Extra-judicial killing of land and housing rights activist Mr. Sixto V. Bagasala Jr.

Philippines

February 21, 2014

The Observatory for the Protection of Human RightsDefenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), requests your urgentintervention in the following situation in Philippines.

Description of the information:

The Observatory has been informed by Task ForceDetainees of the Philippines (TFDP) about the killing of Mr. Sixto V. Bagasala Jr., a communityleader and land and housing rights activist inMalabon city, after he attended a meeting on low-income housing for informalsettlers. Mr. Sixto V. Bagasala Jr., alsoknown as Ka Jun, was notably the President of the Local Association of UrbanPoor Communities in Malabon.

According tothe information received, on February 15, 2014 at around 5:15pm, Mr. Sixto V.Bagasala Jr. was shot dead by two men, who were identified by witnesses asReynaldo Suela alias ‘Ipot’ and one Allan, in a flea market located in acrowded informal settlement between Barangay Catmon and Barangay Tonsuya,Malabon City, north of Manila. Mr. Bagasala was on his way home from a meetingheld with leaders of informal settlers’ associations in Barangay Tonsuya.

Mr. Bagasala suffered gunshot wounds on hisright leg, shoulder, chest and head. He then tried to get away from hisattackers but the assassins pursued him and fired more shots. When they stopped,witnesses heard one of the men saying, “there will be more after you”. Mr.Bagasala succumbed from his injuries shortly after.

Before the incident, witnesses reportedlynoticed two men who they identified as “Jasper” and “Babyface” roaming aroundthe vicinity apparently waiting for someone. Moments later Jasper and Babyfacevanished when Mr. Bagasala appeared at the scene. At that time they saw the twoother men Reynaldo Suela and Allan.

According to the information received, Mr.Bagasala had received numerous death threats in the past in relation to his campaigns for informal settlers’housing rights.

Mr. Bagasala and members of localorganizations were at the forefront of a campaign to promote the constructionof medium-rise buildings to be financed through the High Density Housing (HDH)Program of the Social Housing Finance Corporation. The project is part of the50-billion Peso (around 82-million Euro) shelter fund of the nationalgovernment for informal settlers living along waterways and other “dangerzones”. Mr. Bagasala believed that the program could disrupt the interests ofothers who profit from informal settlers and from the anomalous implementationof several low-income housing projects.

The Observatory firmly condemns theextra-judicial killing of Mr. Sixto V. Bagasala Jr. and urges the Philippineauthorities to conduct an immediate, thorough, effective and impartialinvestigation in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before anindependent and impartial tribunal and apply the sanctions provided by the law.

Action requested:

Please write to the authorities in Philippines, urging themto:

i. Guaranteein all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all human rights defendersin the Philippines;

ii. Orderan immediate, thorough, transparent, effective and impartial investigation intothe murder of Mr. Sixto V. Bagasala in order to identify all those responsible,bring them before an independent tribunal, and apply them the sanctionsprovided by the law;

iii. Provideadequate reparation and compensation to Mr. Sexto V. Bagasala’s relatives;

iv. Putan end to any kind of harassment against all human rights defenders in thePhilippines and ensurein all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimateactivities without any hindrance and fear of reprisals;

v. 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 [...];

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

Addresses:

• Hon. Benigno Simeon AquinoIII, President, Republic of the Philippines, Malacanang Palace, JP LaurelStreet, San Miguel, Manila 1005, Philippines; Fax: +63 2 736 1010;E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph
• Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Chairperson Housingand Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), BDOPlaza, 8737 Paseo De Roxas St, Makati City, Philippines. Fax: +63 2 811 4158 Email:info@hudcc.gov.ph
• Atty. Chito M. Cruz, General Manager NationalHousing Authority (NHA), Elliptical Road,Diliman, 1100, Quezon City. Fax: +63 2 9212530
• Chairperson Loretta Ann P.Rosales, 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
• H.E. Ms.Cecilia B. Rebong, Ambassador, Permanent Mission ofPhilippines to the United Nations. 47, Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva 19.Switzerland. Fax: (+41) (0) 22 716 19 32. E-mail: geneva.pm@dfa.gov.ph

Please also write to the diplomatic missions orembassies of Philippines in your respective country.

***

Geneva-Paris, February21, 2014

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the codeof this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, an OMCT and FIDH venture, is dedicated tothe protection of human rights defenders and aims to offer them concretesupport in their time of need.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:

• E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
• Tel and fax OMCT +41 22809 49 39 / +41 22 809 49 29
• Tel and fax FIDH (+33)(0) 1 43 55 25 18 / (+33) 1 43 55 18 80