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UA date: 13 February 2004 UA title: Two more human rights activists murdered in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines I. UA case: Summary Execution II. Victims :
III. Date : 13 February 2004 at about 11:00 PM IV. Place : Brgy. Amuguis, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines V. Perpetrators: Elements of the 204th Infantry Brigade, whose Commanding Officer is Col. Ferdinand L. Mesa with General Headquarters at Pinagsabangan Uno, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines under the 2nd Infantry Division of which Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr. is Deputy Commander; A para-military group and incumbent Mayor Norberto Mendoza of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines VI. Summary of Incident: At around 11:00 PM of February 13, 2004, Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino, 34 years old and a resident of Barangay Adrealuna, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines along Leima Fortu, 27 years old and a resident of Barangay Maidlang, Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines were on their way to Vice Mayor Magsino's friend to get a computer in Pinagsabangan, Naujan, Mindoro Oriental. After passing through a place called "Curba" in Pinagsabangan going to Amuguis, they were already being tailed by elements believed to belong to the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army. In Barangay Amuguis, the two men on board a motorcycle with no plate number peppered the Vice Mayor's vehicle with bullets. Witnesses claimed that the two were armed with a 9mm and an armalite. The General Headquarters of the 204th Infantry Brigade was only a hundred meters away from the ambush site. Vice Mayor Magsino suffered three gunshot wounds on her head without exit points; and one each on her chest, shoulder and neck. Leima also had gunshot wounds on her chest, near her right ear, knee and shoulder. At the time of her death Vice Mayor Magsino was the Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and Peace, Chairperson of the Vice Mayors' League in Mindoro Oriental, Philippines, honorary member of Gabriela and was running for Mayor of Naujan against the incumbent Mayor Norberto Mendoza. She was also a known human rights lawyer for KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental and the fisherfolks group PAMALAKAYA-Mindoro Oriental. Leima Fortu was a public school teacher at the Suqui Elementary School in Calapan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines. She was Acting Secretary General of KARAPATAN-Mindoro Oriental, a volunteer staff of Mindoro for Justice and Peace and a member of the partylist group Bayan Muna - Calapan City Chapter. Prior to her death, Vice Mayor Magsino was known to be very vocal against former 204th IBPA Commanding Officer Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr. and the increasing military deployment in the island province. KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog spokesperson Irein Cuasay, told the KARAPATAN National Office that Vice Mayor Magsino had recently called her a few days before she was shot dead. Vice Mayor Magsino informed Irein that she had received two death threats claiming that she would no longer live beyond February 15, 2004. Her body lies in state at the Varcenaga Funeral Homes in Naujan, Mindoro Oriental, Philippines. The place is teeming with military men and a soldier reportedly took a picture of the Vice Mayor's wake. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
You may send your communications to: H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Hon. Teresita Deles Hon. Eduardo R. Ermita Hon. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official to our address below: URGENT ACTION Prepared by: KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of
People's Rights)-National Office
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PWASAG 2003 - fwsg@yahoo.ca