Kin of missing activists in Albay eye filing writ of amparo

The relatives of two missing activists in Albay province said they plan to ask the Supreme Court to issue a writ of amparo and a writ of habeas data, saying they want to see their loved ones alive and safe.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Dano Tingcungco, authorities are also looking into the alleged abduction of Felix Salaveria Jr. and James Jazmines, whose disappearance appears to be a "professional operation," based on the analysis of human rights lawyer and professor Antonio La Viña.

The petition for a writ of amparo is "a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity."

The writ of habeas data is "a constitutional right that provides citizens the right to access personal information collected by the government or a private entity and to challenge or correct the data."

Jazmines, 63, younger brother of former National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Alan Jazmines, went missing on August 23 after attending Salaveria’s birthday party in Tabaco City.

Cristina Palabay, secretary general of the human rights alliance, Karapatan, said Salaveria reported to them the disappearance of Jazmines.

“From 10 p.m. onwards, di na niya macontact si James so he tried looking for James sa ibang mga posibleng daanan ng bike ni James. Two days after, saka inabduct si Felix,” Palabay said.

(From 10 p.m. onwards, Felix cannot contact James so he tried looking for him on possible routes his bike passed by. Two days later, Felix was abducted.)

Salaveria went missing on Aug. 28.  A video showed that he was walking along Barangay Cobo in Tabaco City when the men forced him inside a van.

The video also showed that some motorcycle and bicycle riders were observing the surroundings.

On August 23, CCTV footage caught a van entering Barangay San Lorenzo in the same city.  Karapatan believed it was the van used to abduct Jazmines.

Due to the number of involved individuals caught on CCTV,  La Viña believed the incidents were “professional operations.”

“Several vehicles involved a van, motorcycles. At least for Jazmines, maybe 10 people (were involved). For Salaveria, five or six people. That has to be a professional operation and it's probably a state agency. We demand that the police also investigate this properly,” La Viña said.

“We don't know except that we know from past experience that it is state-sanctioned. this could be simply military units or police units acting on their own,” he added.

Palabay sees a "pattern" in the abduction of the two activists.

“Number one, red tag. Number 2, yung manner ng pagkuha sa kanila (the manner of their abduction). Pangatlo, clearly may resources (Third, clearly there are resources). All designs of a state perpetrated abduction therefore an enforced disappearance,” Palabay said.

Felicia, Salaveria's daughter, said she's worried about her father.

“Nagaalala ako sa kanya kung ano yung katayuan niya ngayon, kung nakakakain ba siya ng mabuti,” Salaveria’s daughter, Felicia, said.

(I’m worried about his condition right now, if he is eating properly.)

“Isang araw worried na worried ka, nababaliw ka na [pero] may mga araw na kailangang lumaban at gumawa ng aksyon,” Salaveria’s other daughter, Gab Ferrer, said.

(One day you’re just worried and losing your mind but there are days that you have to fight and take action.)

The families of Jazmines and Salaveria are also coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights.

Salaveria’s family also filed a report and blotter in the barangay, police, and local government unit.

“Yung pinakaunang gusto naming mangyari ay makita namin ang tatay namin. Makita namin na alive and in an okay condition,” Ferrer said.

(What we want the most is to see our father and to see him alive and well.)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Albay said they will focus on the case.

“Ongoing po ang coordination natin with human rights. Hindi natin lulubayan para magkahustisya ang pagkakawala ng dalawang ito,” said Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, the police provincial director.

(Our coordination with the human rights group is ongoing. We will not leave this hanging until we give justice to the missing men.)

GMA Integrated News has also reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News