of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

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VICTIM: Victor Olayvar
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Two unidentified gunmen
DATE: 7 September 2006
AHRC UA-300-2006
PHOTO: KARAPATAN
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VICTIM: Ranbert Placencia
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Seven unidentified gunmen
DATE: 4 September 2006
AHRC UA-300-2006
Victor Olayvar: Victim of army hit list?
Victor Olayvar was shot dead at around 7:25am on 7 September
2006 by gunmen riding on a motorcycle at Bridge Caban,
Barangay Cantubod, Danao. He was on a passenger motorcycle
heading to Tagbilaran City when another motorcycle with two
people on board blocked the route. One of them shot him at close
range. The driver of the passenger motorcycle immediately
reported the attack to a police office, at 7:30am.
Prior to the shooting Olayvar and other members of his
organisation, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), and their
allies felt that their lives were threatened. They had obtained
information that the military was holding a hit list which included
the names of four Bayan leaders, Olayvar’s among them, and
those of two other unknown persons. Meanwhile, they and
members of a farmers’ group, Hugpong sa mga Mag-uumang Bolanon
(Bohol Peasant Organization), had heard of hooded strangers
riding on unregistered motorcycles and in vans asking for their
whereabouts.
On September 2, the Bishop of Bohol, Bishop Leopoldo
Tumulak, organised a dialogue between Olayvar’s group and
representatives from the 302nd Brigade, Philippine Army based
in Bohol. They discussed the death threats, surveillance of
leaders and propaganda against their group. It was only five days
later that Olayvar was killed.
Ranbert Placencia:
“You were the one who prevented the mining!”
On 4 September 2006, Ranbert Placencia was on his way to
work on his motorcycle when seven unidentified armed men
wearing military-style clothing blocked his way along Purok 8,
Sta. Monica, Nuevo Iloco, in the Mawab municipality of the
Compostela Valley. The gunmen pointed their firearms at him
and questioned his identity. One of them, in a balaclava, was
armed with an Uzi machine gun and a .45-calibre pistol. He
searched for Ranbert’s mobile phone and seized his bag.
A witness heard an argument between Placencia and the
armed men prior to the shooting. One of the armed men said,
“You were the one who prevented the mining activity in San
Isidro!” Placencia responded, “It’s the people’s will!”
Soon after, several gunshots were heard. Witnesses saw the
gunmen shooting at Placencia with the Uzi, a .45-calibre pistol,
an M-14 Armalite, a garand rifle and an M-203. The gunmen
then immediately fled on motorcycles towards Nuevo Iloco.
Placencia suffered nine gunshot wounds to his chest and head.
Placencia was the chairman of the community in Purok 9A
San Isidro, Nuevo Iloco, municipal coordinator of the Anak Pawis
Party, a member of the Nuevo Iloco Farmers Association, and
chairman and a council member of Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma
sa Mawab. He was also employed by the National Irrigation
Administration.
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article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1