The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) Cebu Chapter condemns the senseless killing of Atty. Jonah John Ungab by unidentified men after he attended a court hearing this morning. (Feb.19, 2018)
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REPRINT: AFP ABDUCTS PEACE ADVOCATE
(This was first published in https://hrwarriors.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/afp-abducts-peace-advocate/)
URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION! URGENT ACTION!
We, in the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights (KARAPATAN)-Cebu, are gravely concern over the safety of former Roman Catholic priest Rustico Tan, 76, who was abducted by Philippine Army soldiers and military intelligence agents in Santander town(138 kilometers south of Cebu City), Cebu on November 9, 2017, at about 5PM.
In 1986, Tan served as chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in local peace negotiations in Cebu until 1987, when the talks were scuttled by the Cory government. Currently, he is a prime mover of President Duterte’s Kilusang Pagbabago, a fledgling grassroots-based movement supposedly initiated by the Cabinet Secretary. Yet, he remains a target of political persecution and trump up charges by the US-Duterte Regime.
Initial reports received by KARAPATAN-Cebu revealed that Tan was at the house of his sister-in-law in the same town, when military intelligence agents aboard two multi-purpose vehicles backed by a truckload of battle-ready soldiers arrived and surrounded the house where Tan and companion were in. The agents purportedly handed Tan with a paper and immediately whisked him inside their vehicle.
Since then, Tan’s safety and whereabouts’ remain uncertain as the local police denied any knowledge of the military operation.
KARAPATAN-Cebu has dispatched today (November 10, 2017) an investigative team to Santander to gather more information on Tan’s abduction and trace his probable location.
Attacks against peace advocates and human rights defenders are on the rise in the country since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his counter-insurgency Oplan Kapayapaan.
To express protest over these attacks and demand release of Rustico Tan, please course your concern through the following:
HON. HILARIO P. DIVIDE III
Governor,
Province of Cebu
(032)254-3454888-2334/ 888-2311
888-2312/ 888-2305/ 888-2306/ 888-2328
pio@cebu.gov.ph
LT. GEN. OSCAR T. LACTAO
Commander,
AFP Central Command
Lahug, Cebu City
(032) 233-9052
piocentcom@gmail.com
PCSUPT JOSE MARIO M ESPINO
Regional Director, PRO 7
PNP Regional Headquarters,
Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City. Philippines 6000
(032)256-2032/ 254-9146/ 416-5074
ropd_r07@pnp.gov.ph, ritms_r07@pnp.gov.ph, rtoc_07@pnp.gov.ph
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