Militant groups urge Aquino to surface victims of forced disappearances

MANILA, Philippines – Militant groups led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) yesterday urged President Aquino to surface victims of forced disappearances that include peasant leaders and activists.

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka said Nilo Arado, Jonas Burgos, Ronald Intal and Manuel Merino were all kidnapped during the Arroyo administration by people believed to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and are still missing.

The group claimed their kidnapping were in line with the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya, which is being continued by the Aquino government.

“We demand Aquino to act on the surfacing of peasant leaders and activists and protect human rights in the country. If he could not protect the rights of his fellow countrymen, there is no way he could guarantee safety to foreign visitors,” Antonio Flores, KMP spokesperson and Tanggol Magsasaka co-convenor, said in a statement during their observance of the “International Day of the Disappeared.”

“The culture of impunity lies within the government forces, thus, it is innate to use violence against helpless civilians, local or foreign. The Aquino government has failed to break this culture as extra-judicial killings and other rights abuses continue,” Flores added.

Tanggol Magsasaka said Arado was secretary-general of PAMANGGAS-Panay (KMP Panay regional chapter) and Burgos was a trainor of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB, KMP Bulacan provincial chapter) when they were abducted.

Arado was abducted by men believed to be military agents on the night of April 12, 2007 in Barangay Cabanban, Oton town in Iloilo. He has been missing for 1,236 days.

Burgos was abducted on the same month at a mall in Quezon City. He was forced to board a van with plate number TAB-194, which was traced to the 56th Infantry Battalion camp in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan. 

Burgos was overheard screaming “aktibista lang ako (I’m just an activist).” He has missing for 1,220 days already.

Intal, a peasant-youth leader in Hacienda Luisita, was abducted on April 3, 2006 during the command of Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan at the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) in Tarlac.

Witnesses said that he was brought by the military to Aqua Farm in Barangay Balite, which used to be a fishpond that was occupied by the military as a detachment.

His family sought the help of local authorities but he was never found.

Another farmer, Merino, was also abducted on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan, and is still missing.

KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka said no one from the military has yet been punished, despite testimony from a survivor. “At present, the Aquino government has yet to act decisively against enforced disappearances, thus, rights abuses continue to victimize activists all over the country,” the groups said.

The militants also noted that President Aquino has not made any commitment to protect human rights that should also cover the release of political prisoners.

They said the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya, a counter-insurgency program that targets to unarm activists and militants, worsens the situation.

“The Aquino government showed no hope for human rights in the country. There was no change in state terrorism and fascism, extra-judicial killings, political persecutions and rights abuses continue. Aquino is no agent of human rights but of state violence against activists,” said Flores.

The groups demanded that the government act decisively, and not to pamper the military and police who reportedly abuse the people.

“We are particularly calling for the surfacing of victims of enforced disappearances in the country and justice for the victims of rights abuses,” Flores said.

The groups marked the event with a march to Mendiola Bridge.

“Today we march for all the victims of enforced disappearances. Their families continue to cry for justice. It has been two months since Aquino took office and there are still no encouraging signs that justice will be achieved for the victims of human-rights abuses,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said.