'Missing’ UP student, companion under military custody —NTF-ELCAC

The reported missing alumni of the University of the Philippines (UP) and her companion are now under the custody of Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (5ID), the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said on Monday.

In a video posted in its Facebook account, NTF-ELCAC said Patricia Cierva and Cedrick Casaño were forced to surrender due to a massive combat joint operation of the military and the police on May 16.

The two were presented during a press conference of NTF-ELCAC on Monday where they  shared how they surrendered to authorities.

Cierva said when they were brought to the military camp, they were given the option whether they would be declared as “captured” or” surrendered.”

If they choose to be declared as captured, they will be turned over to the Philippine National Police. If they surrender, they will be under the custody of the Army.

“Yun po yung mas pinili namin na mag-custody na lang sa Army (We chose to be under the custody of the Army),” Cierva said.

According to NTF-ELCAC, Cierva was a former political guide of the New People’s Army - East Front Committee in the province of Cagayan Valley - Fortunato Camus Command .

It added that Casaño was a former secretary of the same group.

Earlier, the UP System expressed "grave concern" over the disappearance of three of its alumni and another individual, urging the government to ensure their safety and uphold their constitutional rights.

In a statement, the UP System said that the three—Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus and Dexter Capuyan of UP Baguio, and Patricia Nicole Cierva of UP Manila—have recently gone missing.

"De Jesus and Capuyan are known indigenous peoples’ rights activists, while Cierva and her companion Cedrick Casaño are peasant and youth organizers," UP said.

UP Manila said that Cierva, a Development Studies alumna at its College of Arts and Sciences, and Casaño were "reportedly taken" by an alleged army brigade in Barangay Cabiraoan, Gonzaga town, Cagayan earlier that month.

De Jesus and Capuyan, meanwhile, were reportedly taken in Taytay, Rizal in April.—LDF, GMA Integrated News