CA denial of activists’ protective writs hit

MANILA, Philippines — Rights group Karapatan has denounced the denial by the Court of Appeals (CA) of a petition for protective writs filed by environmental activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano.

“The denial of the petition is proof that the climate of impunity against activists still persists under the administration of President Marcos,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said yesterday.

She said the CA disregarded the basic rights of the activists, whom she said are still receiving threats to their lives, liberty and security as well as to legal protection.

“The CA seemingly gave the state perpetrators a free pass – by failing to conduct extraordinary due diligence through investigation on the abduction and enforced disappearance of Jhed and Jonila – as we see in what many courts have done in the past,” Palabay said.

She said the CA ruling perpetuated the cycle of impunity in the country.

“We are appalled and we are indignant for Jonila and Jhed, and all victims of enforced disappearance and fake or forced surrenders,” Palabay said.

She said the CA failed to recognize the accountability of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

She said these institutions had publicly acknowledged that they had the activists in their custody.

Castro and Tamano were allegedly kidnapped by military men in Bataan last year.