Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

URGENT APPEAL URGENT APPEAL URGENT APPEAL

Dear friends,

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) writes to inform you about the alleged torture and frustrated killing of Datu Allan Kali Biang and alleged frustrated killing of Erap Manalendab Kadil and Rahim Kautin Baguiang (minor) in the compound of the barangay hall, outpost of Community Peace Keepers Assistance Communication (COMPAC)/Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and along the road of Purok Ilang-ilang Brgy. Pidtiguian, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

CASE DETAILS:

On January 27-28, 2024, Datu Allan Kali Biang, 22 years old, married, with four children, and worker at a vulcanizing shop, was allegedly tortured and shot; while his friends, Erap Manalendab Kadil, 21, single, farmer, and Rahim Kautin Baguiang, 14, student, residents of Barangay Midtapok, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, were allegedly shot and wounded by PMSg Joseph B. Reman, Aljabber Pilas Pingkol, and Barangay Captain Bryner Ian Balaba Diones in the compound of the barangay hall, outpost of Community Peace Keepers Assistance Communication (COMPAC)/Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and along the road of Purok Ilang-ilang Brgy. Pidtiguian, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

According to the witness (name withheld upon request), on January 27, 2024 at around 11:00 in the evening, she went to Barangay Midtapok together with Biang to see the fiesta celebration. Later, she was separated from Biang. She said that she saw a drunk PMSg Reman in civilian attire with his pistol while roaming around the barangay hall compound. At around past midnight, she heard that Biang was brought to COMPAC/BPAT.

According to Rowena Teng, Biang’s sister, she received a text message from her brother saying that he was shot, wounded, and on board a rescue vehicle. Teng immediately looked for her brother and saw the rescue vehicle stop at the Midtapok Barangay Hall. She approached the rescue vehicle and saw that the left side of her brother’s leg was wounded. She also added that Biang told her that he was punched several times in different parts of his body and his nape was hit with a gun while he was at the COMPAC.

Biang also narrated to her sister that after he was separated from the witness, he immediately looked for her inside the compound of the barangay hall. When he went outside the gate, he saw that PMSg Reman was sitting near the gate and was drunk. PMSg Reman called him and asked his name. After he replied, he was grabbed by the collar and brought to the side of the gate. He was punched many times and was forced to ride the motorcycle and brought to the COMPAC. When they arrived at the COMPAC, Reman switched off the lights and punched Biang again. Biang was afraid that he might get killed and decided to escape and find help. He shouted his name while fleeing. Kadil and Baguiang passed by and heard him. They immediately went back and took Biang on their motorcycle. PMSg Reman together with other BPAT members chased and fired shots at them. Biang was hit in his leg and fell from the motorcycle. Kadil and Baguiang were also hit but continued to escape.

Teng added that minutes after they arrived at the Isulan Provincial Hospital, she saw another rescue vehicle coming. Kadil and Baguiang, both wounded, were onboard.

In the morning of January 28, Biang and Kadil were brought to Lambayong police station where they are currently detained. Biang, Kadil and Baguiang are facing a complaint of attempted murder filed by PMSg Reman. Based on the complaint, “on or about 2:00 a.m., of January 2024, particularly at Community Peace Keepers Assistance Communication (COMPAC), Brgy. Midtapok, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, the said accused with intent to kill, with treachery and without justifiable cause did then and there willfully, unlawfully, criminally and feloniously, conspiring and aiding one another, fired upon with unidentified firearms towards PMSg Joseph B. Reman together with the BPAT, with prompted him to retaliate using his issued firearms and thereafter chase onboard one unit motorcycle, the said persons who escaped and eluded from arrest, who also boarded a motorcycle and upon reaching Purok Ilang-ilang, Brgy. Pidtiguian, one of the back rider suspects fell down and was left by his two male companions.” The complaint has not yet been resolved at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

According to PMSg Reman’s judicial affidavit, at the dawn of January 28, 2024, he received a complaint from Brgy. Captain Bryner Ian Balaba Diones that someone is causing trouble during their fiesta celebration in the compound of Brgy. hall, Brgy. Midtapok, Lambayong. They responded to the said complaint and arrested Datu Allan Kali Biang and brought him to the outpost of COMPAC.

