Manuel hits DOJ for allegedly evading 'peer pressure' question on 2 activists

Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel criticized the Department of Justice on Thursday for not explaining how peer pressure led to two environmental activists withdrawing their statement and accusing the military of kidnapping them. 

Manuel raised the matter during the plenary deliberations on the DOJ's proposed budget for 2024.

He questioned how such peer pressure occurred considering that activists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro were held by the military from the time they went missing on September 2 until their presentation at a press conference organized by the government on September 19.

Tamano and Castro were presented by the government authorities as surrenderees of the communist movement during the press conference, but the young women said that they were abducted by the military and forced to ride a van, and they were forced to sign affidavits stating they were surrenderees.

“The Justice Secretary said, na-peer pressure raw sila kaya nag-recant. For the record, ano po ba ang puwedeng naging peer pressure sa dalawang kabataan at the time na sila naman ay nasa custodiya ng military? Sino po itong other forces na binabanggit na puedeng nag pressure sa kanila bago ang press conference?,” Manuel asked.

(What was the possible peer pressure applied to them when they were in military custody? Who are these other forces who supposedly pressured them before the press conference?)

In response, budget sponsor and Davao de Oro Representative Ruwel Gonzaga said the government was very careful in dealing with such cases “because it is a hot issue today about human rights” and that the case “has two versions.”

Manuel interrupted Gonzaga, saying, “Madam Speaker, the sponsor is not answering the question. I am asking, ano po ang mga puwedeng pamamaraan na puwedeng na peer pressure po ang dalawa habang nasa custodiya ng militar?''

(What peer pressure methods may have been applied to these two young women while in military custody?)

Gonzaga replied that it was wrong to say that the two activists were in military custody.

“I should not agree with the statement that they were in custody,'' he said.

Manuel, however, pointed out that Gonzaga earlier said that the two activists “were in the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before they were presented in the press conference.”

“We have to be consistent,” Manuel said.

Gonzaga then talked about custody, not details on the alleged peer pressure.

“When we talk about custody, it entails curtailment of rights. Kapag sumuko sila, there is no custody to talk about,” Gonzaga said.

(If they turned themselves in, there is no custody to talk about.)

Manuel interrupted Gonzaga anew to point out that his question on peer pressure was not being answered.

House Deputy Majority Leader Janet Garin then moved to suspend the session at this point.

Upon the resumption of the session, Manuel was allowed to make a concluding statement.

“Nakita po ng publiko, ng kapwa mambabatas, ng ating mga viewers. Hindi po kaya panindigan ng DOJ ang kanilang sinasabi na na peer pressure ang dalawang kabataang kababaihan,” Manuel said.

(The public has heard it all. The DOJ cannot stand by its claims that the young women were subjected to peer pressure.)

“This is because there would be no logical possibility, in the realm of possibilities, na pwedeng ma peer pressure sila para bawiin kung anuman ang kanilang unang mga sinabi because that entire period, sila lang iyong mga kabataang kasama ng militar up to the point na nangyari ang press conference,” he added.

(Because it is not logical that they can be subjected to peer pressure to recant because, all the while, they were only with the military until the press conference happened.)

Before this, House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas of Gabriela became emotional when she was questioning the statement of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on the two environmental activists.

Remulla reportedly said the activists' recantation was part of the ''new playbook'' of the communist rebels.

“We wish the Justice Department had been more prudent and discerning in its statements on these issues. Buhay at kamatayan [ito].  Huwag naman kayong ganyan. Kailangan ko pumunta roon kasi iyong NTF-ELCAC na presscon, ang sinasabi na ng mga bata, kami ay dinukot, under custody pa rin kami ng military. Kung hindi sila maiaalis roon, ibabalik sila sa kampo,” Brosas said.

“And we have had so many cases. Di pa naman naresolve ang mga cases na ‘yun under Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. Nung time ni [General Jovito] Palparan. Si Sherlyn Cadapan, hindi na nalitaw. Si Karen Empeño, hindi pa naililitaw hanggang ngayon,” she added.

She was referring to the two University of the Philippines students who were kidnapped and detained by the military in 2006.

In June 2022, the Court of Appeals upheld Palparan’s conviction for kidnapping and serious illegal detention of these two UP students. — VBL, GMA Integrated News