Death threats against Mr. Arthur “Jun” Agarado Sapanghari, Jr.

Death threats /Fear

for the physicalintegrity

Philippines

January31, 2014

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme ofthe World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federationfor Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgent intervention in the followingsituation in the Philippines.

Description of the information:

TheObservatory has been informed by Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)about death threats against Mr. Arthur“Jun” Agarado Sapanghari, Jr., a field reporter and radio broadcaster of dxDB Bandilyo Bukidnon -Radio Veritas based in the city of Valencia, Bukidnon province. Mr. Sapanghari is particularlyknown for reporting on human rights issues including corruption, illegallogging, and human trafficking.

Accordingto the information received, on December 7 and 10, 2013, and on January 21, 2014, Mr. Arthur “Jun”Sapanghari, Jr. received death threats through text messages. The one receivedon December 10 said: “I am listening to your program. Conceited! You will begone before Christmas. You will suffer the same fate as Joas Dignos a commentatorin Maramag, Bukidnon, who was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assailantsin Valencia on November 29, 2013”. On January 21, 2014, he received anothertext message saying: “I saw your wife and daughter. I will kill them”.

On December 18, 2013 at around 8:00 pm, whileat home, Mr. Sapanghari saw three men get down from a motorcycle. One of themwalked towards the kitchen door. Mr. Sapanghari saw the man getting somethingfrom his sling bag. Alarmed that it might be a gun, Mr. Sapanghari pushed hisdaughter to a corner of the house and closed the kitchen door. He then dashedtowards their front door to close it, and turned off the lights. He called thepolice for help, but when they arrived, the three men had gone. He then went toValencia city police station to file a police report.

On January 17, 2014, at around 8:00 am, a manon a motorcycle went to Mr. Sapanghari’s house and asked his wife about hiswhereabouts. When his wife answered that he was not at home, the man went away.From the description his wife gave to Mr. Sapanghari, he remembered one of thesuspects in the killing of a number of people in Valencia and Maramag. At thetime of those events, Mr. Sapanghari was at Maramag police station to investigatea murder case in Musuan. He then boarded a bus to Musuan to get his motorcycle.But as he was about to get off the bus, he saw six persons on board of threemotorcycles near the spot where his motorcycle was parked. Uneasy, he wentdirectly to Valencia and called a friend to get his motorcycle. When his friendreached Mr. Sapanghari’s motorcycle, he noticed a pickup truck without platenumber and two other motorcycles in the area. When his friend started Mr.Sapanghari’s motorcycle and drove on, the pickup truck followed him. It onlystopped when he was about to enter Valencia.

Furthermore, on January 21, a friend of Mr.Sapanghari, Mr. Randie Makipotin, also received death threats through textmessages. He was threatened to be killed for helping Mr. Sapanghari and afterthe latter would be “done with”. The threat started after Mr. Makipotin offeredhis multicab as a vehicle for Mr. Sapanghari to use.

Following those events, Mr. Sapangharirequested police protection to the police provincial Director in Bukidnon. Inresponse to his request, the Director ordered the Valencia police chief to assigntwo police officers to the protection of Mr. Sapanghari. However, after a week,police protection was discontinued.

TheObservatory expresses its deepest concern about the death threats againstMessrs. Arthur“Jun” Sapanghari and Randie Makipotin, which seem directly related to Mr. Sapanghari’s human rights activities. TheObservatory urges the authorities of the Philippines to conduct an immediate, thorough, effective, andimpartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts in order to identify allthose responsible, bring them to justice, and apply the sanctions provided bythe law.

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities in Philippines, urging them to:

i. Guaranteein all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Messrs.Arthur “Jun” Sapanghari andRandie Makipotin, their relatives, as well as all human rights defenders in the Philippines;

ii. Orderan immediate, thorough, transparent, effective, and impartial investigationinto the above-mentioned death threats against Messrs. Arthur “Jun” Sapanghari and Randie Makipotin in order to identify all those responsible, bringthem to justice, and apply them the sanctions provided by the law;

iii. Putan end to any kind of harassment against Mr. Arthur “Jun” Sapanghari and all human rights defenders in the Philippines and ensure in all circumstancesthat they are able to carry out their work without unjustified hindrance andfear of reprisal;

iv. Conformwith the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted bythe General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especiallyregarding the following Articles:

- Article1: everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, topromote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human rights andfundamental freedoms at the national and international levels;

- Article12.2: the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection bythe competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association withothers, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adversediscrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of hisor her legitimate exercise of his or her rights [...];

v. Ensurein all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms inaccordance with international human rights standards and internationalinstruments ratified by the Philippines.

Addresses:

· Mr. Benigno Simeon AquinoIII, President, Republic of the Philippines, Malacanang Palace, JP LaurelStreet, San Miguel, Manila 1005, Philippines; Fax: +63 2 736 1010;E-mail: op@president.gov.ph

· Ms. Loretta Ann P. Rosales,Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights (CHR), SAAC Bldg., CommonwealthAvenue, U.P. Complex, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; Fax: +63 2929 0102;E-mail: rosales.chr@gmail.com

· Police Director GeneralAlan LA Madrid Purisima, Chief, Philippine National Police, Camp General RafaelCrame, Quezon City, Philippines; Fax: +63 2 724 8763 / +63 2 723 0401;E-mail: feedback@pnp.gov.ph

· Governor Jose Maria R. Zubiri, Jr., Province of Bukidnon, Provincial Capitol,Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines, 8700. Fax: +63 (088)813-3845; 813-2457

· H.E. Ms. Cecilia B. Rebong,Ambassador, PermanentMission of Philippines to the United Nations. 47, Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva 19.Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 716 19 32. E-mail: geneva.pm@dfa.gov.ph

Pleasealso write to the diplomatic missions or embassies of Philippines in yourrespective country.

***

Geneva-Paris, January 31, 2014

Kindlyinform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in yourreply.

TheObservatory, an OMCT and FIDH venture, is dedicated to the protection of humanrights defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need.

Tocontact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

· E-mail:Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax OMCT (+41)(0) 22 809 49 39 / (+41) 22 809 49 29

· Tel and fax FIDH (+33) (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / (+33)1 43 55 18 80