of the Philippines the criminal justice system is - Article 2

Jose Manegdeg: Same job, new victim
Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg III of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte was slain
on 28 November 2005 after participating in a Paralegal Training
Seminar at the Ursa Major Resort, sponsored by the Ilocos Human
Rights Alliance-Karapatan. Manegdeg left the venue that evening
by hired tricycle to take a bus to Manila, where was to meet his
wife who was arriving from Hong Kong the following day.
As Manegdeg alighted from a tricycle at a bus stop on the
highway, a gunman emerged from a van, approached him and
shot him repeatedly. The tricycle driver sped off for fear of his
own life, but returned to where he had picked up Manegdeg to
inform his companions of what had happened.
Manegdeg’s colleagues immediately contacted the police, and
went to the scene of the killing. They found Manegdeg’s body
approximately 15 metres from the waiting shed. His bag, cell
phone and other belongings were missing. The body was found to
have 22 bullet wounds from a .45-calibre pistol.
Manegdeg was a Bayan Muna party coordinator in Ilocos
province. His predecessor, Romeo Sanchez was also killed, on 9
March 2005 in Baguio City, Luzon (case documented below).
Manegdeg was the former coordinator of the Regional Ecumenical
Council in the Cordillera Region (Reccord) and editorial staff of
“Writing on the Wall”, the official publication of the Northern
Luzon Forum for Church and Society.
Prior to his death Manegdeg was reported to have been
monitored and was receiving calls and text messages on his
mobile phone. He also received written threats on his life.
In a letter dated 23 January 2006, Secretary Raul Gonzalez of
the Department of Justice wrote to the AHRC that he had
instructed the National Bureau of Investigation under his
department to commence an investigation into Manegdeg’s
murder. He said that the NBI had also been advised to submit its
findings and recommendations as soon a practicable.
Emmylou Buñi-Cruz & Daniel Brylle:
Attacked near beach resort
On 25 November 2005 at around 4pm, Emmylou Buñi-Cruz
(25) and her husband Daniel Brylle (34) finished a human rights
seminar at Sitio Punta, Barangay 8, Tuburan, Cebu, about seven
kilometers from the town centre. Emmylou is a staff member of
the human rights group Karapatan in Central Visayas, while
Daniel is an organiser of the Bayan Muna party in Cebu. The
seminar was part of preparations International Human Rights
Day on December 10. They were also monitoring the situation of
evacuees returning after fighting between the military and rebels
on 15 October 2005.
On their way back they walked along the same road as when
they had come, passing by a resort house owned by Tuburan
Councillor Roy Tabotabo, where five soldiers attached to the 78th
Infantry Battalion had been staying since October 24. As they
64
VICTIM: Jose Manegdeg
INCIDENT: Killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Unidentified gunmen
DATE: 28 November 2005
AHRC UP-158-2005
PHOTO: Stop the killings
65
VICTIMS:
1. Emmylou Buñi-Cruz
2. Daniel Brylle
INCIDENT: Attempted killing
ALLEGED PERPETRATORS:
Three 78th IB intelligence
personnel, commanded by
Lt. Col. Jessie Alvarez
DATE: 25 November 2005
AHRC UP-146-2005
article 2 • February 2007 Vol. 6, No. 1 73