URGENT APPEAL
January 13, 2016
(PHILIPPINES) Frustrated Murder of Human Rights Defender
ISSUES: Assertion to right to land of indigenous people
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Dear friends,
The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) is forwarding to you an appeal regarding the frustrated killing of an agrarian reform beneficiary.
If you wish to make any inquiries please contact the Research, Documentation and Information Program of TFDP, kindly send email to tfdp.1974@gmail.com .
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Title: Ampudi Frustrated Killing
Case: Frustrated Killing
Victim: Nestorio Sulatan Ampudi, 37 years old
Date of Incident: January 9, 2016; 11:30 A.M.
Place of Incident: P-8, Barangay Calao Calao, Don Carlos, Bukidnon
Perpetrators: Jun Jun Lirasan, security guard of Levelita Balarote Zambrano
Motive: in relation to assertion of right to land; violation of rights to life and security of person
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Account of the incident:
On January 9, 2016, around 11:30 a.m., at Purok 8, Calao Calao, Don Carlos, Bukidnon, human rights defender Nestorio Sulatan Ampudi, 37 years old, an active member and overseer of Ambugkol Manobo Tribal Association (AMTA), was shot by Jun Jun Lirasan. Lirasan is Ampudi’s neighbor and is working for Levelita Balarote Zambrano.
According to Ampudi’s wife Ligoria, she and her two-month old daughter Nicelyn were riding with Nestorio on his single motorcycle with plate no. 83093. They were on their way home to P-9 Prakatahan, Barangay Pualas, Don Carlos, Bukidnon from Poblacion, Don Carlos, Bukidnon when Lirasan and an unidentified driver aboard a single motorcycle shot Nestorio multiple times while trying to overtake them. Nestorio fell on the ground with his motorcycle. The perpetrator immediately fled to an unknown direction. Ampudi sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body and was immediately brought to St. Nino Hospital, Don Carlos, Bukidnon for medical treatment. He was recently transferred to Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, Bukidnon. The victim is now in stable condition but is still waiting for his operation. His wife added that the two perpetrators were wearing masks, but she was able to identify Lirasan because of his built.
Nestorio’s wife and child were lucky that they were not hit, but Ligoria sustained minor injuries during the incident.
At 2:00 p.m., Ligoria reported the incident at Don Carlos Police Station. Elements of Don Carlos Municipal Police Station led by SPO1 Dizon responded during the incident. Two fired cartridge cases and one fired bullet of an alleged .45 pistol were recovered from the crime scene.
Case Background:
The Balarote group headed by Levelita Balarote-Zambrano was awarded 550 hectares of land by the Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems (COSLAP) last February 16, 1988. The group obtained a Writ of Relocation from RTC in Malaybalay and was installed in the area by the two court sheriffs and barangay officials last May 21, 2014. Some parts of the awarded land are presently occupied by the AMTA members.
On the other hand, AMTA belongs to Datu Casiano Montabod’s group who was awarded by COSLAP for 130 hectares of land in Purok 9 Prakatahan, Barangay Pualas. AMTA, which is now under the unified claim named as Manobo Kerenteken – Ilantungen Manobo Tribe, Inc. (KMTI) processed their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) at the National Commission on the Indigenous People (NCIP).
On March 10-25, 2015, the NCIP surveyed the ancestral land claim of the indigenous people including the AMTA area in Purok 9 Prakatahan, Barangay Pualas. Their CADT is now under deliberation at the NCIP in Manila.
On October 2, 2014, Nestorio Ampudi was fortunate to have survived an attempt to his life by the Balarote group at Purok 9 Prakatahan, Barangay Pualas, Don Carlos, Bukidnon.
REQUESTED ACTION:
Please write a letter to the following authorities, calling on them to conduct a thorough investigation of the frustrated killing of Nestorio Ampudi in P-8, Barangay Calao Calao, Don Carlos, Bukidnon; investigate the alleged possession of firearms of the Balarote group; and urge concerned agencies to immediately resolve the case and give justice to the victim.
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ____________,
I am writing to draw your attention regarding the case of a human rights defender, member and overseer of Ambugkol Manobo Tribal Association (AMTA) and has a pending Ancestral Domain Claim in Don Carlos, Bukidnon who was shot while onboard his motorcycle together with his two-month old daughter and wife.
I have learned that on January 9, 2016, Ampudi suffered a third attempt to his life while he and his wife and their two-month old daughter were on their way home to P-9 Prakatahan, Barangay Pualas, Don Carlos, Bukidnon from Poblacion, Don Carlos, Bukidnon. Jun jun Lirasan, their neighbor who is working with the Balarote group, and an unidentified driver aboard a single motorcycle shot Ampudi multiple times while trying to overtake them. He fell to the ground with his motorcycle. His wife and child were lucky not to be hit, but his wife sustained minor injuries during the incident.
The threats towards Ampudi stemmed from his struggle to obtain a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), in contravention of the Levelita Balarote-Zambrano group’s claim that they own the land under dispute, awarded to them by the government through the Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems (COSLAP).
It was brought to my attention that Ampudi used to till a parcel of land which he owns. However, the Balarote-Zambrano group prevented him to till his land. He was left with no choice but to work outside his land. While their claim for ancestral land has yet to be settled, Ampudi served as a paid farm worker of a certain Danny Tahuyan to raise some income for his family. The Balarote-Zambrano Group also created policies that restricted the indigenous people from tilling their land and that imposed a curfew of 9:00 p.m.
The Indigenous Peoples Right Act (IPRA) should therefore be effectively implemented to resolve this dispute. I also learned that even the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has not taken any action to protect the interest of the members of the Manobo tribes and their communities against the unlawful claim of Balarote-Zambrano on their ancestral land and source of subsistence.
I urge the authorities to promptly investigate this case and ensure that all those responsible for the shooting of Ampudi are prosecuted and punished accordingly. Ampudi and his family should be given adequate protection, and the NCIP should immediately implement its policies on ancestral domain to facilitate the resolution of the case.
I look forward to you urgent action.
Respectfully yours,
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Please send your letters to:
1. Hon. Benigno C. Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel St. San Miguel, Manila
Philippines 1005
Fax: +63 2 736 1010
Tel: +63 2 735 6201 / 564 1451 to 80
Email: op@president.gov.ph
2. Police Director General Ricardo C. Marquez
Chief, Philippine National Police
PNP National Headquarters
Camp General Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax: +632 724 8763 / +632 723 0401
Tel: + 632 726 4361 / +632 4366 8763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph
3. Chairperson Jose Luis Martin Gascon
Commission on Human Rights (CHR)
SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue
U.P. Complex, Diliman
Quezon City
Philippines
Fax: +63 2929 0102
Tel: +63 2 928 5655, +63 2 926 6188
5. Atty. Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo
Chairperson
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
Email: chairpersonsoffice@gmail.com
For more information, you can visit previous Urgent Appeal dated 20 April 2015, https://magph.org.org/news/184-urgent-appeal-harassment-and-frustrated-killing-of-indigenous-people-leader-