UVY MAGSINO – Human Rights Lawyer, Chairperson of Mindoro for Justice and Peace, Vice Mayor of Naujan, Mindoro Oriental

LEIMA FORTU – Volunteer at Mindoro for Justice and Peace, Acting Secretary General of the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) – Mindoro Oriental

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on February 13, 2004 Mrs. Magsino and Mrs. Fortu were followed by alleged members of the 204th Infantry Brigade of the Philippines Army (IBPA) as the drove to pick up a computer from a friend in Pinagsabangan. Reportedly, two men on a motorcycle without license plates sprayed Mrs. Magsino’s vehicle with bullets, killing Mrs. Magsino and Mrs. Fortu. Mrs. Magsino received three shots to her head, as well as shots to her chest, shoulder and neck, while Mrs. Fortu was wounded in her head, chest, shoulder and knee.

Juvy Magsino was a human rights lawyer, Vice Mayor of Naujan Mindoro, Oriental and was running for the position of Mayor. Leima Fortu was a teacher and acting Secretary General of the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (KARAPATAN) Mindoro Oriental. Both women were involved in the organization, Mindoro for Justice and Peace: Juvy Magsino as Chairperson and Leima Fortu and a volunteer.

Prior to this attack, Mrs. Magsino had reported she had received two death threats informing her she would not live past February 15, 2004. Mrs. Magsino was an outspoken critic of the increased militarization of Mindoro Oriental and had spoken out against Brigadeer General Jovito Palparan Jr., who is alleged to have been involved in the April 2003 extrajudicial executions of KARAPATAN- Southern Tagalog Secretary General Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy.

LRWC is deeply troubled by this horrific act of violence against two defenders of human rights, especially in light of allegations the assailants were members of a government agency. LRWC took immediate action to contact the President of the Philippines upon being informed of this brutal attack, and have asked her to fully investigate this incident and prosecute those involved.