PARTY LIST / MILITANT MEMBERS

           Based on PNP records, the Task Force recorded a total of 116 valid cases of slain party list / militant members since 2001.

Based on PNP records, a total of 116 cases of slain partylist / militant members activist were recorded since 2001. Out of the 116 cases, 56 (48%) were filed, 39 (33%) are under investigation and 22 (19%) are considered cold cases. These cold cases include 11 cases which are not moving for the last 5 years, 6 cases were families of victims refused to cooperate and are no longer interested in pursuing the case, and 4 cases have no development for the last 5 years and families of the victims show disinterest in pursuing the case.Out of the 56 cases filed, 24 cases were perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) of which 23 cases were filed, 1 case considered closed due to the death of the suspect and 1 suspect under custody.

Seven (7) cases involve military elements as suspects specifically 5 military personnel, 1 military asset and 1 member of the para-military unit known as the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) wherein all of these cases were filed and 2 are under custody. Additional 4 cases involving civilians suspects were allegedly linked to the military of which all cases were filed with 1 suspect under custody. 21 cases were perpetrated by civilians of which all cases were filed and 9 suspects under custody

Of the 39 cases under investigation, additional 5 incidents were also allegedly perpetrated by the CPP/NPA. And one (1) incident was allegedly link to the military while the remaining 54 cases have unknown suspect/s that are still ongoing intensive and thorough investigation.
 

Out of the total 56 cases filed, the PNP has filed 9 cases with 10 arrested suspects and 1 suspect released, 30 cases under preliminary investigation and 2 suspects surrendered in 2 cases that have been filed; while the suspects for the remaining 15 incidents are still at-large and are subject of manhunt operations.

The most number of slain party list / militant members was recorded during year 2006 and the lowest, in year 2003. For the present year, 5 valid cases of murder were recorded, 1 case of frustrated murder with abduction and 5 cases of abduction were also recorded.

A total of 12 cases involve military elements as suspects, where 5 cases were allegedly perpetrated by military elements in which 1 case remains under investigation.
 

            As of November 14, 2006 KARAPATAN records show a total of 836 victims involving slain party list / militant members and media practitioners. Out of this total, 122 are included in TF USIG List and 567 should be excluded while the remaining 147 cases are still undergoing verification.

The 567 alleged victims in the list of Karapatan were excluded by Task Force “USIG” which include incidents with 6 alive victims, 23 Abu Sayyaf Group terrorist who died during the foiled jail break at Bicutan, 8 cases of labor dispute, 86 armed encounters between government troops and the CPP/NPA, 4 cases of suicide, 1 killed by mentally-ill uncle, 10 land dispute / agrarian-related cases, 19 personal motives, 42 no incident reported, 25 non-existing persons and 343 other cases.

Moreover, these 343 other cases includes 2 cases of illegal drugs, 1 case of illegal gambling, 2 cases of illegal squatting, 2 cases of illegal logging, 1 traffic altercation, 11 incidents with mistaken identity, 7 robbery with homicide incidents, 1 rape with homicide incident, 1 shootout incidents, 29 killed in a crossfire, 2 business rivalry, 2 cases of tribal war, 22 killed by the CPP/NPA, 5 killed by MILF-Lost Command, 2 killed by vigilante groups and 252 incidents wherein the victims are not party list / militant members or media practitioners which are nonetheless being handled by the local police.

As of August 15, 2006, Amnesty International reported a total of 57 victims. Out of this total, 23 cases are included in TF USIG list, 27 cases should be excluded and 7 cases are undergoing verification.

The excluded cases are further categorized as 3 cases of armed encounter between government troops and the CPP/NPA, 4 agrarian related / land dispute cases, 7 personal motives and 13 cases with no known affiliation which are being handled by the local police.

As of April 16, 2007, Bayan Muna reported a total of 131 slain Bayan Muna members/militants, of which 71 are included in TF USIG List and 60 should be excluded.

Furthermore, the 60 excluded cases are categorized as 5 cases victimizing government officials, 4 no incident reported, 6 cases of armed encounter between government troops and the CPP/NPA, 1 case of suicide (same case), 1 killed by mentally-ill uncle (same case), 5 cases of personal motives, 4 cases of land dispute and 34 other cases.

As of October 31, 2006, a total of 184 cases of slain party list / militant members activists were filed at the Government of the Republic of the Philippines – Monitoring Committee (GRP-MC), of which 68 are included in the list of TF USIG, 98 should be excluded and 18 are still undergoing verification. Moreover, the excluded cases are categorized as 17 armed encounters between government troops and the CPP/NPA, 1 killed by mentally-ill uncle (same case), 3 land disputes, 8 personal motives, 4 government officials and 65 other cases.

