This is to inform you that the cases of Murder and Attempted Murder filed against me and our staff, Raquel Autida have been dropped by the Provincial Prosecutors Office due to the basis, as attached.
Thank you so much for the concerted support and prayers.
We extend our gratitude to the Provincial Prosecutors Office for upholding our innocence.
Still, we continue our call for justice, for all those being red-tagged, victimized by the continuing human rights violations in different forms and their families, fight against impunity and for the rule of law to be respected all over the land.
May the victory of our case contributes to the overall fight for justice and human rights.
【個人・団体署名のお願い / 締切:2月21日(日)】 フィリピン・ボホール州のイラさんたちへの訴訟取消しを! ~ボホール州検察局への要請書~ フィリピン・ボホール州で私たちが長年お世話になってきた現地NGO/農民団体の関係者6名が、現在、でっちあげの殺人/殺人未遂の罪で警察に訴えられ、裁判が進もうとしています。 6名の中には、Women’s Development Center, Inc. (WDC)のイラさんやボホール州農民組織(HUMABOL)のネルソンさんなどが含まれています。
H.E. Macario I. Delusa Provincial Prosecutor Bohol
Provincial Prosecutors Office Hall of Justice, New Capitol site, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines Tel: +63(38) 411-3150 Fax: +63(38) 500-0311 E-mail: oppbohol@doj.gov.ph February XX, 2021 Joint Letter by Japanese NGOs/individuals concerning Human Rights Violation in Bohol, the Philippines
Dear Mr. Prosecutor,
We, the undersigned, are Japanese individuals and civil society groups who have grave concerns over the serious violation of human rights in the Philippines. Today, we are writing to you since the shocking news came into us that our long-time friends in Bohol had been caught in a difficult situation with fabricated murder and attempted murder complaints since last year. A trumped-up case of murder and attempted murder complaints was filed against development and rights worker Ira Pamat (Executive Director of the Women’s Development Center, Inc. (WDC)), woman leader Raquel Autida, peasant leaders Joemar Pogio and Nelson Lumantas, and farmers Brando Compoc and Alfie Sarsale, by a police officer at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Bohol on December 9, 2020 (NPS No. VII-02-INV-20L-01403 and NPS No. VI-02-INV-20L-01404 for Murder and Attempted Murder, respectively). They are accused over the death of a soldier identified as PFC Jerald Villanueva who was one of the casualties in an armed clash between government troops and alleged members of the New People’s Army on February 29, 2020 at Brgy. Cansumbol, Bilar. All of them are civilians, serving for the marginalized sectors, including the poor, peasant, women and children, and advocating for their call for social justice. And they were not involved in such murder and attempted murder as alleged by the complainant, either. We are deeply concerned that the accusation against them is grossly fabricated and a part of the Philippine government's red-tagging effort to stop them from advancing their struggle and advocacies for genuine land reform, the defense of human rights, and environmental protection. The UN report (June 2020) also described that “red-tagging - labelling individuals and groups as communists or terrorists - has been a persistent and powerful threat to civil society and freedom of expression" in the Philippines. Some of the undersigned have worked closely with Ira Pamat, Raquel Autida, Joemar Pogio and Nelson Lumantas, and with their organizations, especially in addressing the problems caused by the Bohol Irrigation Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). We believe the trumped-up case against them is meant to silence them and their organizations from asserting local community’s rights, such as land reform, efficient irrigation service, and sustainable agriculture. We therefore sincerely call on your good office to dismiss the fabricated criminal complaints against Ira Pamat, Raquel Autida, Joemar Pogio Nelson Lumantas, Brando Compoc and Alfie Sarsale. Your kind attention on our appeal will be highly appreciated, and thank you very much for your thoughtful and wise consideration and decision in advance. Respectfully, Organizational signatories: Cebu-Bohol Solidarity Network Friends of the Earth Japan Individual signatories: XXX, XXX XXX, XXX Contact: Cebu-Bohol Solidarity Network c/o Chair Person NISHII Kazuhiro Address: 19-1 Nakamichi Honkanbe, Imaise-cho, Ichinomiya City, AICHI #491-0053, JAPAN Tel & Fax: +81-586-23-5017 E-mail: nishiikaz@nifty.com With copy to: H.E. Menardo I. Guevarra Secretary, Department of Justice Direct Line No.: +63(2) 8521-8348 Telefax No.: +63(2) 8526-2618 Trunkline No.: 8523-8481 loc. 217 Email: osec@doj.gov.ph / osecmig@gmail.com HON. Arthur C. Yap Governor of Bohol Trunkline: +63(38) 411-0138 Email: artcyap@gmail.com / primerbohol19@gmail.com Mr. Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights Tel: +63(2) 8928-5655, 8926-6188, 8920-9510 Fax: +63(2) 8929-0102 Email: chairgascon.chr@gmail.com Mr. Jonathan B. Tibay Special Investigator II Bohol Provincial Office - Region VII Tel: +63(38) 411-0966 Email: chr7cebucity@yahoo.com ###