Philippines: Extrajudicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances, and Impunity

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Journalist Ernan Baldomero seeks justice for his father, Fernando “Nanding” Baldomero, a town councilor and Aklan provincial coordinator of the leftist political party Bayan Muna. On July 5, 2010, a gunman shot and killed Baldomero outside his home in Kalibo, Aklan province, as he was about to drive his 12-year-old son to school. © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Pascual Guevarra, the leader of two local leftist organizations in Nueva Ecija province, with his daughter. On July 9, 2010, a gunman walked onto Guevarra’s property in the Fort Magsaysay military reservation in Laur, Nueva Ecija, and fatally shot him. © Private 245969
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Rene “Toto” Quirante was the Negros Oriental provincial vice-chair of the leftist political party Anakpawis. On October 1, 2010, a witness saw several soldiers and paramilitary members beat and shoot dead Quirante in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental. Although arrest warrants have been issued for two of the alleged perpetrators, police have not arrested them. © Private 245969
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Reynaldo “Naldo” Labrador was a member of the local leftist organization Paquibato District Peasant Alliance (PaDiPA). On September 3, 2010, a known local paramilitary kept watch while a man entered his home in Paquibato district, Davao City, walked past his wife and children, and shot and killed him while he slept. © Private 245969
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Ireneo “Rene” Rodriguez’s parents described how Philippine Air Force personnel visited their home looking for their son days before he was killed on November 7, 2010. Two masked men on a motorcycle shot and killed Rodriguez, a former leftist activist, in Balayan, Batangas province, on November 7, 2010. © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Ireneo “Rene” Rodriguez’s parents show his photograph on their cell phone. © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Tricycle driver Alfredo Bucal. His family has been searching for him since he was apprehended at a joint Philippine Air Force and Philippine National Police checkpoint in Tuy, Batangas province, on November 10, 2010. Relatives found his tricycle impounded at a police station, but both the Air Force and police deny any knowledge of his whereabouts. © Private 245969
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Alfredo Bucal’s family holds his photograph. 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Irene and Mercy Dejos hold photographs of their husbands Rudy and Rudyric. On February 27, 2011, unidentified assailants killed Rudy, a tribal chieftain and community human rights officer, and his adult son Rudyric at their farmhouse in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur province. © 2011 Jessica Evans/Human Rights Watch 245969
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More than 20 armed soldiers attended the March 9 funeral march of tribal chieftain Rudy Dejos and his son, Rudyric, who were killed by unidentified men in Davao del Sur province on February 27, 2011. © 2011 Jessica Evans/Human Rights Watch 245969
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A sign reading “Rudy and Ruderick were killed by the executioners CPP—NPA—NDFP” hangs near the 39th IB military camp in Davao del Sur. The sign, apparently signed by a militarybacked militia, blames the Communist Party’s New People’s Army for the killings, before they had been investigated. © 2011 Jessica Evans/Human Rights Watch 245969
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Porciso Tamondez, a farmer, with three of his children. On August 12, 2010, an unidentified gunman killed his son Julius. A local official reported the killing to police on the day of the killing, but police did not visit the crime scene or interview first responders. © 2011 Jessica Evans/Human Rights Watch 245969
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Erlinda Cadapan holds a portrait of her “disappeared” daughter Sherlyn, who she has not seen since the military arrested her in mid-2006 in Haganoy, Bulacan province. In September 2008, the Court of Appeals ordered Sherlyn’s release. The military, which continues to deny it is holding her, refuses to act. © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Erlinda Cadapan looks through photos of her daughter Sherlyn. © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
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Political insignia on a police vehicle illustrates one of the many challenges for justice in the Philippines—political influence over law enforcement agencies. The insignia reads, “Donated by: Cong. Ted ‘Nonong’ Haresco, Kasangga Party List.” © 2011 Veejay Villafranca for Human Rights Watch 245969
Philippines President Benigno Aquino III was elected on a human rights platform. He said he'd end extrajudicial killings and hold the military accountable for abuses. But as Human Rights Watch's Jessica Evans reports, that's not what's happened.
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