TFDP calls for fair, impartial and speedy disposition of Mr. Tulawie’s case

January 16,2012

“TFDP CALLS FOR FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND SPEEDY DISPOSITION OF MR. TULAWIE’S CASE”

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), is calling for fair, impartial and speedy disposition of the case of Mr. Temogen “Cocoy” Tulawie. He was arrested on January 13,2012 at 11:45 in the evening by combined elements of Military Intelligence Group (MIG), Region 9, Special Action Force (SAF)and Police Intelligence (R2), in Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

 TFDP, supports Mr. Tulawie in his quest for justice not only for himself but for all the people of Sulu province whose rights were violated. Being a human rights defender, it is his conviction to both God and the people to act against the human rights violations that endanger his life and that of his family.

Mr. Tulawie has an impressive record in human rights defense and promotion.  He is the former provincial chairperson of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a coalition of Bangsamoro civil society organizations (CSOs) within the province of Sulu. His works involves monitoring and documentation of cases of human rights violations affecting Muslim communities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), especially in the province of Sulu.

The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in 1998,  enumerated some rights and protection accorded to human rights defenders, among others; to seek the protection and realization of human rights at the national and international level and to make complaints about official policies and acts relating to human rights and to have such complaints reviewed.

Under this declaration, the state is bound with the duties to protect, promote and implement human rights and to provide an effective remedy for persons who claim to have been victims of human rights violations.

With these safeguards, TFDP is certain that Mr. Tulawie will be afforded with impartiality by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the court will hear his case without prejudice considering that his private complainant is a prominent Governor of Sulu.

Uphold his integrity as a human rights defender!


RITA M. MELECIO
Deputy Executive Director
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
Cell: 09497215341

Arrest of a prominent Muslim human rights defender from Jolo, Sulu

PHILIPPINES: ARREST OF A PROMINENT MUSLIM HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER FROM JOLO, SULU

ISSUES: FABRICATION OF CHARGES AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL   UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL

Dear Friends,

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), writes to inform you about the updated information regarding the case of Mr. Temogen Sahipa Tulawie. Several appeals were sent before regarding the harassment he was facing as a human rights defender.

On January 13,2012 at about 11:45 in the evening, Mr. Tulawie was arrested at his rented house in Davao City by combined elements of Military Intelligence Group (MIG) from Region 9 led by Sgt. Reyes, members of Special Action Force (SAF) led by Supt. Fernando Ortega and members of Police Intelligence (R2).

Mr. Tulawie was already planning to voluntarily give himself and face the charges hurled against him after the Supreme Court already granted the motion he filed for transfer of venue to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Davao City, because he believes that he will not be afforded with impartiality if his case will be tried in Jolo, Sulu.

On June 13,2011, the Supreme Court granted the request for transfer of venue. Dispositive portion reads as “ Acting on the Petition for transfer of Venue, filed by Temogen “cocoy” Tulawie, one of the accused in Criminal nos. (07-09) 1648-3 and (07-09) 1649-3 from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Jolo, Sulu, to any court as this Court may deem convenient, and considering that there is an indication of actual and imminent threat to the life of the petitioner and his family, as well as his witnesses, as found by the Court of appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 00002-W/RA-MIN and there is reason to believe that continuing with the trial of the subject criminal cases in the RTC, Jolo, Sulu can lead to a miscarriage of justice”.