More violence: Ivy Collantes Bautista

More news of unavenged violence against a Filipina, this time in Spain, the original colonial mother of the Philippines. In late September, Ivy Collantes Bautista died under mysterious circumstances in her employers' home: she was found with a knife wound in her chest and a kitchen knife in her neck, yet the Spanish officials deemed it suicide, which has since been debunked by an autopsy. You can check out some articles I've found here, here, and here on the case.

Here is the petition going around from MIGRANTE calling on both the Spanish and Philippine governments to conduct a complete investigation of the case. (Check out the number of countries where the signatories are living; Filipina/os really have become a diasporic people, and I hope we can harness the power of this.) Contact information is at the bottom:

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Justice for Ivy Collantes Bautista!
Prosecute and convict the criminals!

Another overseas Filipino worker has fallen victim to a mysterious death in Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

The case of Ivy Collantes Bautista cries for comprehensive justice.

We the undersigned, demand justice be attained for Ivy and her family in Calauan, Laguna.

We also demand for the immediate arrest, prosecution and appropriate conviction of the perpetrators of this heinous crime. We demand that no further whitewash is done by both the Spanish and Philippine authorities.

About three days before she was due to come to the Philippines for a visit, Ivy's body was found on September 27, 2005 in a small third floor utility room of her employer's home in Santander with a big kitchen knife pierced through her neck. In addition, her body bore another wound on her chest, near the top of her heart.

Ivy died under mysterious circumstances. The perpetrator/s of this heinous crime are roaming free in Spain.

We fear foul play because before her death, Ivy revealed to her mother that she noticed three or four strange men lurking near her employers' home. She also told her mother about various problems she faced at work -- stories that belie statements about how she was 'satisfied and pleased' with her employers.

Justice should be served to the criminals in this case. The untimely death of Ivy, the sloppy Spanish police investigation that conveniently declared that she committed suicide, and the Philippine government decision to accept the spurious Spanish police report have only led to a clear cover-up of Ivy’s real cause of death.

These are all affronts to justice, fairness, the rights of women, and the rights of migrant workers.

Thus, we the undersigned, assert that given the anguish Ivy’s family has gone through, a comprehensive and deep-going investigation, the immediate arrest of suspects and continued updates on the case will help in relieving some of the pain they continue to suffer. It is in this way that Ivy’s soul will get some peace.

We also urge that more appropriate actions must be undertaken by the Philippine government to ensure justice is achieved. We demand comprehensive justice which means that the murderer and those responsible for Ivy’s death must be swiftly prosecuted and imprisoned. Her family must also be indemnified and the (in)actions and negligence of Philippine government officials here and in Spain must be examined.

This petition is to impress onto authorities in the Philippines and Spain, that the utmost must be done to ensure that the interests of Ivy’s bereaved family and comprehensive justice shall be attained.

We earnestly demand no less.

SIGNED:

PHILIPPINES

Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, MIGRANTE Sectoral Party
Maita Santiago, Secretary General, MIGRANTE International
MIGRANTE-Manila
MIGRANTE-Quezon City
MIGRANTE-Fortune, Marikina City
MIGRANTE-Pasay City
MIGRANTE-Bagong Silang, Caloocan City
Friends of Migrante
Migrante-Youth
Migrante-Metro Baguio
Migrante Cordillera
INNABUYOG-Gabriela
Samahang Pagkakaisa ng mga OFWs at Pamilya sa Gagalangin,Tondo, Manila
Samahan sa Looban ng mga OFWs at Pamilya, Tondo, Manila
Samahan ng OFWs at Pamilya sa Road 3, Tondo, Manila
Kalipunan ng mga OFWs at Pamilya sa La Loma
Samahan ng mga OFWs at Pamilya sa Singalong, Manila
Kalipunan ng OFWs at Pamilya sa Beata, Pandacan, Manila
Samahang OFWs Malate, Manila
Migrante - Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila
Migrante Youth - San Andres Chapter, Manila
Migrante Youth - Pampanga st., Gagalangin Chapter
Migrante Youth - Benita st., Gagalangin Chapter
Migrante Youth - Tondo High School Organizing Committee
Migrante Youth - PMI Colleges Chapter
Migrante Youth - City College of Manila (CCM) Chapter
Migrante Youth - Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Chapter
Gloria Step down Movement (GSM) Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City
MIGRANTE-Salam Mosque Muslim Compound Chapter
MIGRANTE-Holy Spirit Chapter, Quezon City
MIGRANTE-Purok 20, Commonwealth Chapter, Quezon City
MIGRANTE Youth - Commonwealth High School Chapter, Quezon City
BAI, National Network of Indigenous Women’s Organizations in the Philippines
GABRIELA National Alliance of Women
Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA Secretary General
Lana Linaban, GABRIELA Deputy Secretary General for Internal Affairs
Nannette Tampico, GABRIELA Deputy Secetary General for External Affairs
Gert Libang, GABRIELA Spokesperson
Emily Cahilog, GABRIELA Interntional Relations Officer
Vernie Yocogan-Diano, Secretary-General, Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera;
Leonora Membrot, Chairperson, Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera
Nellie Ag-agwa, Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera
Julie Palaganas, Lesbians for National Democracy (LESBOND)
Cyrene Reyes (LESBOND)
Joanne Villanueva (LESBOND)
Gabriela Women's Party
Rep. Liza Largoza-Maza, Gabriela Women's Party National President
Luzviminda Ilagan, Chairperson, Gabriela Women's Party
Malou Turalde-Jarabe, Vice Chairperson, Gabriela Women's Party
Cristina Palabay, Secretary General

