Philippines: Harassment of family by military

Case PHL 270897

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in the Philippines.

Brief description of the situation :

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), a member of the
network, has expressed its grave concern over the harassment of Amor
Mia B. Junio, a 19 years old student, and her family by members of the
Unit of the 44th infantry Battalion, Philippine Army based in Tipolo,
Plaridel. 

According to the information received, four armed men in civilian
clothes under the command of Major Jed Mutos went to the house of Amor
Mia B. Junio's parents and questioned her mother, Pacita, about the
whereabouts of her daughter at 12:15p.m on August 15, 1997. The four
men - identified as Loloy Babian, Boy Liwagon, Glen (last name not
known), Labitad (last name not known) - introduced themselves as
members of the intelligence unit of the army's 44th Infantry Battalion
based in Tipolo, Plaridel. The men then accused Amor Mia B. Junio of
belonging to the rebel New People's Army and wanted her to surrender
to the authorities. According to the men, a rebel who earlier
surrendered to the military named Amor Mia B. Junio as one of the
members of the rebel group.

According to the information, Amor Mia B. Junio parents refused to
turn over their daughter to the authorities. They said that the
accusations against her were untrue. One of the armed men, Boy Lawagon
threatened that something might happen to Amor Mia B. Junio if she
does not surrender. 

The information also states that the four men returned on 22 August
1997 at 9.30 p.m. and asked Amor Mia B. Junio to go with them to the
army camp in Plaridel. The parents of Amor Mia B. Junio did not allow
their daughter to go because the men did not have a warrant for her
arrest. The men left without any other provocation but the Junio
families fear that Amor Mia B. Junio might be harmed.

Action requested :

Please write to the Philippine authorities urging them to :

i	guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Amor Mia B.
Junio and her family, and ask the government authorities to ensure
their protection;

ii.	ensure an impartial and exhaustive inquiry into all the events
mentioned above and bring those identified to trial and apply the
penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by legislation; 


iii	guarantee the full respect of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the country in accordance with national laws and
international standards

Addresses :

H.E. Fidel V. Ramos, President, Malacanang Palace, Manila,
Philippines. Fax : (+ 63 2) 731 13 25 (via Press Secretary to the
President)

General Arturo Enrile, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
and Head of Military Intelligence Group, Camp Aguinaldo, Quenzon City,
Philippines. Fax : + 63 2 832 3793 - Telex : 22471 DND PH / 42002
DCSLOG PM

Andres R. Narvas, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines,
Padre Faure, Manila, Philippines. Fax : + 63 2 522 3211 -Telegrams :
Chief Justice Narvasa, Manila, Philippines

Teofisto T. Guingona, Secretary of Justice, Department of Justice,
Padre Faure Street, Ermita, Metro Manila, Philippines.  Fax : + 63 2
521 1614 - Telegram : Secretary of Justice Guingona, Manil,
Philippines

Geneva, 27 August 1997

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.