ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-075-2015
June 19, 2015
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PHILIPPINES: Environmental activist killed after several months of ‘monitoring’
ISSUES: Torture, illegal detention, bribe, police reforms, criminal justice system
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The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regrets to inform you of yet another killing of a land rights activist who was helping farmers claim their land. His murder happened some two months after his son noticed they were being monitored by men “riding on motorcycle”. The victim’s son saw his father’s car overturn as it slammed into a concrete wall after he was shot.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on the documentation by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP))
On 12 February 2015 at 7:45 a.m., Teresito “Sito” Mula Labastilla, 46 years old, a former priest and human rights defender of indigenous people and farmers brought his son to Maramag Central School. Teresito was about to leave the school premises when two motorcycle-riding men shot him.
According to Tristan Matthew, Teresito’s son, he had just got down from the vehicle when he heard a series of gun shots and heard his father calling him. He saw their vehicle accelerate toward the concrete wall, skid and overturn with his father still inside.
Witnesses ran towards the overturned vehicle and helped Labastilla get out. The men aboard the motorcycle sped off. The victim was bloodied and unconscious. The witnesses helped lay him down on the concrete road while they waited for a vehicle to bring Labastilla to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag. The doctor declared Teresito dead on arrival. He sustained three gunshot wounds in his neck, face and chest. The attending physician said that all the bullets went through his body. The police investigated the crime scene and recovered four empty cartridges of a .45 caliber gun.
Arline Amigo, Teresito’s live-in partner, learned about the incident when someone came to their house in Barangay Base Camp, Maramag to fetch and accompany her to the hospital. According to Arline, she thought that Teresito was only injured. When she arrived at the hospital, she was directed to the morgue. Amigo was distressed and disoriented. She and Labastilla were soon to be married.
Witnesses recounted to Arline that the two assailants were wearing masks and riding a motorcycle that had no plate number. As Teresito was about to leave after dropping his son at school, the back rider of the motorcycle shot at the rear tire of Labastilla’s vehicle. The victim was then shot three times. Tristan Matthew was almost hit by the motorcycle.
According to Tristan, the motorcycle-riding men were ‘monitoring’ them since December 2014. The unidentified men usually stood near the front of his school and he saw them every time his father dropped him off.
ABOUT THE VICTIM:
Teresito was a well-known environmental activist in the province. He was a priest for 14 years and was assigned in Malaybalay City, Lantapan, and San Fernando, Bukidnon Diocese. He left the priesthood in 2000 and had his own family.
He ran for mayor in Lantapan, Bukidnon in 2010, but lost. The current mayor filed a case of Oral Defamation against Labastilla. A day before he was killed, he was convicted and had the penalty of imprisonment for ten days and was ordered to pay ten thousand pesos (P10,000). During his campaign, Labastilla said that he desired for honest and sincere services to be given to the people of the municipality. His main advocacy was for the issues of land and water to be resolved for the farmers and indigenous people in his area.
He is also the spiritual adviser and consultant of the local organization called Bukidnon Agrarian Reform and Agri-Business Multipurpose Association (BARAMA). The organization was established on 3 February 2008. It promotes organic farming among the indigenous people and farmers in the province.
Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Barangay Base Camp, Maramag were having difficulties in occupying the awarded 34 hectares of land after a former owner sent private armies to the area and harassed them. The beneficiaries asked advice from Labastilla and he accommodated them. He used his vehicle and drove the farmers when they needed to make follow ups regarding their case. People close to Labastilla think that this might be the reason why he was killed.
Recently, Maramag Police Chief Jose Sevillero visited Arline and showed her a cartographic sketch of one of the suspects. She said that she hopes the case will be resolved soon. Arline also fears for her life and her children because they have noticed motorcycle-riding men going around their residence.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the concerned authorities listed below expressing your concern about Teresito’s death and request protection for his family.
The AHRC is also writing separate letters to the UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders, and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
To support this appeal, please click here:
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear __________,
PHILIPPINES: Environmental activist killed after several months of ‘monitoring’
Name of killed victim: Teresito “Sito” Mula Labastillas, 46 years old. He is a former priest and human rights defender of indigenous people and farmers. He is a well-known environmental activist in the province. He also served as a spiritual adviser and consultant of the local organization called Bukidnon Agrarian Reform and Agri-Business Multipurpose Association (BARAMA).
Alleged Perpetrators: Two unidentified men aboard XRM motorcycle with no plate number.
Date of incident: 12 February 2015 at 7:45 a.m.
Place of incident: Dionisio Micayabas Street, North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the death of Teresito “Sito” Labastilla.
On 12 February 2015 at 7:45 a.m., Teresito “Sito” Mula Labastilla, 46 years old, brought his son to Maramag Central School. Teresito was about to leave the school premises when two motorcycle-riding men shot him.
According to Tristan Matthew, Teresito’s son, he had just got down from the vehicle when he heard a series of gun shots and heard his father calling him. He saw their vehicle accelerate toward the concrete wall, skid and overturn with his father still inside.
Witnesses ran towards the overturned vehicle and helped Labastilla get out. The men aboard the motorcycle sped off. The victim was bloodied and unconscious. The witnesses helped lay him down on the concrete road while they waited for a vehicle to bring Labastilla to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag. The doctor declared Teresito dead on arrival. He sustained three gunshot wounds in his neck, face and chest. The attending physician said that all the bullets went through his body. The police investigated the crime scene and recovered four empty cartridges of a .45 caliber gun.
I have learnt that Arline Amigo, Teresito’s live-in partner, was distressed and disoriented when she was taken to the morgue to see the body. She and Labastilla were soon to be married.
According to Tristan, the unidentified motorcycle-riding men were ‘monitoring’ them since December 2014. They usually stood near the front of his school and he saw them every time his father dropped him off.
Teresito was a well-known environmental activist in the province. He was a priest for 14 years and was assigned in Malaybalay City, Lantapan, and San Fernando, Bukidnon Diocese. He left the priesthood in 2000 and had his own family.
He ran for mayor in Lantapan, Bukidnon in 2010, but lost. The current mayor filed a case of Oral Defamation against Labastilla. A day before he was killed, he was convicted and given the penalty of imprisonment for ten days and was ordered to pay ten thousand pesos (P10,000).
He was also the spiritual adviser and consultant of the local organization called Bukidnon Agrarian Reform and Agri-Business Multipurpose Association (BARAMA). The organization was established in February 2008. It promotes organic farming among the indigenous people and farmers in the province.
Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Barangay Base Camp, Maramag were having difficulties in occupying the awarded 34 hectares of land after a former owner sent private armies to the area and harassed them. The beneficiaries asked advice from Labastilla and he accommodated them. He used his vehicle and drove the farmers when they needed to make follow ups regarding their case. Arline and other people close to Labastilla think that this might be the reason why he was killed.
I was informed that recently Maramag Police Chief Jose Sevillero visited Arline and showed her a cartographic sketch of one of the suspects. She hopes that the case will be resolved soon.
I urge you to ensure the safety of Arline and her children that fears for her life and her children because they have noticed motorcycle-riding men going around their residence. The police should afforded them security and protection. I also urge to conduct a prompt and effective investigation into Teresito’s death and serve justice without delay.
I trust that you will take appropriate action in this.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
- Mr. Benigno Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila 1005
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80 - Ms. Loretta Ann Rosales
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655 / 926 6188
E-mail: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com - Police Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina
Officer-in-Charge
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City
PHILIPPINES
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph - Ms. Leila de Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Bldg., Padre Faura
1004 Manila
PHILIPPINES
Fax: +63 2 521 1614
E-mail: soj@doj.gov.ph
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)