MANILA, Philippines ? They got the wrong girl.

An overseas Filipino workers group Thursday insisted that its former head was the real target of the abductors of Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas.

Migrante International said the ?Maita? in Roxas? affidavit referred to Maita Santiago, the group?s former secretary general who is now a resident of Canada.

In her affidavit detailing her kidnapping and torture, Roxas said one of her abductors called her ?Maita,? adding, ?You think the Canadian government can do anything about you??

Roxas, a member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chapter in the United States, claimed military personnel abducted her and two companions in La Paz, Tarlac province, on May 19. She said her abductors tortured her, accusing her of being a member of the New People?s Army, a communist rebel group.

Writ of amparo

The activist was released on May 25. To protect herself from further harassment, she filed for a writ of amparo and habeas currently being heard by the Court of Appeals.

?Migrante raises its concern over Maita?s safety and security?even as she is now back in Canada?and the safety and security of our officers, organizers and members here and abroad,? Migrante chair Garry Martinez said in a statement.

Martinez told the Inquirer that Santiago stepped down as secretary general in May 2007 and immediately left for Canada to be with her family. A Canadian citizen, Santiago remains a Migrante member.

?Maita is not an NPA member. When she was here, she maintained a high public profile as a crusader for migrants? rights and welfare,? Martinez added.

Not the one in video

He said Santiago was not the bandana-wearing female NPA member shown in photographs and video footage made public by the partylist groups Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (Anad) and Bantay.

According to these groups, the photos and video showed Roxas was training with the rebels, an allegation Roxas has denied.

Migrante expressed solidarity with Roxas and backed her move to file charges against her abductors. It added: ?Reps. Jun Alcover and Jovito Palparan continue to affirm the heinous government policy of committing human rights violations against any suspected or imagined enemy of the state.?

The group also called on the Canadian government to investigate the possibility that one of its citizens had been targeted for abduction and torture.

?Putting a blind eye on this issue, we believe, could endanger more Canadian citizens who will be taking part in future solidarity missions and exposure trips in the country,? Migrante said.