NSC: SC protection writs for Castro, Tamano just ‘temporary setback’

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court’s (SC) writ of amparo and habeas data for two environmentalists allegedly captured by the military is a mere setback, according to National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya on Friday.

In the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing, Malaya said that the SC order was part of the due process.

READ: SC grants protection writs to 2 environmental activists

“Ito po ay para sa amin, temporary setback lamang ‘no kasi baka sabihin na naman noong mga ano eh this is a great victory ‘no. It is not a great victory for them,” said Malaya.

(This for us is a temporary setback, because they might say it is a great victory. It is not a great victory for them.)

In 2023, environmentalists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano went missing. Authorities claimed that the two were insurgents who surrendered to the authorities.

However, in a press briefing held by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, the activists said they were kidnapped and forced to sign affidavits supporting the military’s claim.

READ: CHR notes ‘complexity’ of Castro-Tamano ‘abduction’ case

“We see this as an opportunity to shed light on this grand conspiracy to malign and destroy the credibility of our public officers,” said Malaya.

“We are prepared together with the Office of the Solicitor General, who is the Head of the Legal Cooperation Cluster. We’re prepared to answer any and all questions and to refute allegation na ito because in our opinion, they do not deserve a writ of amparo or a writ of habeas data, or even a temporary protection order. There is no threat whatsoever to their lives,” said Malaya.

In a previous statement, Malaya called the activists’ retraction a hoax from the left.

However, the SC in its latest decision found that there was enough evidence in Castro and Tamano’s claim that there were threats to their life.

“In granting their petition, the Court found that petitioners were able to prove by substantial evidence the allegations in their petition meriting the protection of their freedoms through the writs of amparo and habeas data,” the SC said.