Protesterklaerung zum Arrest der 43 Gesundheitsarbeiter

Protest Declaration CHD Arrest of 43 Health Workers

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are appalled by the message we have received about the incident that happened on 06 February 2010 at the Residential compound of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal.

Dr. Velmonte is a renowned and respected infectious disease specialist and a consultant at the Philippine General Hospital. Her farm is a regular venue of health trainings.

At 6:15 am around 300 heavily armed elements of the military and police forced their way into the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte.

Alleged Perpetrator(s) were: Joint elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (202nd IBPA), and Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP), headed by Colonel Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanay, Rizal, and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong of the Rizal PNP.

They illegally arrested and detained 43 persons.

The military declared that the victims were members of the New People’s Army because of the explosives allegedly found inside the compound. However, according to witnesses, the military conducted the search of the compound’s premises only after all of the victims, as well as the residents, were already outside the buildings. Witnesses also said that the military have brought in with them plastic bags with the GMA Kapuso logo printed on it.

This is a clear case of violation of human rights:

Violation of Domicile; Destruction of property; Divestment of Property; Illegal Search and Seizure (no valid search warrant); Illegal Arrest; Illegal Detention; Threat, Harassment and Intimidation, Fear for Safety.

We demand:

• The immediate release of the health workers who are illegally arrested and illegally detained at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

• The government to ensure the safety of the victims and that they are not harmed; their belongings be returned immediately to them.

• The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into raid and illegal arrest of the health workers conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal.

• The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”

Please remember that the Philippine Government is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

Kind regards,

Julia Schatten

On behalf of the board of GFF