Japan Group Releases Report on Killings in Philippines

Weapons Used

Some of the victims were killed with a weapon which is usually used by military, the .45-caliber pistol.

* Case 5 – Isaias Sta.Rosa:
o The victim’s family stated they were threatened by men in military uniforms carrying .45-caliber pistols.
o Police investigation recovered a shell from a .45-caliber pistol near the victim’s body.
* Case 20 – Felipe Lapa:
o The victim was killed by a shot to the head with a .45-caliber gun. The perpetrators were identified as CAFGU members.
* Case 7 – Jesus “Buth” Servida:
o The victim was killed point blank with .45-caliber gun shots to his face and mouth.
o The perpetrator has not been identified.
* Case 18 – Diosdado Fortuna:
o The victim was shot by two armed, unidentified men.
o Bullets from a .45-caliber pistol entered the victim’s chest and fatally injured his heart, liver and spleen causing his instant death.

Location (Where the killings took place):

The majority of the killings occurred in front of the victim’s home or place of work and in front of several witnesses. In some cases, perpetrators dared to assassinate victims in broad daylight. These acts indicate the assailants had little fear of police or government reaction.

* In many cases, the assailants approached the victims at their homes, ‘escorted’ them several meters away and then shot them.
o Case 5 : Isaias Sta. Rosa
o Case 20: Felipe Lapa
o Case 21: Mr. and Mrs.Abarillo
* In other cases, the victims were killed in public settings such as place of work or in residential areas:
o Case 2: Juvy Magsino

The victims were shot and killed near the military camp.

o Case 8: Ricardo Ramos

The victim was killed while he celebrated the victory of the strike with many villagers.

o Case 11: Abelardo Ladera

The victim was killed while stopping at a local store on his way home. He was killed in front of his driver at about 1pm.

o Case 19: Romeo Malabanan

The victim was shot in front of his home, along a public street in the morning.

o Case 7: Jesus “Buth” Servida

The Victim was shot in front of his place of work (Japanese-owned Yazaki-EMI) in the morning.

o Case : Diosdado Fortuna

The victim was shot in front of the gate of the Japanese-owned plastic company SAGARA around 5:20 pm.

(5) Killings associated with General Palparan

The Melo commission report described that the involvement of Mr. Palparan, a former General of the AFP as follows:

“General Palparan, clearly the man in the center of the maelstrom, admits to having uttered statements openly encouraging persons to perform extrajudicial killings against those suspected of being communists, albeit unarmed civilians. Worse, he was reported to have ‘expressed delight’ at the disappearance of at least two persons, mere students, but who were suspected of being communists or activists.”47