Surface the disappeared under Aquino! – desaparecidos’ kin

Families of desaparecidos trooped the Aquino residence at Times St. today, bringing with them photos and names of their disappeared loved ones, including 12 victims under his watch.

News Release

3 November 2012

Families of desaparecidos trooped the Aquino residence at Times St. today, bringing with them photos and names of their disappeared loved ones, including 12 victims under his watch.

“These are the missing under your administration, Mr. President. Is this the record you want to speak of?” said Lorena Santos, deputy secretary general of Desaparecidos.

The group is holding their 3^rd National Assembly in Manila, with relatives of desaparecidos coming from different provinces and regions.

“While we do not want our ranks to increase in number, more families come to seek justice, including those abducted and disappeared under Aquino. This government has not made our search for justice easier, it perpetuates the cruel act of disappearance to more families every day,” Santos exclaimed.

Formed in 1995 primarily by families of desaparecidos under the Marcos and Aquino administrations, Desaparecidos now has majority of members whose relatives were disappeared under the Arroyo administration.

“Nothing can compare to the agony of a family of a desaparecido in our seemingly endless search for our loved ones. The Aquino government should not dare insult nor mock us with such kind of statements, as if they have done anything,” Santos said.

Concepcion Empeño, vice chairperson of Desaparecidos and mother of missing UP student Karen, said they only want the act of enforced disappearance to cease.

“While we have risked our lives for justice since day one, we want these atrocious acts to end now. At the same time, we urge Pres. Aquino to immediately sign the anti-enforced disappearance bill,” Empeño said.

Empeño is co-complaint to the kidnapping case against Palparan and three other military officials involved in the disappearance of her daughter and fellow UP student SherlynCadapan.

According to Santos, the Aquino government is “all bark and no bite” on the case of Palparan, which has allowed the arrogance of the latter to file motionsbefore the Court of Appeals to halt the prosecution against him while evading arrest.

“Surface! Surface all the disappeared especially under your government!” the group yelled at the same time continued to challenge  Pres. Aquino to arrest and punish military perpetrators of disappearances like Palparan.  ###

Reference: Lorena Santos
Desaparecidos deputy secretary general
0917-5230096
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Remembering the ‘desaparecidos’

Lorie Ann Cascaro | Minda News

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 1 Nov) – For the families of victims of enforced disappearances or “desaparecidos,” Undas or the Day of the Dead is commemorated not in the cemeteries.

“They are neither dead nor alive. We don’t know which cemetery to go ts. So we only light candles in the church to remember  them,” Bayan Intise, son of desaparecidos, said Wednesday.

Bayan Intise shows photographs of his still missing parents. It has been six years since their enforced disappearance.

Intise, spokesperson of Pagkakaisa ng mga Biktima para sa Hustisya (Hustisya) Southern Mindanao, said his parents, Nelly and Federico, have been missing for six years.

Known for being active in community organizing, his parents were taken by alleged government agents in General Santos City on October 26, 2006.

Intise said his father was a military target for being a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, while his mother was very supportive of his father’s work.

He recalled that his mother was always present every Undas. Together with his sister, Malaya, the three of them used to visit the graves of their relatives.

Until she disappeared just days before Undas 2006.

“Based on the accounts of those who were once desaparecidos but survived during the Martial Law, the longest period that the military holds their captives is two years,” he said casually.

Knowing how strongly principled his parents were, he said they will never cooperate with the military.

Although he could not entertain the idea that his parents  could already be dead, Intise struggles to hold on to a bit of hope that they will eventually surface.  (Watch video)

That is why he actively participates in the Desaparecidos, a national organization also known as Pamilya ng Desaparecidos para sa Katarungan (family of desaparecidos for justice).

Intise will join the second national congress of Desaparecidos in Manila on November 2-4. The first congress was in 2008.

He said the families of victims became human rights defenders themselves.

“We will create solidarity with all the families of the victims and fight as one in seeking justice for all desaparecidos and other victims of human rights violations,” he said.

“There will be more victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings as the Oplan Bayanihan (counter-insurgency program) of the Aquino administration continues to attack human rights advocates,” he added.

Intise’s parents are among 206 desaparecidos since the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Thirteen of the victims were from Southern Mindanao.

Under the Aquino administration, two persons have been missing from the Davao region.

One of them is Reynold Marth Esurez, 17, who was last seen organizing members of Kabataan Partylist in Manay, Davao Oriental on January 26, 2011.

Cristoto Premor, 31, a resident in Carbon, Lumiad village, Paquibato District here, has been missing since last October 26, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Intise said he was glad that the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012 was finally passed by Congress on October 16.

The families of desaparecidos are urging President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to immediately sign it
into law.

Despite this victory,  however,  Intise said he is not totally happy as the perpetrators, like retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. and other military officials, are not yet prosecuted.

The President has to show his sincerity in promoting “matuwid na daan”  (straight path) in governance and respect for human rights by signing the bill into law immediately so that perpetrators will be put in
jail, he said.

Enforced disappearance is a continuing crime and the abductors of desaparecidos can be arrested and charged under this legislation, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares, a co-author of  the bill, said.  (Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews)

Walk the talk –Desaparecidos

Press Release

August 31, 2012

 

On Sec. Lacierda’s statement that Malacanang has a policy vs Enforced Disappearances

Walk the talk –Desaparecidos

 

Families of the Disappeared for Justice or Desaparecidos today, refuted Malacañang’s claim that it “has a policy against enforced disappearances.”

“Malacañang has a policy against enforced disappearance.” – Malacañang Speaker Edwin Lacierda

“That’s a big fat Lie!” exclaimed Maryguy Portajada, Desaparecidos Secretary General. “If that were true, then why do we have 11 victims of enforced disappearance under the Aquino government?

“Magsasalita na lang sila, puro kasinungalingan pa,” Portajada lamented. “That’s what their good at, statements and PR spins.  We have yet to see them do something tangible for the victims and their families. But they only have lies to dish out. They could not even bring out The Butcher, Gen. Jovito Palparan.”

Desaparecidos said that even the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Bill is still awaiting Bicameral hearing. The House version was passed on March this year, while the Senate version was passed in 2011.

“Instead of helping us locate our missing loved ones, the Aquino Government’s pretension is insult to us,” Portajada continued.

For relatives of the disappeared, the Aquino government’s statement is but a vain attempt to cover up its human rights record. “Malacañang’s attitude is a perfect ingredient for more human rights violations, specifically enforced disappearances” Portajada warned.

The group demands from the government to stop its counterinsurgency program that has caused a string of human rights violations in the country.  “Until they stop Oplan Bayanihan, until they have caught and punished the likes of Jovito Palparan, can we believe that the Aquino government is really doing something about the situation. Otherwise, we will consider him as no different from Marcos and his martial law which left behind hundreds of victims of enforced disappearance,” Portajada concluded. ###

Reference:
Lorena ‘Aya’ Santos, Deputy Secretary General
Contact Number: 09175230396