MANILA, Philippines ? In Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas, they see the children they lost or are aching to find.

Parents of activists killed or missing form part of the support group of Roxas, who survived a six-day ordeal in the hands of torturers alleged to be state agents, according to Renato Reyes, secretary general of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

?I think there?s a positive effect on [the parents]. Perhaps if Melissa gets justice, then that?s a big step in trying to end [rights] abuses and in attaining justice for other victims,? Reyes told the Inquirer.

The parents, mostly mothers, are members of Hustisya!, a group that organizes victims of human rights abuses under the Arroyo administration and assists them in seeking justice.

In particular, Edita Burgos, mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos, has a ?calming effect? on Roxas, Karapatan secretary general Marie Enriquez said.

Enriquez recalled Roxas telling her that as soon as she saw Edita Burgos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on the night of July 20, she felt ?very safe.?

Protective custody

Roxas had once listened to Burgos talk about her missing son and her relentless search for him at a speaking engagement in Los Angeles, California, Enriquez said.

The 31-year-old Roxas returned from the United States on July 20 to press her case against her purported torturers. She is in the protective custody of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

She testified on Thursday before the CHR and will testify at the Court of Appeals and the House of Representatives on her ordeal in the hands of torturers who, she said, accused her of being a communist and threatened to kill her.

Roxas, a member of Bayan-USA and the Los Angeles-based cultural group Habi Arts, was abducted along with two companions on May 16 in La Paz, Tarlac.

They were released on May 25. The military has denied involvement in the abduction and torture.

According to CHR Chair Leila de Lima, Roxas is staying in a safehouse provided by the agency. She has close-in security who goes with her everywhere. Various groups contribute for her food and other expenses.

Embracing Roxas

Enriquez recalled that when Roxas was ?surfaced? on May 25, ?the mothers became very excited.?

She said Burgos, Linda Cadapan, Connie Empeño and Lolita Robinos rushed to the Karapatan office in Quezon City as soon as they heard the news.

?They told me, ?We want to embrace her,?? Enriquez said, adding that for the mothers, embracing Roxas was like embracing their own missing children.

Enriquez recounted that while inside the van with Roxas from the airport on July 20, a chilling thought flashed in Burgos? mind: ?What if we were ambushed? What would we do??

?Mrs. Burgos told me, ?You know, Marie, very calmly I thought to myself that I will shield Melissa from harm and protect her at all cost,?? Enriquez said.

She said she herself got teary-eyed at the thought.

On July 22, the mothers of missing University of the Philippines students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño and of activist Romulo Robinos finally got the chance to hold Roxas in their arms.

Enriquez said they saw one another at the hearing conducted by the fact-finding mission of the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church, which accompanied Roxas to the Philippines.

Feeling like their daughter

According to Bayan?s Reyes, Hustisya! head Evan Hernandez diligently watched over Roxas at the CHR public hearing on Thursday.

Hernandez, the mother of slain activist Beng Hernandez, rubbed Roxas? back and gave her water while she testified at the hearing, Reyes said.

?The mothers will really fight for Melissa,? Enriquez said. ?Melissa told me, ?Tita, I feel like I am their daughter. I do not regret coming back.??

Malacañang welcomed Roxas? testimony to the CHR on her purported abduction and torture.

?We are glad that she is home and we are glad that she?s giving a testimony and is identifying those who allegedly tortured her,? Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters at a briefing.

Full cooperation

Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had instructed all government agencies, including the military, to fully cooperate with the CHR investigation.

?The President has directed all concerned government agencies to give full support and cooperation for the objective and thorough investigation of the complaint of Melissa Roxas. As a matter of policy, this administration does not condone human rights violations in any form,? he said. With a report from TJ Burgonio