United Arab Emirates

Cyrine Pinpin - Migrante UAE
Nhel Morona - Migrante UAE
Almario Cruz - Dubai

United Kingdom

MIGRANTE Sectoral Party-London
Rommel F. Linatoc, Pagkakaisa ng Mamamayan sa UK
Jamima Fagta, MSP London

Netherlands

MIGRANTE Europe (Netherlands)
Kaisa ng Bayan (Netherlands)
MIGRANTE Netherlands (Netherlands)

Saudi Arabia

Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS-Migrante) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Silangang Probinsya (LMSP-Migrante) Saudi Arabia
Gil Garcia, Founder, Philippine Combat Martial Arts Assn., Vice Chairperson, Migrante Sectoral Party, MSP coordinator, Western Region, KSA
Paul Mediavillo, MSP Coordinator, Jeddah, KSA
Mary Ann Tagibos, MSP Chairperson, Sultan Chapter, Jeddah, KSA
Alma Garcia, Secretary General, MSP Sultan Chapter, Jeddah, KSA
Leo Legaspi, MSP National Deputy Secretary General
Nazer Abdulla, MSP Vice Chairperson, Al Khobar, KSA
Ronald Selliza, Chairperson, KALMAPI- Riyadh, KSA
Mario Ben, Chairperson, KGS, Riyadh, KSA
Imie Concepcion, Chairperson, MSP Al-Akariyah Riyadh, KSA
Dinnes Baltasar, Chairperson, MSP Riyadh Industrial area, KSA
Rene Villanueva, Chairperson, MSP Jubail, KSA
Totong Custodio, Chairperson, LMSP, Jubail, KSA
Cesar Goot, Chairperson, MSP Dammam, KSA
Lando Macapondag, Chairperson, MSP Al-Khobar, KSA
Abdulah Reyes, Chairperson, MSP Medina Jeddah, KSA
Edith Mahinay, Chairperson, MSP Women Jeddah, KSA
Rene Balboa, Chairperson, Filipino Migrant Workers Stranded in Jeddah, KSA
Teodoro Lacson, Chairperson, MSP Al-Ruwais, Jeddah, KSA
Andrew M. Ociones, MIGRANTE Sectoral Party - Saudi Arabia

Hong Kong

Jun Tellez, Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW)
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK)
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society (ATIS)
Cordillera Alliance (CORALL)
Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU)
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party - Hong Kong
Association of Concerned Filipinos (ACFIL)
Filipino Migrants Association (FMA)
Association of Filipino Women Migrant Workers (FILWOM)
Filipino Friends in Hong Kong (FFHK)
Pinatud a Saleng ti Umili (PSU)
Friends of Bethune House (FBH)
Mission Volunteers (MOVERS)
Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge
Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB)

Japan

Filipino Migrants Center (Nagoya)
Kalipunan ng mga Filipinong Nagkakaisa (KAFIN Center-Saitama)
KAFIN-Nagoya
KAFIN-Nagano
KAFIN-Osaka
KAFIN-Tokyo-Akishima
KAFIN-Gunma
Center for Japanese Filipino Families (CJFF)
League of Filipino Seniors (LFS)
Philippine Society in Japan (PSJ)
Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP)
Japan-Philippines Network to Stop the Killings of Human Rights Defenders Now
Migrante-Japan
Migrante Sectoral Party - Japan
Migrante Sectoral Party - Tokyo Branch
Migrante Sectoral Party - Nagoya Branch
Japanese-Filipino Youth (JAPYO)
Yuko Takei, Spokesperson, Philippine Women's League of Japan
Toyota Filipino Community (TFC), Toyota City, Japan

Thailand

Foundation for Women, Law and Rural Development (FORWARD)
Jyotsna Maskay, Assistant to the Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific Forum for Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Suraporn Suriyamonton, Indigenous Women Network in Thailand

