Extrajudicial killing of Mr. Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr.
PHL001 / 0813 / OBS 070
Extrajudicial killing
Philippines
August 7, 2013
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 The Philippines.
Brief description of thesituation:
The Observatory has been informed by Task ForceDetainees of the Philippines (TFDP) about the killing of Mr. Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr., President of the Network ofTransport Organizations (NETO), a member of the Alliance of Progressive Labor(APL) and of Akbayan political party, in Davao.
According to the information received, on July 2,2013, at around 8:15 am, Mr. Antonio “Dodong”Petalcorin, Sr. was shot three times by an unknown gunman at his home garage inMaharlika village, Matina Aplaya, Davao city. The gunman was allegedly caughton a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera as he walked away from the sceneand rode a motorcycle. Reportedly, a sketch of the suspect is currently in thehands of the police.
According to Mr.Petalcorin’s wife, her husband has not received any death threats. However,prior to his death, another leader of a transport group, Mr. Emilio Rivera, former Chair of Matina Aplaya TransportCooperative (MATRANSCO), was killed on January 25, 2013. Mr. Petalcorin and Mr.Rivera both actively campaigned against the alleged corruption at the LandTransportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and against its Director,Mr. Benjamin Go.
Moreover, the name ofMr. Petalcorin had previously appeared on a powerpoint presentation entitled “Know Thy Enemies” allegedly made and used by theArmed Forces of the Philippines during information campaigns conducted incommunities in 2008. This document included names of many human rightsdefenders.
The Observatory condemns in the strongest term themurder of Mr. Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr. as well as of Mr. Emilio Rivera, andcalls upon the authorities of the Philippines to order an immediate, thorough, effective and impartial investigation intotheir murder in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before acivil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal sanctions providedby the law.
Actions requested:
Please write to the Philippines authorities urgingthem to:
i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical andpsychological integrity of all human rights defenders and their families in thePhilippines;
ii. Order an immediate, thorough, effective andimpartial investigation into the murder of Messrs. Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr.and Emilio Rivera in order to identify allthose responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunaland apply the penal sanctions provided by the law;
iii. Provide adequate reparation to the relatives ofMessrs. Antonio“Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr. and Emilio Rivera;
iv. Put an end to any kind of harassment against allhuman rights defenders in The Philippines;
v. Comply with all the provisions of the Declarationon Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United NationsGeneral Assembly, in particular:
- its Article 1, which statesthat “everyone has the right, individually or in association with others, topromote the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedomsat the national and international levels”,
- Article 12.1, which foreseesthat “everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, toparticipate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights andfundamental freedoms”,
- and its Article 12.2 whichprovides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure theprotection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and inassociation with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de factoor de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as aconsequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in thepresent Declaration.”
vi. Guarantee the respect of human rights andfundamental freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rightsand other international human rights instruments ratified by the Philippines.
Addresses:
· Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III, President, Republic ofthe Philippines, Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St. San Miguel, Manila,Philippines. Fax +632 7421641/9293968. Email: opnet@ops.gov.ph/ corres@op.gov.ph
· Police Director Alan LM Purisima, Chief of thePhilippine National Police, Camp General Rafael Crame, Quezon City,Philippines. Fax +632 7248763. Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
· Atty. Leila M. De Lima, Secretary, Department ofJustice, Padre Faura St. Manila, Philippines. Fax: +632 5211614. Email: doj.delima@gmail.com
· Ms. Loretta Ann P. Rosales, Chairperson, Commissionon Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP), SAAC Building, UP Complex, Commonwealth Avenue,Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Tel/Fax: +632 929 5655. Fax +632 9290102. Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com
· Mr. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, Secretary,Department of Transportation and Communication, The Columbia Tower. OrtigasAvenue, Barangay Wack-wack, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. Fax + 632 7234925.Email: webmaster@dotc.gov.ph
· Atty. Winston M. Ginez, Chairman, LandTransportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, East Avenue, Diliman, QuezonCity 1100, Philippines. Fax +632 9257191. Email: contact@ltfrb.gov.ph
· H.E. Mr. DenisY. Lepatan, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UnitedNations in Geneva, 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 71619 32, Email: geneva.pm@dfa.gov.ph
· H.E. Ms.Victoria Sisante Bataclan, Ambassador, Embassy of the Philippines in Brussels,297 Avenue Moliere, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, Fax: +32 2 345 64 25. Email: brussels@philembassy.be
Please also write to the diplomatic representationsof the Philippines in your respective countries.
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Geneva-Paris, August 7, 2013
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quotingthe code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an OMCT and FIDH venture, is dedicatedto the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concretesupport in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
· Email: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
· Tel and faxOMCT: + 41 22 809 49 39 / 41 22 809 49 29