Karapatan calls for probe into alleged abduction of 2 Albay activists

Members of human rights watchdog Karapatan stage a protest in front of the Supreme Court building in Manila on August 30, 2024, in observance of the International Day of the Disappeared. (Photo courtesy of Luisa Cabato)

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights watchdog Karapatan on Tuesday called for an investigation into the alleged abduction of two activists in Albay.

The missing individuals — James Jazmines, 63, and Felix Salaveria Jr., 66 — are cycling enthusiasts and residents of Tabaco City, Albay.

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Jazmines is the younger brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Alan Jazmines.

He previously served as an information officer for the Kilusang Mayo Uno labor center from 1988 to 1992 and worked as an information technology consultant for a non-government organization until the mid-2000s. Since then, he has been freelancing in the IT sector.

Meanwhile, Salaveria is a founding member and former president of Cycling Advocates and also a founding member of Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa mga Katutubo and Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino.

On the night of August 23, Salaveria celebrated his 67th birthday at a restaurant in Tabaco City, with Jazmines among the guests, said Karapatan in its mission report.

“At around 10 p.m., they all went home after the birthday dinner. The restaurant is about a kilometer away from James’ house and Felix expected him to arrive home easily. They also had the habit of sending texts to each other once they arrived home, so Felix was puzzled why he did not receive a message from James confirming his arrival at home,” the report said.

Salaveria received information that Jazmines was “taken” by a group of men and forced into a white van.

He sought help from Karapatan on the alleged abduction.

But on August 28, Salaveria was also allegedly abducted by men in plain clothes and forced into a silver van while on his way home after buying food.

The incident was witnessed by his neighbors and recorded on the barangay’s CCTV.

“The footage showed that the van’s plate number was VAA 5504 and there was a logo (ATEC) on the vehicle’s side. Upon checking, the plate was found to be registered to a Toyota Rush (a sports utility vehicle model) and the ATEC logo that of a tech company in Cabuyao, Laguna,” it said.

Karapatan’s report noted a “high probability” that state actors were involved in the abductions of Jazmines and Salaveria.

“In terms of pattern, the use of stolen plates for vehicles used in State-sponsored abductions was seen in the case of the Jonas Burgos abduction in 2007 where the plates used in the abductors’ vehicle was traced to a vehicle impounded in a military camp. This modus, which is clearly meant to throw searchers off the trail, was also used in Salaveria’s abduction,” it added.

The report also said witnesses to Salaveria’s alleged abduction saw uniformed policemen enter his house on the night after he was abducted to take away his belongings, such as his laptop and cellphone.

“The speed with which the uniformed policemen arrived after the abduction points to the distinct possibility that the abduction and the seizure of Salvatiera’s belongings are parts of the same State-sponsored operation against him. Salaveria had likely been rendered vulnerable after he began inquiries on James’ whereabouts and reported his disappearance to Karapatan,” the report said.

Meanwhile, Jazmines and other members of his family have allegedly been harassed for a long time and subjected to surveillance because of relentless military operations to find and nab Alan Jazmines.

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The wife of James Jazmines was also said to be red-tagged.

Karapatan called for the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the matter through “unannounced and unrestricted visits or inspections” in police and military camps, safehouses, and detention facilities.

The group also urged the commission to obtain all video footage from Barangays San Lorenzo, Cobo, and San Roque to determine the events leading to the abductions and identify the persons who possibly conducted surveillance on the victims.