Trumped-up charges against Joel Q. Yagao

On 8 September 2013, human rights defender Mr Joel Q. Yagao was arrested by six members of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police on baseless charges of double murder and multiple murder. He is currently being detained at Gingoog City Jail. Joel Q. Yagao is a lay co- worker attached to the human rights organisation Rural Missionaries of the Philippines – Northern Mindanao sub-region (RMP-NMR), where he is responsible for agrarian campaigns in partnership with farmers' organisations and other community-based organisations aiming to increase the standard of living of local communities and defend land rights.

On 8 September, at approximately 11:00 am, Joel Q. Yagao was arrested at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church in Villanueva while he was meeting with another lay co-worker and preparing the commemorations for October Peasant Month. He was arrested by six security officials, in a group composed of members of the Military Intelligence Company (MICO) of the 43 rd Brigade of the Philippine Army and members of the Philippine National Police, led by Captain Joe Ryan Manalo and PSI Rogelio R. Labor respectively. Following the arrest, the human rights
defender was taken to Gingoog City Jail where he is currently being held. The charges against the human rights defender are double murder and multiple murder, which lack any base in fact or evidence.

As a lay co-worker with RMP-NMR, Joel Q.Yagao works in the field in Northern Mindanao where for five years he has been responsible for agrarian campaigns held in partnership with local indigenous, community-based and farmers' associations such as the Balingasag Farmers' Association. These campaigns have been successful in securing a number of improvements to local communities' livelihoods, including increased wages for seasonal workers and the elimination of usury. He has also coordinated trainings on sustainable agriculture and cooperative management. In addition to this, he was preparing to mark October Peasant Month with marches protesting ongoing violations against defenders of land rights and access to natural resources.

Front Line Defenders is concerned for the safety and the physical and psychological integrity of Joel Q. Yagao, in the light of the severe charges trumped up against him. Human rights defenders working on issues such as indigenous and land rights and access to natural resources face an alarmingly high level of violence and harassment in the Philippines, both by state and non-state actors and especially in the Northern Mindanao region. Front Line Defenders has reported on a substantial number of cases where such human rights defenders were killed or targeted by the
army or police forces. For more information on such cases, please see the urgent appeals issued on 1 November 2012, 10 October 2012 and 20 September 2012.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in the Philippines to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against human rights defender Joel Q. Yagao, and subsequently release him without delay, as the evidence indicates they are solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights;

2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Joel Q. Yagao while in detention, as well as that of his colleagues and family members;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the Philippines, particularly those working on issues related to land rights, are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.