CHR urges search for Quezon environmentalist who vanished after release

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is urging an “exhaustive search” for Quezon environmentalist Rowena “Owen” Dasig, who went missing after being released from the Lucena City District Jail (LCDJ). INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday urged an “exhaustive search” for a Quezon environmentalist who went missing after being released from jail.

Rowena “Owen” Dasig has been missing since her release from the Lucena City District Jail (LCDJ) on August 21.

According to the LCDJ, the family of the Quezon environmentalist took her following her release. However, human rights watchdog Karapatan said Dasig’s family does not know of her whereabouts.

READ: Environmental activist missing after supposed release from Lucena jail

“The CHR urges for the exhaustive search of Dasig,” it said in a statement. “As the country’s independent national human rights institution, we are closely monitoring and investigating this matter to ascertain her whereabouts and safety.”

The military accused the Quezon environmentalist of being a New People’s Army leader.

Dasig was arrested at Atimonan town in Quezon province on July 12, 2023, but the Gumaca Regional Trial Court Branch 172 acquitted her on August 13 due to lack of evidence.

The CHR stressed that Dasig’s disappearance highlights the need for stricter implementation of Republic Act No. 10535, or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act.

“It is important that human right defenders in our country are able to effectively conduct their work without any fear for their own welfare,” it said.

“It is about time that we strengthen the safeguards on the rights of activists to address their susceptibility to violence, harassment, and even red-tagging,” it added.