Re: PHILIPPINES: Soldiers torture and shoot a farmer dead in front of his family

Name of the victim: Katog Sapalon, 37 years old, married with three children, a farmer and charcoal maker, a resident of Barangay Makir, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province. He was a Muslim of a Maguindanaon tribe.
Alleged perpetrators: Five soldiers attached to the 6th Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army, stationed in Barangay Gubat Datu, Odin Sinsuat.
Date of incident: June 3, 2009 at 7:30am
Place of incident: At the boundary of Barangay Makir and Sapalan, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province

I am shocked to learn that Katog Sapalon, a farmer and a charcoal maker, was tortured and shot dead by soldiers in front of his family in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province. The soldiers shot him at close range at his home after he refused to confess that he was a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel group.

According the information I have received on June 3, 2009 at around 7:30am five heavily-armed men, who later identified themselves as soldiers on a military operation, began interrogating Katog. They punched and kicked him while asking questions, using their fists and feet, and the butts of their armalite rifles. The shots that killed him shattered his left eye and fractured his head.

After several hours the family saw the soldiers taking the victim’s corpse away; they borrowed a water buffalo (carabao) to transport it. It was seen being taken to the detachment of the 6th Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army (PA) in Barangay Gubat Datu, Odin Sinsuat by witnesses, and a village chairperson later went to the camp to claim the body for the family.

It has been a number of days since the incident but police officers from the Municipal Police Station in Datu Odin Sinsuat say they have not been able to investigate the case. They did not log the incident in their police blotter.

I therefore urge the government agencies concerned to ensure that an impartial investigation into this case is conducted. The five soldiers responsible for torturing and killing the victim must be identified and prosecuted in a court of law, and should the victim's family decides to pursue complaint against the five soldiers they should also be afforded with the necessary legal assistance and protection.

The government should also ensure that the victim's family is offered compensation and financial assistance for their livelihood, if needed. The victim was the family bread winner and his death will affect their daily survival.

Also, please also ensure that the victim's wife and children are offered trauma counseling and rehabilitation for the psychological trauma that they have experienced