URGENT APPEAL
January 14, 2014

(PHILIPPINES) A Political Activist Threatened to be Killed by A Police Officer

ISSUES: Human Rights Defender; Harassment; Right to Peaceful Assembly

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Dear friends,

The Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) is forwarding to you an appeal regarding the conduct unbecoming of a police officer who threatened an activist during a protest action.

If you wish to make any inquiries please contact the Research, Documentation and Information Program of TFDP. Kindly email tfdp.1974@gmail.com or call +632 4378054.

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Case Title: Delizo Harassment

Case: Harassment/Threat

Name of Victim: Rasti Delizo

Date of Incident: December 5, 2013

Place of Incident: in front of the main gate of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Pasay City

Alleged Perpetrators: Senior Inspector Charito Estrada, Pasay City Police

Motive:

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Account of the Incident:

An officer of a militant group actively involved in campaigning against the continuing human rights violations in Burma was threatened by a police officer during a demonstration in Pasay City.

Rasti Delizo, Political Affairs Coordinator of Sanlakas, a broad multi-sectoral organization, together with members of the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) held a peaceful protest action on December 5, 2013 in front of the main gate of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) building at 2330 Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Delizo acted as the rally’s lead negotiator representing the civil society group.

The FBC organized the mass action in response to the three-day state visit of Burma’s President Thein Sein in Manila (December 4 to 6) upon the invitation of President Noynoy Aquino. The rally’s highlight was the formal submission of an official FBC statement addressed to Pres. Thein Sein. Specifically, the FBC’s intention was to further highlight Burma’s continuing human rights violations by the country’s military-dominated regime. Also, FBC aimed to urge the Philippine Government to strongly push for the immediate release of all of Burma’s political prisoners, and to urgently advance a much-needed democratization agenda within Southeast Asia.

Toward the end of the rally, at about 11:35 a.m., Delizo happened to be talking with Senior Inspector Charito Estrada (Precinct Commander of the Pasay City Police Station’s PCP-1/with operational jurisdiction over the DFA’s premises) and Mr. Felix De Leon (a Foreign Service Staff Officer detailed with the DFA’s Office of Intelligence and Security Services/OISS). Delizo directly negotiated with PSINSP Estrada and gave him an assurance that the rally will end in a peaceful manner. De Leon of the DFA-OISS also joined the conversation as an observer.

Delizo was explaining to PSINSP Estrada the rally’s peaceful nature, as well as its political intentions and democratic aims. Unfortunately, however, PSINSP Estrada reacted to Delizo’s assertions. Wearing the full uniform of a PNP Sr. Inspector and on official duty at the time, Estrada told Delizo (in the full presence of Mr. De Leon of the DFA): “If your group misbehaves, then we will kill you.” (He first pointed his finger in the direction of rally, then shifted his finger and pointed directly to Delizo’s face.)

In response to Estrada’s threat, Delizo shouted at him and denounced Estrada’s behavior and conduct unbecoming of a police officer. Delizo told him that he could inform some of Estrada’s officers of his arrogant behavior. At this point, Estrada pleaded not to let them know of the incident.

Three of Estrada’s subordinates who accompanied him to the rally site began to feel uncomfortable with the situation themselves. Their conversation between Delizo and Estrada has not yet ended, but the said policemen began to slowly withdraw toward their mobile patrol car parked roughly thirty meters away.

REQUESTED ACTION:

Please write a letter to the following authorities, calling on them to initiate inquiries regarding the threat and harassment of a Pasay City police officer.

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear ____________,

I am writing to draw your attention regarding the threat and harassment of a Pasay City police officer.

I have learned that Mr. Rasti Delizo, one of the leaders of a civil society group actively involved in campaigning against the continuing human rights violations in Burma was threatened by a police officer during a demonstration in Pasay City.

According to the report, while Delizo was reassuring one police officer named Senior Inspector Charito Estrada of the rally’s peaceful nature and political intentions, he intensely reacted to Delizo’s assertions. In the full presence of the public, police officer Estrada told him, “If your group misbehaves, then we will kill you.” At the same time, police officer Estrada first pointed his finger in the direction of rally, then shifted his finger and pointed directly to Delizo’s face.

I have also learned that Rasti’s group, the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) organized the said peaceful mass action to highlight Burma’s continuing human rights violations by the country’s military-dominated regime. The rally’s highlight was the formal submission of an official FBC statement addressed to Pres. Thein Sein during his three-day state visit to Manila.
Mr. Delizo also added that one of the intentions also is to urge the Philippine Government to strongly push for the immediate release of all of Burma’s political prisoners, and to urgently advance a much-needed democratization agenda within Southeast Asia.

At present, Mr. Delizo together with other witnesses is planning to file a complaint before concerned government agencies against police officer Estrada.

Therefore, I humbly urge you to initiate an investigation into the said case and that Senior Inspector Estrada should be held accountable for his misbehavior and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

I look forward to your urgent action on this case.

Respectfully yours,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

Please send your letters to:

1. Police Director General Alan LA Madrid Purisima

Chief, Philippine National Police

Camp General Rafael Crame

Quezon City, Philippines

Fax: +632 724 8763 / +632 723 0401

Tel: + 632 726 4361 / +632 4366 8763

Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph

2. MANUEL A. ROXAS II

Chairperson, National Police Commission

371 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue

Makati City, Philippines

Tel: +632 896 5980 / +632 895 5068

Email: francisflorentino@napolcom.gov.ph

3. Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales

Commission on Human Rights (CHR)

SAAC Bldg., Commonwealth Avenue

U.P. Complex, Diliman

Quezon City

Philippines

Tel: +63 2 928 5655, +63 2 926 6188

Fax: +63 2929 0102

Email: rosales.chr@gmail.com

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