Philippines: International Human Rights Day — Arroyo should “disappear” from government

Relatives of victims of enforced disappearance today joined the calls for the ouster of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying she must be also “disappear” from her position of power.

“The only way to stop the abductions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations is for Mrs. Arroyo to also make herself disappear from Malacañang. She must be ousted,” said Ghay Portajada, spokesperson of the Families of the Desaparecidos for Justice or Desaparecidos at a press conference in Quezon City today.

Portajada said that since Arroyo came to power in 2001, hundreds have been abducted by the military. Some of them were surfaced, some were fortunately alive and were transferred to detention centers or released after being interrogated and tortured, while many were not as fortunate and had turned up dead. There are 185 victims who remain missing, their fates uncertain.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines have recently been surfacing abduction victims, after several days of interrogation, torture and arbitrary and incommunicado detention. But the military now cannot deny that they have violated the rights of these victims,” Portajada said.

Portajada lamented on how state security forces are trying to circumvent the writ of amparo by coercing the victims into signing waivers to remain in military custody. “Inilabas nga sila, pero takot na takot silang umuwi sa pamilya nila (They were surfaced but they were so terrified to even come home to their family). The victims opt to remain in detention to keep alive,” Portajada said.

In recent developments, the Court of Appeals on November 29 issued an inspection order by virtue of a writ of amparo for Romulos Robiños in military camps in Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan , and Pangasinan. Portajada, however bewailed that the CA allowed only five days for the inspection, beginning from the day the order was issued. Romulos was abducted by suspected soldiers of the 69th IB in Angeles City on Nov. 17, 2006. He was reportedly seen in a military camp in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

“Mrs. Arroyo’s days of putting the Filipino nation in danger with her reign of terror and impunity must end. The families of desaparecidos will continue to join efforts towards making that change and pushing Arroyo out of power,” Portajada said. ##

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