Philippines: 4 HRDs arrested and detained by military
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Feb 14, 2011
- Event Description
Since 14 February 2011, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo have been based in the municipality of Sta. Catalina where they have been documenting alleged human rights violations in militarised communities in the region, volunteering for Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights (KARAPATAN), an alliance of individuals, groups and organisations working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. They are also members of the human rights monitoring team in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. On 17 March 2011, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo travelled to the village of Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, in Negros Oriental in order to observe and document human rights violations allegedly carried out by the security forces, against members of the local community. It is alleged that there was a clash between the security forces and the New People's Army (NPA). According to the information received, a group of local farmers informed the aforementioned human rights defenders that Mr. Marvin Villegas, a local resident, had allegedly been shot by members of the 1st Scout Rangers Battalion of the Army while he was taking the family's cattle to the fields. It is reported that Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo along with local village residents were organising medical assistance for Mr. Villegas when members of the Alpha Company of the 79th Infantry Brigade of the Philippines Army approached them. The aforementioned human rights defenders, along with the local residents were arrested, held by soldiers on the roadside and questioned. It is alleged that nine of the local residents were released, while the rest of the group, including the human rights defenders, was taken to a police station in the Sta. Catalina municipality. It is reported that while in detention, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo were accused by soldiers of being members of the New People's Army. It was later alleged that Mr. Villegas and his mother were taken away by soldiers to Dumaguete City.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 9.30594
Longitude: 123.30862
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
Since 14 February 2011, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo have been based in the municipality of Sta. Catalina where they have been documenting alleged human rights violations in militarised communities in the region, volunteering for Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights (KARAPATAN), an alliance of individuals, groups and organisations working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. They are also members of the human rights monitoring team in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental. On 17 March 2011, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo travelled to the village of Barangay Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, in Negros Oriental in order to observe and document human rights violations allegedly carried out by the security forces, against members of the local community. It is alleged that there was a clash between the security forces and the New People's Army (NPA).According to the information received, a group of local farmers informed the aforementioned human rights defenders that Mr. Marvin Villegas, a local resident, had allegedly been shot by members of the 1st Scout Rangers Battalion of the Army while he was taking the family's cattle to the fields. It is reported that Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo along with local village residents were organising medical assistance for Mr. Villegas when members of the Alpha Company of the 79th Infantry Brigade of the Philippines Army approached them. It is reported that the aforementioned human rights defenders, along with the local residents were arrested, held by soldiers on the roadside and questioned. It is alleged that nine of the local residents were released, while the rest of the group, including the human rights defenders, was taken to a police station in the Sta. Catalina municipality. It is reported that while in detention, Messrs Solano, Villagonzalo, Paglinawan, and Bentillo were accused by soldiers of being members of the New People's Army. It was later alleged that Mr. Villegas and his mother were taken away by soldiers to Dumaguete City.