SIGN ON LETTER:

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacanang Palace Compound
JP Laurel St, San Miguel Manila

It is with grave concern for us to learn extra-judicial killings continue to take place in the Philippines. In particular, we take note of the killing of Mr Rafael Markus Bangit, a leader of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), together with Ms. Gloria Casuga on June 8, 2006 in San Isidro, Echague, Isabela.

We strongly condemn the killing of Markus Bangit and Gloria Casuga, and we urge the Philippine government to see to it that this case of gross violation of human rights is brought to justice. The victims’ families are now suffering enormously.

The killing of Bangit and Casuga occurred at a time when letters of concern had already been sent to Philippine government officials on the threat to the lives of Cordillera activists. We are outraged to learn that one of the key leaders of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and a civilian bystander were nonetheless killed. It is very alarming that the Philippine government continues to fail to provide protection to its citizens, as cases of political killings continue to mount. Likewise, the threat to the lives of Cordillera leaders and activists remains. Based on the report of CPA, the situation has in fact worsened, with the intensified surveillance of more Cordillera activists. Those experiencing intense surveillance include Pastor Vergel Aniceto, Ignacio Pangket, Leonida Tundage, Geannette Galvez, Art Malecdan in addition to those in the hitlist, namely Joan Carling, Windel Bolinget, Manny Loste, Julian Gayumba, Jose Cawiding and Xavier Akien. We are taking precaution, but nothing is secure; we remain defenseless

As advocates of human rights, we uphold the sanctity of life and the right to due process, regardless of political beliefs and class. We maintain that in a system of democracy, every citizen has the right to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom to form organizations, and freedom of assembly. These fundamental freedoms are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and legally guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution. We therefore find no moral, legal, or political grounds for the killing of activists, as well as journalists, in the Philippines, regardless of their political leanings.

Thus we urge the Philippine government to exercise its duty to protect its citizens regardless of their political beliefs and respect the democratic rights of the people. We call for a stop to threats and executions, and for justice be given all victims of human rights violations.

It is the duty of every state to uphold the fundamental freedoms of its citizens and protect them against any threat to their lives and properties.

We shall be monitoring further developments in the Philippines and continue to raise our voices for the protection of human rights in all parts of the globe.

Respectfully,

NAME ORGANIZATION COUNTRY

Cc: Honorable Avelino Cruz, Secretary, Department of National Defense
Honorable Purificacion C. Valera Quisumbing, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
Honorable Jannette Cansing Serrano, Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Members of the United Nations Human Rights Council