of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

Melanio Evangelista: Murdered in bed
On 17 February 2006 at around 11:45pm, Melanio Evangelista
(43) was asleep at home at Purok Brotherhood, Barangay Unidad,
Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. His wife Nora heard voices from outside
their house calling the name of her husband, requesting him to
go outside. Nora told them that Melanio was already in bed. She
then heard noises from the back of the house, and immediately
went to where her husband was sleeping. She saw a man covering
his face with a handkerchief shooting at Melanio. He then
immediately went outside and rode away on a waiting motorcycle.
Melanio died from a shot to the left side of his head, the bullet
also entering the right side of his neck and exiting from his
right shoulder.
Melanio was a peasant leader of the Kapunungan sa mga Maguuma
sa Surigao Sur (Organization of Peasants in Surigao Sur).
He and his wife Nora were constant participants in its activities
in their municipality.
A few weeks before the killing they saw a motorcycle-riding
man destroying and burning their organisation’s posters. There
were also rumors that the 58th Infantry Battalion of the
Philippine Army had said that it would “break up” the group. Nora
also noticed motorcycle-riding men constantly passing and
seemingly observing them near their house. She believed the
men to be military intelligence. Although slightly alarmed, she
and her family had not paid much attention as they had had no
enemies.
Allan Ibasan & Dante Salgado:
Taken away from bamboo plantation and shot
Allan Ibasan (18) and Dante Salgado (17) were allegedly killed
by military agents after their arrest on 31 January 2006. Allan
and Dante were workers of a bamboo plantation. They were
preparing for their breakfast while seven of their companions
started the work of cutting bamboo. A few minutes after Allan
and Dante left to buy more ingredients for breakfast, a loud burst
of gunfire was heard some distance away. The other labourers
then ran to their employer’s house for safety.
Earlier that morning the labourers had been woken by a loud
burst of gunfire. A fight was said to have taken place between
government troops and the New People’s Army in Pansagwan
Valley, Barangay Sta. Ines West, Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac between 3
and 4am that day. So the group decided to stay at the house until
noon. While they were all inside, a group of heavily-armed military
men, believed to be attached to the 71st Infantry Battalion,
arrived. They yelled at those inside the house to come out.
The labourers stepped outside the house. They saw four soldiers
pointing guns at them wearing, one with the name “Canlas” on
his shirt. The soldiers asked if they had lost any companions.
Glen then told them that his brother Allan and uncle Dante were
58
VICTIM: Melanio Evangelista
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATOR:
Unidentified gunman
DATE: 17 February 2006
AHRC UA-072-2006
59
VICTIMS:
1. Allan Ibasan
2. Dante Salgado
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Four 71st IB personnel led
by an officer named Canlas
DATE: 31 January 2006
AHRC UA-083-2006
article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1 69