State agents, particularly soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). were linked to the deaths of Albert Terredaño, a government employees group leader in Abra; Kalinga tribal leader Rafael Marcus Bangit; Alyce Omengan-Claver, wife of ambush survivor Dr. Constancio Claver; Kalinga hunter Victor Balais and Francisco Tangbaoan, the Baguio-based Cordillera Human Rights Alliance said. CHRA was one of the sponsors for Alston’s visit.
Cases where killers were identified though they remain at large included those of Jose "Pepe" Manegedeg III, who was killed in Ilocos; Romeo Sanchez, a Bayan Muna leader and journalist killed in broad daylight on Kayang Street in this city; Baby Mendiola and her husband Ricardo Balauag, who were slain in Isabela; Jose Javier and Antonio Licyayo, both peasant leaders in Cagayan, who were allegedly killed by soldiers.
Alston also heard the case of United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Pastor Billy Austin, who survived an assassination attempt in Vigan, Ilocos Sur last year.
In the case of Jose Doton, a Pangasinan peasant leader, one of the suspected killers was arrested but the other is still unidentified.
CHRA said the cases presented are part of the 833 extrajudicial killings and 193 cases of forced disappearances documented since January 2001 to the present by Karapatan, a national human rights alliance.
A CHRA report last year also showed that the most violated right in the Cordillera is the right to life, with 26 cases of politically motivated extrajudicial killings.
Alston said his mission is part of the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) and that he will hear the testimonies of victims and witnesses, to come up with a report, and recommendations – including policy changes – to the government on how to address the issue, CHRA said.
"I am glad that the investigation of the political killings was brought to a higher level," said Catholic Bishop Carlito Cenzon, who welcomed Alston and his party, adding "that these killings did not keep us silent as manifested by the growth of the alliance to keep watch the threat on life and liberties."
"I continue to call upon your visit to look into the consequences of the root problems and help build the picture on what is happening with us," Cenzon said.
Alston’s visit was a result of numerous complaints filed by human rights groups in the country. He is the second UN Special Rapporteur to come to investigate reports of human rights violations in the Philippines.