No graves to visit for ‘desaparecidos’ kin

WAITING FOR JUSTICE Linda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn Cadapan, is comforted by deaconess Norma Dollaga as she weeps beside pictures of the disappeared arranged on the grounds of Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City. A gathering was held there on All Souls’ Day to commemorate the “desaparecidos.” —Lyn Rillon

MANILA, Philippines — With no bodies to mourn over or graves to visit, families of the “desaparecidos,” or victims of enforced disappearance, gathered on Saturday, All Souls’ Day, to call on President Marcos to put an end to the crime that has left at least 14 people missing since he assumed office.

Families and friends from the rights group Desaparecidos blamed state forces for the disappearance of the victims, the latest of whom were activist Felix Salaveria Jr. and James Jazmines, brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Alan Jazmines.

READ: Disappearance of 2 activists a ‘professional operation’

The other victims being monitored by human rights group Karapatan are Elgene Mungcal, Ma. Elena Pampoza, Renel delos Santos, Denald Laloy Mialen, Lyn Grace Martullinas, Dexter Capuyan, Gene Roz Jamil de Jesus, Deah Lopez, Mariano Jolongbayan, Lee Sudario, Norman Ortiz and William Lariosa.

“Each year, we come together with heavy hearts but with undying hope that we will one day find them, and that candles will be lit and flowers offered at their resting places,” said Linda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn Cadapan, who has yet to surface after being abducted, along with fellow activist Karen Empeño, in 2006.

Former Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. was convicted 12 years later of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of Cadapan and Empeño. The two student activists researching the plight of Bulacan farmers are still nowhere to be found.

12-year law

In calling for justice, Linda and the rest of the families demanded that Republic Act No. 10353, or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012, be strictly implemented. She said it was “frustrating” that the police and the military “seem unaware” of this law.

Under RA 10353, a case is considered an “enforced or involuntary disappearance” when government personnel or officers commit any form of deprivation of liberty, such as arrest, detention, or abduction, while refusing to disclose the missing person’s whereabouts.

Section 8 of the law requires members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Bureau of Investigation to respond to the case, including conducting an inquiry into the details surrounding the disappearance of the victim and providing written certification to families.

Indifference

“This obligation of state forces has yet to be fulfilled,” said Karapatan, noting that the search teams for Jazmines and Salaveria in Bicol were “met with indifference” by police officers despite their being aware of the case.

The local police of Tabaco City have also yet to investigate or resolve the case, it stressed.

Based on its four-day fact-finding probe into the incident, Karapatan said the two cycling enthusiasts who reside in Tabaco City, Albay province, were most likely taken by “state actors” because of the manner of their abduction as well as the history of harassment and surveillance experienced by family members.

Salaveria, an environmental advocate, went missing just a few days after his friend Jazmines was reported to have disappeared.

Bileth Batralo, brother of peasant organizer Cesar Batralo, stressed the responsibility of the Marcos administration to act on the cases of the desaparecidos.

“We demand that [Mr.] Marcos Jr., his security adviser Gen. Eduardo Año, and all state forces under him open all military camps and declare and disclose the locations of secret detention centers, as mandated by law, to the families of victims,” said Batralo.