CA orders AFP, PNP to produce 2 missing UP alumni

The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to produce two UP alumni who have reportedly been missing since April.

In a 10-page resolution dated July 10, the CA Thirteenth Division granted a writ of habeas corpus filed by the family and relatives of Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” de Jesus and Dexter Capuyan.

“Finding the instant petition to be sufficient in form and substance and it appearing from the allegations therein that the writ ought to issue, this Court hereby gives due course to the petition and orders the issuance of the corresponding writ,” the appellate court said.

The CA ordered the respondent officials of the PNP to produce De Jesus and Capuyan “if found in their custody” before the appellate court on July 14, Friday.

The CA also asked the respondents to show cause why De Jesus and Capuyan should remain in their custody.

“The Division Clerk is hereby directed to issue summons together with copies of the petition and its annexes to be served upon the respondents… directing them to file their comment to the petition within five days from receipt,” the CA said.

Among the respondents were AFP Chief of Staff General Andres Centino, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr., Rizal Provincial Office Provincial Director Police Colonel Dominic Baccay, and PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group  chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Caramat.

GMA News Online has reached out to the PNP for its comment, but it has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said they would respond after they receive the court order.

According to the CA, De Jesus’ family found out that he was last seen in Taytay, Rizal with Capuyan on May 2 after he failed to report for work on April 29 with no prior notice.

The petitioners said tricycle drivers they interviewed relayed to them that an abduction or arrest occurred on April 28.

An informant claimed that armed men who introduced themselves as members of the PNP-CIDG brought two people fitting the description of De Jesus and Capuyan to separate vehicles.

De Jesus’ sister said she believes that her brother is under the custody of state forces as they had allegedly published on social media that Capuyan is a New People's Army (NPA) member with pending warrants and a bounty amounting to P2.8 million.

In a statement last month, the University of the Philippines (UP) System said De Jesus and Capuyan are known indigenous peoples' rights activists. —KBK, GMA Integrated News