Bail hearing of Mr Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie postponed
On 13 January 2012, prominent human rights defender Mr Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie was arrested at his house in Davao City. He appeared before the Regional Trial Court of Davao City on 16 January 2012 under the accusation of being involved in a bombing incident in the municipality of Patikul, Sulu on 13 May 2009. Temogen Tulawie's human rights activities include public information campaigns, organising peace rallies and peaceful protests as well as fact-finding missions regarding militarisation and human rights violations.
Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie is a Filipino human rights defender working to protect the rights of the Muslim minority on the island of Mindanao. Temogen has been a target of the authorities over the years, and most recently was detained in suspicion of participating in a terrorist act, about which he maintains he is being set up.
The bail hearing of human rights defender Mr Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie, which was scheduled for 4 February 2013, has been rescheduled to 4 to 6 March 2013, due to the reported absence of judicial affidavits for the defence. Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie is a prominent human rights defender who has conducted fact-finding missions into human rights violations in Jolo, Sulu, Mindanao province. He was arrested on 14 January 2012 at his home in Davao City and has been detained since under the accusation, which he denies, of being involved in a bombing incident in the municipality of Patikul, Sulu, on 13 May 2009.
On 4 February 2013, a number of human rights groups gathered outside the City Hall of Manila, where Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie's bail hearing was taking place, to call for his trial to be speeded up and for the human rights defender to be released. Due to information received regarding threats against the security and life of Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie, and as reported by Front Line Defenders on 26 September 2012, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology guarded the entire City Hall building, placing soldiers at every floor. Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie arrived at the City Hall with security escorts and a bullet proof vest. As the bail hearing began, the defence stated that they have not received judicial affidavits as required under the Order of Branch 19 dated 7 December 2012. Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar subsequently rescheduled the bail hearing to 4-6 March 2013.
Front Line Defenders strongly reiterates its calls on the Philippines authorities to grant Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie the right to bail in line with Section 13 and Section 14 (2) of Article III of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, and urges the authorities to give due consideration to the fact that the primary witnesses against the accused have recanted their original testimonies.
For more information concerning this case, please see the previous urgent appeals and updates issued by Front Line Defenders, dated 17 August 2012, 17 January 2012 and 9 November 2011 respectively.