MEDIA PRACTITIONERS

            From 2001 up to present, a total of 27 media practitioners were slain due to work related circumstances, of which 21 cases were filed in court, 3 cases are still under investigation and 3 are considered cold cases which include 2 cases which have no development for the last  5 years and 1 case where the family of the victim refused to cooperate and are no longer interested in pursuing the case.

Statistics reveals that 1 incident was perpetrated by the CPP/NPA, which was filed in court. Two (2) cases involve military elements as suspects, which were filed in court with 1 suspect who surrendered and 1 suspect on bail; 3 incidents involve police personnel as suspects of which all cases were already filed in court, with 3 suspects under custody and dismissed from the police service and the conviction of one (1) police suspect. Three (3) cases were filed in court, wherein the suspects, 2 mayors and 1 barangay chairman voluntarily surrendered. Twelve (12) cases were also filed against civilian suspects, with 11 suspects under custody of which 3 of them were convicted.

Out of the 3 cases under investigation, 1 incident was allegedly perpetrated by CPP/NPA and the remaining 2 cases were perpetrated by still unknown suspect/s.

Out of the 21 cases filed, the PNP has filed 12 cases with 13 arrested suspects, 11 suspects of which are in jail, 1 was acquitted and 1 was released and an additional 12 suspects who voluntarily surrendered; 1 case is under preliminary investigation; 2 cases resulted to the conviction of 4 suspects, and suspects in 6 other cases are still at-large. Statistics also indicate 78% filing efficiency on the cases involving slain media practitioners.

Based on annual statistics, the most number of slain media practitioners were recorded during the year 2003 and 2004. For the present year, 1 valid case for murder was recorded and 1 case of frustrated murder was also recorded.

A total of 3 cases involve military elements as suspects, one each in year 2002, 2005 and 2006. All the cases were filed in court.

Records of National Union of Journalists of the Philippines show a total of 52 victims of slain media practitioners. Out of this total, 25 are included in TF USIG List, 21 should be excluded and the remaining 6 cases are still undergoing verification. Moreover, the excluded cases are categorized as 14 personal motives, 3 cases of land dispute, 2 robbery incidents, 1 case of mistaken identity and 1 block timer.
 

Six alleged victims who were later found to be alive are Edwin Mascariñas from Mindoro, Renato Bugtong from Batangas, Hilario Paraon and Danilo Flores from San Miguel, Bulacan, Maritess dela Cruz from Isabela and Wilbert G Antaran from Sariaya, Quezon.

Two (2) alive victims claimed by KARAPATAN to be dead were presented to Prof. Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur during his visit last February 13, 2007. Edwin Mascariñas (2^nd from left) and Renato Bugtong (center).

The photo on the right shows 2 alleged victims of summary execution who were found to be alive and living a normal life in San Miguel, Bulacan. Photos of Hilarion Paraon (2^nd from right) and Danilo Flores (3^rd from right) were taken on March 20, 2007.

Photo on the left shows Marites Dela Cruz y Ramos (center) taken on February 13, 2007, allegedly a slain victim as claimed by KARAPATAN. Together with (from left) PSI LUPERIO LIBERATO, Deputy Chief, Investigation Section, Isabela PPO; Brgy Capt. Carlito Reyes of Brgy Yeban Sur; Brgy Capt. Danilo Dela Cruz of Brgy Sta Cruz; and PSI AGUSTIN TUNGCUL, COP OF Benito Soliven MPS 

The picture on the right is a photograph of another Marites Dela Cruz y Ruiz (center), a registered midwife of Rural Health Center, Brgy Yeban Sur, Benito Soliven, Isabela which was taken on February 13, 2007, along with PSI AGUSTIN TUNGCUL, COP Benito Soliven MPS and Brgy Capt. Eduardo Butac of Brgy Yeban Sur, Benito Soliven, Isabela

The photo on the left shows the latest alleged victim of summary execution claimed by KARAPATAN who were found to be alive. Subject is a former member of NPA who were wounded and captured during legitimate encounter between PA/PNP and members of NPA. Subject (Antaran) became a member of E-1 Citizen Armed Forces Geographilcal Unit (CAFGU) of the 59th IB, PA.

ACCOMPLISHMENT ON PGMA’S DIRECTIVES

In compliance to the directive of HEPGMA on May 15, 2007, to file 20 cases involving activists, media men, church workers and election related killings, the PNP has already filed 22 cases against the suspects in said killings broken down as follows:
 

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