NSC calls on progressives to prove claims on 2 environment activists in court

The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday called on progressive groups to prove their allegations on the two environment activists, who reportedly went missing and "surrendered" to authorities, in a court of law.

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya issued the challenge after several rights groups, including Karapatan and AKAP Ka Manila Bay, questioned the supposed surrender of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion (70IB) on September 12.

The two activists reportedly went missing in Orion, Bataan on September 2.

“Their security is our utmost priority. If Karapatan, et al. will insist on the ‘abduction and detention’ story, they can always file for a Writ of Habeas case where they will need to prove their allegations before a court of law. They are free to do so,” Malaya said in a statement.

According to the rights groups, Tamano and Castro were volunteers of AKAP Ka Manila Bay and were assessing the condition of the people living in the coastal towns of North Manila Bay who were affected by the reclamation projects.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), however, said the two young women were linked to the New People’s Army (NPA) rebel group.

Both of them are now in government custody.

Among the questions raised by the progressive groups was the failure of NTF-ELCAC and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to personally present Tamano and Castro during the press conference held last Friday.

“The NTF-ELCAC and PNP have failed to prove that no abduction took place. Unless and until Jonila and Jhed are allowed to speak freely outside of the military’s custody, there can be no assurance that their statements are authentic and not delivered under duress,” the group said in a statement.

In response, Malaya said the two requested not to join the press conference.

“The two are human beings with rights and not cattle to be herded to press briefings without their consent. We treat them with utmost respect unlike Karapatan et al. who use people in order to win propaganda points or for financial gain,” he said.

“Moreover, due to security concerns, Jhed and Jonila were hesitant to join a press briefing when they are the subject of a 'surface campaign' by their former comrades who will then lay the blame on the government if something happens to them,” he added.

On September 6, Anakbayan national spokesperson Kate Almenzo claimed that the NTF-ELCAC, PNP, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were behind the abduction.

The agencies denied the allegations. — DVM, GMA Integrated News