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[Urgent Appeal] Extrajudicial Killing of Human Rights Defender Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin -TFDP

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URGENT APPEAL: Extrajudicial Killing of Human Rights Defender Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin

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Dear Friends,

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) writes to inform you about the killing of a human rights defender, Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr. on July 2, 2013 at his home in Maharlika Village, Matina Aplaya, Davao City, Philippines by an unknown person. Petalcorin was the president of the Davao City based group, Network of Transport Organizations (NETO), a member of the Alliance of Progressive Labor and Akbayan in Davao.

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FACTS OF THE CASE

In the morning of July 2, 2013, at around 8:15 AM, Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, Sr. was shot three times by an unknown gunman at his home garage in Maharlika Village, Davao City.

According to Petalcorin’s wife, she heard a gun shot then heard Petalcorin shout. Alarmed, she hurriedly went to the garage and found her husband’s body in blood on the ground.

Thinking that Petalcorin was still alive, his wife went inside the house and called the emergency hotline. The emergency team along with the Police came after about 15 minutes, but Petalcorin was dead.

The assassin was allegedly caught on a CCTV camera as he walked away from the scene and rode a motorcycle. A sketch of the suspect is currently in the hands of the police.

According to Petalcorin’s wife, her husband has not received any death threats. However, prior to Petalcorin’s death, another leader of a transport group, Emilio Rivera, former chair of Matina Aplaya Transport Cooperative was killed on January 25, 2013. Petalcorin and Rivera both took part in a campaign to expose the corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and to oust its director, Benjamin Go.

Petalcorin’s name had previously appeared on the alleged order of battle that was leaked in 2008.

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REQUESTED ACTION

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO

Investigate and prosecute not only the actual perpetrator but including and especially the mastermind of this heinous crime will be brought to justice.

Exert special efforts in protection of human rights defenders and observe their rights in accordance with human rights standards.

Address the issues brought forward by the victims, Antonio Petalcorin and Emilio Rivera in Davao: the alleged corruption at the LTFRB office in Davao City.

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SAMPLE LETTER

Dear

RE: Extrajudicial Killing of Human Rights Defender Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin

I write to urgently seek your action regarding the killing of a Human Rights Defender, Antonio “Dodong” Petalcorin, the President of a transport group in Davao, Network of Transport Organizations (NETO), member of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and Akbayan.

I have learned that Mr. Petalcorin was killed in his home, in Maharlika Village, Matina Aplaya, Davao City on July 2, 2013 by an unknown gunman, who was later seen on a CCTV as he left the scene of the crime.

I have also learned that prior to the killing of Mr. Petalcorin, another transport leader, Emilio Rivera of the Matina Aplaya Transport Cooperative (MATRANSCO) has been killed in January 25, 2013.

It was brought to my attention that before their death, both men actively campaigned against an alleged corruption at the Land Transport Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and against its director, Mr Benjamin Go.

There was also information that the name of Mr. Petalcorin has been included in the alleged order of battle leaked in 2008 and that this alleged list included names of many human rights defenders.

I am asking the concerned government agencies to exert special efforts in ensuring the safety and well being of human rights defenders based on the standards set by the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, rights and protections accorded to them.

I am also asking that they investigate and prosecute not only the actual perpetrator but including and especially the mastermind of the killing of Mr. Petalcorin and to bring justice to his death.

Lastly, in pursuit of the cause of Mr. Petalcorin and Mr. Rivera, we ask for the decisive resolution on the issue of alleged corruption at the LTFRB office in Davao City. This will ensure that the victims did not die in vain.

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PLEASE SEND TO
Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III
President
Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace, JP Laurel St.
San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
Fax +632 7421641/9293968
Email: corres@op.gov.ph/opnet@ops.gov.ph

Police Director Alan LM Purisima
Chief
Philippine National Police
Camp General Rafael Crame
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax +632 7248763
Email: feedback@pnp.gov.ph

Atty. Leila M. De Lima
Secretary
Department of Justice
Padre Faura St. Manila
Philippines
Fax: +632 5211614
Email : doj.delima@gmail.com

Mr. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya
Secretary
Department of Transportation and Communication
The Columbia Tower
Ortigas Avenue, Barangay Wack-wack
Mandaluyong City
Philippines
Fax + 632 7234925
Email: webmaster@dotc.gov.ph

Atty. Winston M. Ginez
Chairman
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
East Avenue, Diliman
Quezon City 1100
Philippines
Fax +632 9257191
Email: contact@ltfrb.gov.ph

Ms. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson
Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Building, UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman
Quezon City, Philippines
Fax +632 9290102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com

Note: Kindly inform or copy-furnish tfdp.urgentappeals@gmail.com of urgent appeals sent to above government officials for monitoring purpose. Thanking you in advance for your time on this important and urgent matter.

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[Statement] On the killing of Davao City transport leader -CTUHR

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On the killing of Davao City transport leader

CTUHR logo

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights strongly condemns the killing of Davao City transport leader Antonio Petalcorin, President of Network of Transport Organization-Davao (NETO-NCTU-APL). This is another blow to the working sector and a clear indication that human rights situation in the country has not improved.

According to reports, Antonio Petalcorin, was shot in the morning of July 2 by an unidentified man. Petalcorin was dead on the spot sustaining four gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber pistol. The killing happened amidst a strong campaign of Petalcorin’s group to oust the leadership of LTFRB (Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board) in Davao City because of alleged corruption.

As we mourn with Petalcorin’s family, friends and colleagues, we are also one with them on the calls for justice. We demand an immediate and thorough investigation of the case so that perpetrators may be held accountable to the law.

Moreover, we denounce Petalcorin’s killing for it is an outright attack on our collective rights and freedoms. Needless to say, extrajudicial killings hamper the workers’ and the people’s right and freedom to organize. Brazen violence has a chilling effect among the people and the community which has been used time and again by state agents to quell dissent and suppress legitimate and just demands of the people.

Petalcorin’s death highlights the persisting impunity which the Aquino administration failed to correct. In fact, human rights and labor rights situation has not changed, rather aggravated, within the first half of Aquino’s presidency. Petalcorin is the 5th transport leader killed in the first three years of the current administration. And to this day, Ernest Gulfo, Felix Cultura, Feliciano Infante and Emilio Rivera, just like hundreds of other victims of human rights killings, are still seeking justice.

As Pres. Aquino is about to deliver his State of the Nation Address in a few weeks, news on the widening gap between the poor and the rich underlines how his administration has abandoned the welfare and interests of the working class and marginalized groups. Amid this worsening economic condition for the majority, human rights killings and violations committed against workers and the toiling classes only paints a more grotesque picture of our current society.

We thus reiterate our challenge to Pres. Aquino to fulfill his promise that he shall put an end to all human rights killings. Until and unless these killings and other human rights violations are stopped and perpetrators are brought to justice can the Aquino administration actually brag of leading a straight path.

STATEMENT
11 July 2013
for Reference: Daisy Arago, Executive Director, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, 411.0256.

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