Julia Soriano and Shiela Talusan
September 8, 2023
Following the disappearance of two environmental advocates and human rights defenders, different stories have emerged from the concerned parties' investigations and state forces.
Jhed Tamano, 22, and Jonila Castro, 21, both Akap Ka Manila Bay volunteers, were reportedly abducted in Brgy. Lati, Orion, Bataan on the night of September 2, 2023.
The two were supposed to conduct an outreach program and consultation for the communities of Bataan when they were forced into a gray SUV by four armed men, leaving their slippers and sandals behind.
Prior to their abduction, Tamano and Castro were allegedly subjected to intimidation and harassment along with other volunteers from Akap Ka Manila Bay since August of this year.
Concerned groups and organizations flooded social media and organized protests to strengthen the call to surface the victims and contradict the statements made by the authorities.
The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Nationalism and Democracy (STAND) BulSU released their initial statement the day after the two's abduction became known. In their statement, STAND emphasized the significance of being informed and taking action, especially in cases like today where people who have nothing more in mind than to help the marginalized are being silenced.
"Sa panahong ang mga iskolar ng bayan na gaya ng ating kapwa BulSUan na sina Castro at Tamano ay dinadakip dahil sa pagtulong, ano’ng kinabukasan ang aasahan nating mga kabataang estudyante sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos Jr.?" said STAND in a statement on Monday, September 3.
Contradictions arise
In recent developments, Bataan police’s administrative and information officer Captain Carlito Buco said Tamano’s family was the first to report about the disappearance, whereas Castro’s family has yet to do so.
Buco added that, until now, they have not identified any suspects yet, as Castro’s family has not officially filed a complaint.
During the fact finding mission, the investigating authorities were unable to collect the CCTV footage from the Water District where the event had taken place as it was allegedly down from September 1 to 4.
They also failed to get the CCTV footage in Brgy. Lati. Apparently, the camera was destroyed by fire and has not been used for six months now, according to the barangay captain.
Meanwhile, Castro's mother, Rosalie was visited by eight civilian police officers from Plaridel, Bulacan, on Wednesday. The state forces said it was an order from the higher-ups. During the visit, Rosalie was questioned about her daughter’s educational background, medical history, and organizational affiliation to AKAP KA Manila Bay.
"May gusto silang malaman sa anak ko… Ang kaso po madami po silang katanungan na hindi na po ayon sa blotter," Roselie said, the mother of Jonila Castro, in an interview with Rappler.
(They wanted to know something about my child. The thing is, they have a lot of questions that were not necessary for the blotter.)
Roselie had attempted to file a report, contrary to Buco’s statement that they had not done so. She stated that she went to the Orion Police Station on September 5 with human rights advocates to file a blotter, but the officers refused to allow them.
There were also conflicting reports circulating on social media about the family having been subjected to intimidation, making it difficult for them to file a report.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Orion assured that Castro and Tamano were safe, and thus, declined to sign the desaparecidos form, which serves as a legal statement indicating that the two individuals are not in police custody. On the other hand, The Commision on Human Rights (CHR) conducted a separate investigation through its Central Luzon office following the abduction.
The constitutional office called on the Philippine government to strengthen the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, a United Nations tool and normative guide to counter forced disappearances.
Last August 30, during the commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the human rights group Karapatan appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to assist in the search for the desaparecidos during his term.
'Desaparecidos' is a Spanish term for enforced disappearances, which refers to individuals who are victims of crimes and have suddenly vanished.
According to Karapatan's current records, there have been eight cases of desaparecidos reported during Marcos Jr.'s yet unfinished term excluding Tamano and Castro.
This is a developing story.
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