Progressive groups decry alleged abduction of  2 Cebu-based activists 

Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha PHOTOS: FACEBOOK/DYNNA GEE

MANILA, Philippines — Different progressive groups slammed on Tuesday the alleged abductions of two Cebu-based activists by state forces, demanding accountability from those responsible.

Activists Armand Dayoha and Dyan Gumanao were reported missing on January 10 by their relatives, and the pair was only found on Monday.

READ: 2 missing Cebu-based activists found 

Both the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines (ACT), of which Dayoha and Gumanao are members, released separate statements of condemnation.

The AHW condemned the allegedly forced disappearances “in the strongest terms,” while the ACT urged “justice and accountability on the abduction cases.”

“We strongly criticize this government for its continuous harassment, intimidation, repression and red-tagging of health workers, teachers, government employees, unionists, activists and other human rights defenders,” AHW national president Robert Mendoza said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the ACT said that Dayoha and Gumanao’s experiences reveal “the barefaced disregard of basic human rights by state forces and their rabid intent to harm and attack unionists who work tirelessly to uphold the rights of workers to decent wages, humane working conditions and freedom of association.”

Mendoza also lamented the lack of government support and protection for healthcare workers, as Dayoha volunteered to help in health workers’ campaigns for better wages and benefits.

“We, health workers are infuriated with what happened to our volunteer union coordinator Armand Dayoha. We believe that Armand’s abduction is part of the ongoing attacks on unionists and human rights defenders,” said Mendoza.

Both groups also raised the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) High-Level Tripartite Mission to the Philippines from January 23 to 26, which aims to investigate the status of trade rights in the country.

“Contrary to the mission and principles of ILO where the Philippines is a member, the Philippine government gravely violates its mandate in protecting the rights and welfare of workers, including health workers,” said the AHW.

“We appeal to the International Labour Organization High-Level Tripartite Mission to give due attention to this very recent case which happened days before the holding of their investigation on trade union rights repression in the Philippines,” urged ACT.

The Philippine National Police said an investigation into the reported abduction is underway.

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