Case History: Daniel Lampusay

Human Rights Defender Mr Daniel Lampusay is currently arbitrarily detained in the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail.

He was arrested on 3 August 2015, which is believed to be another attempt to hinder the work of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in the Northern Mindanao region, where Daniel Lampusay works as a volunteer teacher with literacy and numeracy programmes in Gingoog City.

On 3 August 2015, members of the 58th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Kibungkol, Barangay Hindangan, Gingoog City arrested Daniel Lampusay and his brother Mr Ejun Lampusay without an arrest warrant. They were initially detained at the Barangay Hall, where the military are stationed. Shortly afterwards, they were transferred to the Medina Police Station, and finally brought to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail, where they are currently detained. Daniel Lampusay's family were permitted to visit him in detention. It has been reported that Daniel and Ejun Lampusay are accused by the military of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA), which is an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Daniel Lampusay’s arrest and detention is the latest in a series of harassment against members of the RMP. RMP members, teachers and students have been targeted by the military on numerous occasions and accused of belonging to the NPA. In September 2013, RMP member Mr Joel Q. Yagao, was arrested by the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police on trumped-up charges of double murder and multiple murder. No trial hearing has taken place on his case and he is currently detained at Gingoog City Jail.