Army: Activists Jhed, Jonila's writ of amparo, protection petition up to SC

The Philippine Army on Saturday said it is leaving it to the Supreme Court to determine if there is merit in the petition filed by activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano for a writ of amparo and protection orders against several government officials.

“The Philippine Army respect their rights to file such actions as provided by our laws. We submit to the wisdom of the higher court if they find merit in their plea," Philippine Army spokesperson Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

"However, this will not refrain the Army in pursuing legal remedies within the bounds of law against Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano for their actions during the press conference," he added.

"The Philippine Army acted in good faith in providing necessary assistance and facilitated the surrender of Jonila and Jhed to the government. On the other hand, they revealed their true colors and intention to deceive their family, the government, and the Filipino people," Trinidad said.

"In this unfolding event, the Army remains true and responsive to its mandate of serving our fellow Filipinos for a peaceful and progressive community," he added.

In a 37-page petition, Tamano, 22, and Castro, 21, asked the High Tribunal to issue a writ of amparo and a writ of habeas data in their favor as well as to immediately issue a temporary protection order.

Named as respondents were Lieutenant Colonel Ronnel Dela Cruz and members of the 70th Infantry Battalion, Police Captain Carlito Buco and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Bataan, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

The activists also asked the Court to declare the respondents as the ones responsible for their disappearance and alleged illegal detention.

Further, they sought a production order against all respondents to produce all documents that contain evidence in relation to the petition.

They also asked the SC to enjoin the respondents from disseminating their personal information and to direct the respondents to produce any information in their possession.

Progressive youth organization Anakbayan earlier called for the immediate surfacing of Castro and Tamano whose abduction was allegedly staged by government forces.

The NTF-ELCAC then said that Castro and Tamano "surrendered" to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion (70IB) in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan on September 12.

Days after, they were presented at a press conference of the NTF-ELCAC to debunk the claims of abductions.

However, the activists said during the press conference that they were indeed abducted.

Tamano and Castro reiterated this in their petition filed before the SC.

National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya however earlier said the two environmental activists may face perjury charges after they retracted what they said in an affidavit. —KG, GMA Integrated News