Teng denied all the accusations against her bother and said that they were fabricated. She also went to the barangay to get a copy of the CCTV footage but when she watched the CCTV footage, it was only until midnight of January 27, 2024. According to the barangay official, the footage is only until midnight, but Teng did not believe this because she saw that the other footages from different dates had 24-hour coverage. It was only on January 27 that the footages were until midnight. Teng believed that some of the footages have been deleted.

She also questioned the judicial affidavit of complaints made by PMSg Reman which stated that Biang, Kadil, and Baguiang fired a gun. There were no pistols recovered from the possession of the three.

REQUESTED ACTION:

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO CONDUCT AN IMMEDIATE, THOROUGH, AND IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT; BRING TO JUSTICE THE ALLEGED PERPETRATORS OF THE ALLEGED TORTURE AND FRUSTRATED KILLING OF DATU ALLAN KALI BIANG AND THE ALLEGED FRUSTRATED KILLING OF ERAP MANALENDAB KADIL AND RAHIM KAUTIN BAGUIANG (MINOR); AND GUARANTEE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE VICTIMS’ FAMILIES.

Juvie Ann A. Gultiano

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ________,

Greetings.

This is to express my grave concern regarding the alleged torture and frustrated killing of Datu Allan Kali Biang and the alleged frustrated killing of Erap Manalendab Kadil, and Rahim Kautin Baguiang (minor) in the compound of the barangay hall, outpost of Community Peace Keepers Assistance Communication (COMPAC)/Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and along the road of Purok Ilang-ilang Brgy. Pidtiguian, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

I have received information that on January 27-28, 2024, Datu Allan Kali Biang, 22 years old, married, with four children, and worker at a vulcanizing shop, was allegedly tortured and shot; while his friends, Erap Manalendab Kadil, 21, single, farmer, and Rahim Kautin Baguiang, 14, student, residents of Barangay Midtapok, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, were allegedly shot and wounded by PMSg Joseph B. Reman, Aljabber Pilas Pingkol, and Barangay Captain Bryner Ian Balaba Diones in the compound of the barangay hall, outpost of Community Peace Keepers Assistance Communication (COMPAC)/Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and along the road of Purok Ilang-ilang Brgy. Pidtiguian, Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.

Based on the account of the witness (name withheld upon request), on January 27, 2024 at around 11:00 in the evening, she went to Barangay Midtapok together with Biang to see the fiesta celebration. Later, she was separated from Biang. She said that she saw a drunk PMSg Reman in civilian attire with his pistol while roaming around the barangay hall compound. At around past midnight, she heard that Biang was brought to COMPAC/BPAT.

Teng added that minutes after they arrived at the Isulan Provincial Hospital, she saw another rescue vehicle coming. Kadil and Baguiang, both wounded, were onboard.

She also questioned the judicial affidavit of complaints made by PMSg Reman which stated that Biang, Kadil, and Baguiang fired a gun. There were no pistols recovered from the possession of the three.

Philippine Republic Act 9745 Section 2(b) provides that, “…the human rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times; and that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority or, agent of a person in authority shall be subjected to physical, psychological or mental harm, force, violence, threat or intimidation or any act that impairs his/her free will or in any manner demeans or degrades human dignity.”

I am writing to ask for immediate action:

For the immediate, thorough, and impartial investigation of the alleged torture and frustrated killing of Datu Allan Kali Biang and alleged frustrated killing of Erap Manalendab Kadil and Rahim Kautin Baguiang, who is a minor;
For the alleged perpetrators to be held accountable; and
For the security and safety of the victims and their families.

Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

_______________________

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