of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

The perpetrators questioned Pastor Isaias and assaulted him,
telling him to admit that he was a person named “Elmer”, for
whom they were looking. Pastor Isaias denied this and told them
to check his identification card.
One of Pastor Isaias’s daughters saw that he was tied up and
taken outside, while his family remained indoors. When his
family was certain that the armed men had left, Sonia rushed to
the neighbours for help. It was then they heard nine gunshots.
Sonia, her children and their neighbors searched the area
and found Pastor Isaias lying dead in a creek some 40-50 metres
away from their residence. He had suffered six gunshot wounds,
three to his chest, two to his thigh and another one to his foot.
Lying beside him was another dead body: that of Corporal
Lordger Pastrana of the Philippine Army. Pastrana had a bullet
in the right side of his body. A .45-calibre pistol with a silencer
was found nearby. Pastor Isaias’s wristwatch, his daughter’s
mobile phone and a Mission Order for Pastor Isaias dated 22 July
2006 and signed by Major Earnest Mark Rosal of Camp Matillana,
Pili, Camarines Sur were all recovered from Pastrana’s pocket.
Sonia identified Pastrana as the one who gave orders to his
companions when they took her husband from their house. She
recalled that he was the only short and stout one among the
group. After the incident, the administrative office of the 9th
Infantry Division, Philippine Army conducted an investigation
and has yet to release its findings regarding the incident.
According to Jonathan’s account, Pastrana was among the ten
armed men who first entered their house. Jonathan believed
that they were from the military because of their bearing,
clothing, combat boots, and high-powered arms that they carried.
He said that on two occasions, men in military uniforms with
their name badges hidden had searched his brother’s house.
Pastrana was reportedly assigned to the Public Affairs Office
of the 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, based in Pili,
Camarines Sur. It is believed that he may have been accidentally
shot by his own men while they were trying to subdue their
captive.
Pastor Isaias was a member of the farmers’ group Kilusang
Magbubukid ng Bicol (Farmers’ Movement in Bicol) affiliated with
the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Farmers’
Movement of the Philippines).
A fact-finding mission conducted in August 2006 by local
persons collected testimonies and evidence regarding the killing.
The police and military have also conducted investigations into
the case, but their reports are yet to be released.
31
VICTIM: Isaias Sta. Rosa
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Around ten 9th ID personnel
led by Corp. Lordger
Pastrana, commanded by
Major Earnest Mark Rosal,
Camp Matillana, Pili,
Camarines Sur
DATE: 3 August 2006
AHRC UA-274-2006
PHOTO: KARAPATAN
“
this is a
scandal”
—Marjorie Lord,
England
article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1 49