Philippines: Petition for the Unconditional Release of the Sagada 11

An online petition to all who respect human rights and dignity

Free the Sagada 11!

Last February 14, a group of 11 backpackers went to Baguio to join the festivities in the annual Baguio Flower Festival and proceed to the idyllic mountain paradise of Sagada. They are:

1. Rundren Berloize Lao, 24, from Davao City
2. Aldoz Christian Munoza, 18, of Santolan, Pasig City
3. Darwin Alazar y Padilla, 21, native of Tipuso, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan
4. Arvie Nunez, 21, native of Silang, Mayaw, Lucena City
5. Ray Lester Mendoza y Esquerra, 16, from San Francisco, Makati City
6. Neil Russel Balajadia, 25, from Santolan, Pasig City
7. Jethro Villegas, 21, single, of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City
8. Anderson Alonzo, 18, also of Malagos, Calinan, Davao City
9. Ronron Pandino, 20, from San Quintin, Laguna
10. Frencess Ann Bernal, 15, of Camupang, Marikina City
11.Jefferson dela Rosa y dela Cruz, 20, of Santolan, Pasig City.

All of them just wanted to have some fun, after their musical tour (they came from a punk music event that was held in Tarlac).

At around 6 a.m of the same day, the group hitchhiked aboard a dump truck along the Baguio-Bontoc Road (Halsema Highway). This was their mode of transportation to Sagada. Around noontime, without any provocation, they were held in gunpoint by police looking for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at a checkpoint in Bangao village, Buguias town, northern Benguet.

“Tinutukan agad ng mga baril na mahahaba” from the words of Rundren Lao, one of the lads that were accused as NPAs. They were kicked and manhandled as there were obvious signs of torture all over their bodies. The parents of the victims were aghast when they saw the group of youth - bruised, wounded and still in a state of shock. The group were tied, some handcuffed, and were brought forcefully to the station of the 1604th Police Mobile Group in Camp Molintas, Abatan, also in Benguet.

The actions done by the Benguet Police were definitely wrong, however you look at it. These acts deserve condemnation, if not punishment by recalling all those involved from their duties. The Sagada 11 are innocent, adventure loving trekkers. Most likely, due to the macho, prejudiced and unintelligent nature of police officers and the backwardness of the police institution itself, they have assumed that these individuals are “communists” and “armed rebels” due to the fact that they look and dress different (punks tend to dress differently - Rundren Lao even had dreadlocks which he cut in his attempt to escape to maintain a low profile). The closest they can be related to “rebellion” is due to their involvement with the non-violent peace organization Food not Bombs, a vegetarian anti-war group where the main activity is to recycle food to feed the poor and hungry homeless vagrants all throughout the country.

As the Sagada 11 group’s friends, comrades, fellow musicians, and peace-loving people who respect human rights, we demand for:

1. The immediate and unconditional release of the Sagada 11
2. A public apology and rightful compensation to be issued to the victims and their families
3. The termination of the responsible people from their duties as police officers and government workers, whether they are directly or indirectly involved.

FREE THE SAGADA 11!
STOP POLICE REPRESSION AND BUTALITY!
RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS!

Help us free the Sagada 11. Let the world know and denounce the wickedness done by those of the Benguet Police Force and the Philippine State’s repressive nature. If you agree with our statement and our demands, you can do these:

1. Send this letter to all your friends or any person in your contact list. You can help in the dissemination of information. You can also include your name or your group’s name under the signatories below before you forward them.

2. Write a letter, or if you’re within the locale or if you have ample funds to make a long distance phone call, get in touch with the following people, demanding the Sagada 11’s unconditional release and the condemnation of the actions that were done to them.

Police Chief Superintendent RAUL SANCHEZ GONZALES
Regional Director (Acting)
Police Regional Office for Cordillera Administrative Region (PRO CAR)
PRO CAR Camp Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad,
Benguet (098) 541-0850/[SAT] 0985-410-850

JOVENCITO R. ZUÑO
Chief State Prosecutor
Direct Line (632)525-0952
Trunkline (632)523-8481 loc. 219; 281
Telefax (632)525-0952
E-mail jrz@doj.gov.ph

DOJ ACTION CENTER
Tel. No. (632)536-0450
TERESITA R. DOMINGO
Senior State Prosecutor

DOJ ACTION CENTER, REGION I
SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION
Tel. No. (63)(72) 700-3599
NONATUS CEASAR R. ROXAS

PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
DOJ Agencies Bldg., NIA Road cor. East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. (632)929-9010; (632)924-1396
PERSIDA V. RUEDA-ACOSTA
Chief Public Attorney

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE
Internal Affairs Service
For Police Services Complaints or Complaints on a Police Officer
Dial (632) 899-7504

3. If you are based in another country, write your local Philippine Embassy regarding this issue or conduct actions in front of the embassy to pressure officials.

4. If you or your group are within the vicinity of Baguio City, or are willing to travel there, join the camp out initiated by some members of the support group.

Furthermore, we give our thanks to those who supported the Sagada 11 in the legal aspect: the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), KARAPATAN, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP).

Free the Sagada 11 Solidarity Campaign

Initial Signatories:

Organizations:
- http://a-Manila.org (web)
- Earth First! Philippines
- Local anarchist Network
- Food not Bombs (all Philippine sections)
- Project Aperture
- Not For Sale