CODAL, 10 judges and 15 lawyers have
  been killed.
• The number of killings have increased, and many
  human rights lawyers have received death threats
  and are subjected to surveillance.

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Crispin Beltran

• Ka Bel has been detained by the police at the
  Philippine Heart Center.
• He was reportedly arrested on the basis of a
  warrant issued 21 years ago.
• The other five Congress member are also facing
  legal attacks.

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Philippine Human Rights Commission

• The lack of a functioning and credible witness
  protection system
• Should the HRC recommend the filing of criminal
  charges against members of the police, the
  military or any other alleged perpetrators,
  public prosecutors are given the authority to
  review the findings before the charge is filed.
• System of review only delays the process and
  often results in rejection .

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Task Force Usig

• Sub Division of the PNP and report to the chief
  of PNP
• No time limit for the investigation of cases
• The independence of TFU is in question
• Investigate killings only and ignore abduction
  cases, as it requires a dead body in order to
  launch an investigation
• Deny any state involvement before future findings
  and investigation

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Karen Empeno Sherlyn Cadapan

• Members were told about more than 180 cases of
  forced disappearances.
• Sherlyn was reportedly assisting Karen in a
  research project.
• Witness related during the abduction, Sherlyn,
  who was pregnant, was kicked in the stomach by
  one of the abductors.
• Military report Members of NPA
• Ignore the release order from Supreme Court

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The Killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento

• Prior to his death, Bishop Ramento told the FFM
  members he had been receiving death threats due
  to criticism of the government and his vocal
  condemnation of extrajudicial killings and human
  rights violations
• A failed protection system by the police
  authorities
• PPT by the military Knowing the Enemy Are We
  Missing the Point Identify the church and
  church organizations as targets and enemies of
  the state

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A Patterns Exists

• Part of the governments plan to rid itself of
  the opposition parties
• A pattern of a sharp increase in the number of
  killings where there are military detachments
• The perpetrators wear ski masks, camouflage or
  green garments.
• The killings are committed with guns.

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A Patterns Exists

• Victims had affiliations with parties or
  organizations that were labeled by the government
  as communist or terrorist or associated with
  the NPA (New Peoples Army)
• Killings have taken place in the victims homes
  or in public places, often carried out by
  individuals riding motorcycles.
• Military men?

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A Patterns Exists

• Harassments and death threats target human rights
  advocates, members of progressive organizations,
  etc.
• Given the similarities in the profiles of the
  persons being targeted, it is clear that these
  killings are politically motivated.

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Melo Commission

• Headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo
  to investigate the series of killings. All
  members have been appointed by the President.
• The commission has no power to charge anyone if
  they refuse to cooperate.
• No prosecutory power and no witness protection
  powers
• Began its investigation by hearing high-ranking
  police and military officers instead of the
  victims families and witnesses

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Recommendations from the HK Fact-Finding Mission

• Order the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the
  PNP to immediately ensure that no further
  killings of civilians occur
• Investigate the killing or disappearance of any
  member of society
• Independent body to investigate any allegations
  of human right abuses

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Recommendations from the HK Fact-Finding Mission

• No prior political approval or impediments should
  be created to obstruct the legal process
  emanating from investigations conducted by this
  body
• Fully independent, well-resourced and secure
  witness protection system should be established.

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Recommendations from the HK Fact-Finding Mission

• All perpetrators should receive appropriate
  punishment
• Adequate reparation to the victims or their
  families
• Halt the use of blacklists
• Protection to those who receive death threats
• Invite international experts and organizations to
  assist in the fact-finding and investigation
  process