Philippines: HRD killed
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- Mar 9, 2011
- Event Description
On 9 March 2011, Mr. Bonifacio Labasan, the vice-chairperson of the Isabela branch of the Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti Cagayan Valley (Union of Peasants in Cagayan Valley - DAGAMI) was killed. At around 10:30am, Mr. Labasan and his daughter were travelling by motorcycle to Baranggay Victoria, Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela Province. During the journey they noticed that they were being followed by two men on a motorcycle. As Mr. Labasan and his daughter arrived to Baranggay San Roque, the two men on the motorcycle forced them to stop.It is alleged that one of the men approached Mr. Labasan and demanded that he accompany them. Mr. Labasan reportedly refused to do so at which point the man shot him in his right side. Mr. Labasan allegedly fell to the ground. The man then fired again at Mr. Labasan hitting him in the head. Mr. Labasan died immediately as a result of the gunshot wounds. The two men immediately fled the scene by motorcycle. According to the information received, the police arrived approximately one hour after the incident took place. They reportedly questioned Mr. Labasan's daughter about the incident and accompanied her to her home. A complaint regarding the incident was reportedly lodged with the local police; however to date it is alleged that no one has been arrested with regards to the killing. Last year DAGAMI launched a campaign against a project which encouraged the use of bio-ethanol in Isabela Province. Mr Labasan was actively involved in campaigning against the conversion of crop lands for the production of bio-ethanol, a move which would displace farmers from their lands in Isabela Province. He was also involved in disseminating information regarding the DAGAMI campaign to other farmers in the area.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Violation
- Death
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 16.8485781
Longitude: 121.5999842
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 9 March 2011, Mr. Bonifacio Labasan, the vice-chairperson of the Isabela branch of the Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon iti Cagayan Valley (Union of Peasants in Cagayan Valley - DAGAMI) was killed. At around 10:30am, Mr. Labasan and his daughter were travelling by motorcycle to Baranggay Victoria, Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela Province. During the journey they noticed that they were being followed by two men on a motorcycle. As Mr. Labasan and his daughter arrived to Baranggay San Roque, the two men on the motorcycle forced them to stop.It is alleged that one of the men approached Mr. Labasan and demanded that he accompany them. Mr. Labasan reportedly refused to do so at which point the man shot him in his right side. Mr. Labasan allegedly fell to the ground. The man then fired again at Mr. Labasan hitting him in the head. Mr. Labasan died immediately as a result of the gunshot wounds. The two men immediately fled the scene by motorcycle. According to the information received, the police arrived approximately one hour after the incident took place. They reportedly questioned Mr. Labasan's daughter about the incident and accompanied her to her home. A complaint regarding the incident was reportedly lodged with the local police; however to date it is alleged that no one has been arrested with regards to the killing. Last year DAGAMI launched a campaign against a project which encouraged the use of bio-ethanol in Isabela Province. Mr Labasan was actively involved in campaigning against the conversion of crop lands for the production of bio-ethanol, a move which would displace farmers from their lands in Isabela Province. He was also involved in disseminating information regarding the DAGAMI campaign to other farmers in the area.