June 9, 2006

CPA FACTSHEET: KILLING OF RAFAEL MARKUS BANGIT

CASE: Extra Judicial Killing

VICTIMS:
1.Mr. Rafael Markus Bangit, 47 years old, a leader of the Malbong Tribe of Tomiangan, Tabuk, Kalinga; married to Augustina Pito Bangit; with four children; resident of 25 J St, Dagupan Centro, Tabuk, Kalinga; coordinator of the CPA elders desk and also regional coordinator/spokesperson of the Bodong Pongors Organization (BPO), a federation of tribal elders in the Cordillera, Vice Chair of BAYAN MUNA Kalinga Chapter (detailed profile and background in a separate sheet)

2.Mrs. Gloria Casuga, Principal, Quezon National High School, Isabela; respected teacher and second mother to her students

PLACE OF INCIDENT: Barangay San Isidro, Municipality of Echague, Province of Isabela

DATE and TIME OF INCIDENT: 6 PM June 8, 2006

PERPETRATOR: unidentified, hooded gunman in a dark colored van, plate number unreadable

INCIDENT:
Rafael Markus Bangit, together with his eldest son, Banna Bangit took the GL bus line from Tabuk going Baguio in the afternoon of June 8, 2006. The bus stopped in San Isidro, Echague, Isabela at around 6:00 PM. After Marcos had his dinner and he was on his way going back to the bus with Mrs. Casuga beside him, a hooded man coming from a darke-colored van suddenly appeared and shot Markus Bangit. Mrs Casuga, after noticing what happened to Markus, screamed, and she was also shot by the assailant. Markus was hit in the chest and stomach with four bullets. He was rushed to the Echague District Hospital and died there. Mrs. Gloria Casuga, a principal of Quezon National High School in Isabela, sustained two gunshot wounds and died on the spot. She was another passenger of the bus and not known to Markus Bangit. Markus’s son, Banna, was unhurt. The assailant immediately went back to the van and took off. Since the van was parked in a dark area, no one was able to recognize the plate number.

According to the autopsy done by Dr. Chandu Claver , Bangit sustained four bullet wounds, three of which penetrated his thorax (chest and stomach) and exited, while one bullet was left inside his body. The gun used was .45 caliber, and Markus was shot at close range.

Prior to this incident, Markus observed that he was under close surveillance for more than three days by unidentified men while he was in Tabuk with his family.

His body was brought back to his family in Dagupan, Tabuk, Kalinga in the late evening of June 8 from the Echague Municipal hospital.

Prepared by:

Joan Carling, CPA, June 9 (based on accounts by Dr. Chandu Claver, initial fact Sheet of KARAPATAN CV)