Human rights defender Mr Temogen Sahipa Tulawie has spent one year in hiding amid fears that he will not be afforded due process or permitted access to a fair trial in the province of Sulu.

Further Information

Mr Tulawie was due to go on trial at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in October 2009 charged with attempted murder, in case no. (07-09) 1648-3 and criminal case no. (07-09) 1649-3, but he absconded.

He is accused of being involved in a bombing incident in the municipality of Patikul, Sulu on 13 May 2009, in which 12 persons were wounded including Governor Abdusakur Tan of the Province of Sulu. Temogen Sahipa Tulawie's human rights work involves monitoring and documenting cases involving human rights violations affecting Muslim communities in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, in particular in the province of Sulu.

On 13 May 2009 a bomb exploded on the roadside near the provincial capital as Governor Abdusakur Tan was passing by. Governor Tan’s son-in-law, Mayor Hatta Berto and Vice-Mayor Tamrin Tulawie were also in the vehicle at the time.

It is alleged that 9 other persons were injured in the incident. On 26 May 2009 Mohammad Sulayman Muin and Juhan Alihuddin were arrested and later forced to admit responsibility for the bombing. They named Temogen Sahipa Tulawie and Congressman Arbison of the second District of Sulu as the alleged masterminds behind the bombing. Both men allegedly signed separate extra-judicial confessions.

On 30 June 2009, Mr Tulawie filed a Petition for Certiorari at the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City, questioning the jurisdiction of the Regional State Prosecutor of Region IX to accept the complaint and his power to designate the Zamboanga City Prosecutor as Provincial Prosecutor of Sulu and to conduct the preliminary investigation against the accused.

To date however, no action has been taken by the 22nd Division of the Court of Appeals. A counter affidavit was submitted on 1 July 2009 in which Mr Tulawie denied having any involvement in the bombing.

The warrant for his arrest is dated 5 October 2009 and was issued by Judge Leo Jay T. Principe.

Temogen Sahipa Tulawie is the Provincial Chairperson of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), a coalition of Bangsamoro civil organizations (CSOs) within the province of Sulu.

Mr Tulawie was active in setting up a local organisation named BAWBUG (Serve, Respect and Protect). BAWBUG was established to defend the rights of Muslim communities affected by military operations in Sulu.

He was also an active member of the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) from 2004-2008 and a council member of the Non-Violent Peace Force (NP) in Sulu.

In 2004 he was elected municipal councillor of the capital town of Jolo, and was one of the organisers of the Concerned Citizens of Sulu, an organisation that works for the democratisation of local politics, transparency in governance and upholding of civil rights and liberties of the residents of Sulu.

Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr Tulawie as well as other human rights defenders in Sulu.