United States

Dr. E. San Juan, Jr., Director, Philippines Cultural Studies Center, Connecticut, USA
Philippine Forum, New York
New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP)
Anakbayan New York/New Jersey Chapter
Nick Cordero, Philippine Forum-Community Action
Dr. Peter Chua, San Jose State University (USA)
Jeffrey Arellano Cabusao, Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP), New York
Robert Roy, Philippine Forum
Henry Saliveros, Philippine Forum
Adelaida Talabac, Philippine Forum
Josephine Cabral, Philippine Forum
Elma Manliguez, Philippine Forum
Arlene Dela Cruz, Philippine Forum
Bet Poclon, Philippine Forum
Carrie Nocum, Philippine Forum
Jojie Millares, Philippine Forum
Teresita Doneza, Philippine Forum
Edwin Ercillo, Philippine Forum
Remedios Luna, Philippine Forum
Michelle R. Saulon, Philippine Forum
Luz Villon, Philippine Forum
Ruby Suboc, Philippine Forum
Glecy Cadasao, Philippine Forum
Raffy Garcia, Philippine Forum
Shirley O'Brien, Philippine Forum
Jim O'Brien, Philippine Forum
Leonida Vishnukamar, Philippine Forum
Evelun Neuendorf, Philippine Forum
Gemma Tablante, Philippine Forum
Donna Mae Santos, Philippine Forum
Rusty Fabunan, Philippine Forum
Julie Karra

New Zealand

Mary Ellen OConnor, researcher and writer, New Zealand

Sweden

Zeny Abbaspour Agdam, Sweden

South Korea

Pastor Jones Galang, Migrante Party List, South Korea
Carlo Oliver, KASAMMAKO, South Korea
Letty Castillo, WEMOVE, South Korea
Danilo Santos, New Era Foundation, South Korea

Macau

Esther C Bangcawayan, MSP-Macau
Catalina Yamat, MSP-Macau
Rosalinda Musni, MSP-Macau
Cyril Cacay, Chairperson, Macau Cordillerans Association

Switzerland

Migrante-Geneva
Jake Clemencio, Concerned Filipinos of Switzerland
Carlos Capdivilla, Spanish Segundos in Switzerland
Linda Loosli, WINGS International

Australia

Lina Cabaero, Migrante Sectoral Party- Australia
Miguel Ociones, Regional Organiser, LHMU-NT Branch, Central Australian Office
Jane Corpuz-Brock, Immigrant Women's Speakout Association
Maria Eva Tingson, Philippines-Australia Women's Association
Peter Brock, Action for Peace and Development in the Philippines
GB Kotsakis, Migrante Melbourne
M Logan, Gabriela Australia
May Kotsakis, PASA (Philippines Australia Solidarity Association)
Reyvi Marinas, Philippine Caucus for Peace

Taiwan

Migrante Sectoral Party - Taiwan chapter
Nene Ho, The Migrants, Taiwan

Malaysia

Tenaganita (Women's Force)
Dr. Irene Fernandez
Ernesto Guevara

Republic of Palau

Arse Batacan, Chairman of the Board, The Filipino Community in Palau

Belgium

Migrante Sectoral Party-Belgium
Cordillera Community in Belgium
Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium
Zelzate Filipino Women's Group in Belgium

Denmark

Patricio Valenzuela - Ugnayang Radyo Pinoy (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Nenita Jacobsen - Ugnayang Radyo Pinoy (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Josie Hoegh, Filipino Solidarity ng Denmark

Mongolia

Dolgormaa Jamiyan, President and National Representative, Soroptimist International Mongolia
Urantsooj Gombosuren, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia

Pakistan

Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, General Secretary, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF)
Rubina Jamil, Chairperson, APTUF
Aima Mahmood, Secretary, Working Women Organization
Nasir Chaudhary, Progressive Youth Organization
Shabbir Hussain Shah, President, Textile Workers Federation
Azra Talata Sayeed, Roots for Equity

Italy

LAMPADA (Milan, Italy)
YFC - Milan-Italy
Juancho A. Aquino, KANAYON Florence, Italy

Canada

PINAY (Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec)
Joanne Vasquez, PINAY, Montreal, Canada
Reyna de Mesa - GRW, Winnipeg, Canada

Bulgaria

Sr. Leticia Saraza, OSB

Nepal

Lucky Sherpa, Executive Chair, Himalayan Indigenous Women Network (HIWN)
Dr. Chunda Bajracharya, Coordinator of Nepal, South Asia Indigenous Women


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MIGRANTE Sectoral Party
Office Address: 49 Mayaman corner Matahimik Sts.,
UP Village, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (63-2) 926-2838
NEW Tel: (63-2) 920-3705
Email: migparty@tri-isys.com and migparty@yahoo.com
Email: http://geocities.com/migrante_party
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