Japan Group Releases Report on Killings in Philippines

The case of Grecil Buya is clear example of the military killing a nine-year-old girl and then accusing her of being a communist rebel. The Commission on Human Rights (Philippines) has refuted the government’s allegation that Grecil was an NPA member. In the case of Benjaline, the elements of AFP have been prosecuted and are facing criminal trial.

(2) Profile of Victims:

Most of the victims of the extrajudicial killings appear to belong to certain groups, all of which have one common characteristic: their involvement in activities that seem to go against the interests of the Arroyo regime. They are human rights defenders investigating and condemning human rights violations allegedly committed by state agencies, students involved in human rights issues, union leaders, members of the political party-list group Bayan Muna, religious leaders who promote human rights, and in some instances, innocent bystanders that are later accused of being anti-government agents or members of the NPA.

1. Human Rights Group

The following victims that the HRN fact-finding team investigated were members/leaders of the human rights group KARAPATAN(Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights), which vocally condemns human rights violations committed by the military.

o Case 1 : Eden Marcellana
o Case 2 : Benjaline Hernandez
o Case 3 : Leima Fortu
o Case 7: Alberto Ramento

Notably, Eden and Benjaline were killed in the course of their research of human rights violations allegedly committed by the military. They all were vocally criticizing the human rights violations committed by the AFP including increasing extrajudicial killings.

Additionally, we would like to highlight the killing of Juvy Magsino (Case 3), a well-known human rights lawyer who was actively working against human rights violations and the mobilization of the AFP.

2. Political Group -Bayan Muna:

The fact-finding team found that the victims of extrajudicial killing include lots of member of Bayan Muna. Bayan Muna is a legitimate political party registered with the party-list system, which is an election system providing the seats in the House of Representatives in proportional representation. There are currently three Bayan Muna representatives sitting in the 13th Congress of the Philippines: Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, and Joel Virador. 　However, according to the Melo Commission report, former General Palparan of the AFP as well as PNP Deputy Director General Avelino Razon were of the same view that “KARAPATAN and BAYAN MUNA are ‘fronts’ of the NPA” and “unless we stop fooling ourselves that they are not fronts, we will not be able to solve the insurgency problem.”41

Among those killed who also belonged to Bayan Muna were:

o Case 3: Juvy Magsino,

Active member of Bayan Muna and candidate for town Mayor in MindoroProvince

o Case 7: Abelardo Ladera,

Leader of Bayan Muna in Tarlac

o Case 11: Felipe Lapa,

Bayan Muna Coordinator of District Three of Laguna Province

o Case 12: Espedito Albarillo,

Secretary General of Bayan Muna Southern Tagalog;

Manuela Albarillo,

Active member of Bayan Muna

o Case 13: Romeo Malabanan,

Secretary General of the Laguna Chapter of Bayan Muna.