By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Today, August 9, marks the 100th day since indigenous peoples’ rights advocates Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz De Jesus went missing.

Their abduction in Taytay, Rizal, on the evening of April 28 by alleged operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, a unit of the Philippines National Police, is the latest reported enforced disappearance in the country.

The incident has sent shockwaves, particularly in the Cordillera, where cases of desaparecido (victims of enforced disappearance) are rare.

Joanna Cariño, a martial law survivor and founding member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), recalled only two desaparecidos in the region before this case.

“While there were many cases of hamleting, killings, and illegal arrest and detention during the Martial Law, there was no reported case [of enforced disappearance]. Ama Daniel Ngayaan was during the presidency of Cory Aquino and James Balao under Gloria Arroyo,” she said during an August 9 interview.

Ngayaan was the CPA vice chairperson and headed the Cordillera Bodong Association, a federation of peace pact holders, when members of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army abducted him at Cagaluan Gate, Pasil, Kalinga on October 5, 1987. The late CPLA chief, Conrado Balweg, admitted that his group killed Ngayaan a few days later. He accused the CPA leader of having links with the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Meanwhile, Balao was abducted by men claiming to be members of the PNP on September 17, 2008, in Tomay, La Trinidad, Benguet. Like Ngayaan, he was a pioneer of the CPA and part of its Research Commission during his disappearance.

‘Harshest form of violation’

Martial law survivor and Hustisya member Medy De Jesus said that enforced disappearance “is the most severe form of punishment, an endless form of torture” to the families and friends of the victims.

The 74-year-old former member of the Benedictine sisters was one of the protesters at the Court of Appeals on August 3 for the second hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed by the families of Capuyan and De Jesus.

“If they were killed, you would have a body to bury, and if they were imprisoned, you would have a place to visit. But when someone is abducted [and disappeared], every day, every hour, you’re left wondering what happened to them and where they are,” she said in Tagalog.

She added that for a country that prides itself on being democratic, enforced disappearance is a reminder of the brutal violations of people’s rights persist.

“That’s why, even though I’m already old, I still stand in solidarity with these kinds of actions. During Marcos’ time and even under Marcos, Jr – nothing has changed,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ngayaan’s daughter, Joan, said the disappearance of Capuyan and De Jesus reminded her of the pains and difficulties their family faced for years.

“The pain and desire for justice linger, even after you have accepted the fact they are gone.,” she said in Ilokano in a text message on August 8.

She was 20 years old when the CPLA abducted and killed Ngayaan. It was only after a year that they could check where they believed the perpetrators buried his father.

“We found a piece of his cloth, a pair of shoes, a tooth, and some hairs in the area, that is when we started accepting his faith. But it was only in 2019, when our village held a tribute for him after the victims of Martial Law were able to get their compensations did, we fully acknowledge that he is gone,” she said.

‘Don’t lose hope‘

Asked for her message to the families of Capuyan and De Jesus, Medy said: “Don’t give up.”

“We are here supporting you always. I know times are tough for you now, but let’s hope that Dexter and Bazoo’s fight will continue. We won’t stop, and don’t lose hope,” the former nun said.

In their reply to the petition, the police and military denied having custody and involvement in the disappearance.

Lawyer Ryan Solano, one of the counsels for the petitioners, said that despite the police and military’s claim of acting on the families’ concern, he sees their reply as a sign of disinterest in pursuing the issue.

“They have already denied having custody and involvement in their disappearance, given the same, while the Petitioners still hope that they will be surfaced, I am of the opinion that the AFP or the PNP will no longer act on the matter,” he said.

He shared that during the August 3 hearing, the defense focused their questions on the witnesses’ personal knowledge of the disappearance. The lawyer is confident that their witnesses were able to present the facts of the case.

“Their statements were based on personal information and information they have gathered during the Petitioner’s ordeal. This gathered pieces of information ultimately led them to the strong conclusion that state forces were involved… The witnesses were consistent with their answers during their cross examination,” he said. # nordis.net