Philippines: Rights groups condemn the secret transfer of detained peace consultant

KARAPATAN and DESAPARECIDOS condemn in the strongest term the illegal
transfer of political prisoner Elizabeth Principe from the custodial
center in Camp Crame to Candon, Ilocos Sur. The surreptitious transfer
was conducted at 11:45 pm of January 22, last night, the eve of the
filing of the writs of Amparo (for Elizabeth’s release and protection
for her and daughter Lorena) and habeas corpus to surface husband Leo
Velasco, another peace talks consultant, who was abducted and remains
missing since February 19, 2007.

The Petition for the Writ of Amparo contains prayers to release
Elizabeth Principe; to produce all the documents that contain the
criminal cases being charged against her; and to seek protection for
her and her daughter, Lorena, who has been seeking justice for her
parents, as well as for all the victims of enforced disappearances as
an active member of DESAPARACIDOS. The petition also asked for the
surfacing of Leo Velasco, Principe’s husband who was abducted and
remains missing since February 19, 2007.

The transfer of Elizabeth Principe is highly illegal and suspicious
since the authorities did not inform Principe’s lawyers, who visited
her earlier yesterday to let her sign the petition. Last night, the
PNP said that Principe was being transferred because there is an
arraignment today, January 23, for the case of rebellion charged
against her in Candon, Ilocos Sur. However, Principe and her lawyers
have not been informed of this arraignment nor do they have copies of
the supposed charge against her in Candon, Ilocos Sur. Her supposed
transfer therefore becomes highly suspicious, especially since it was
being made during the night, when no one could have known.

“My mother’s incarceration and my father’s disappearance are already
devastating to me; now there seems to be a move to disappear even my
mother, raising my fear of altogether losing both of them,” bewailed
Aya (Lorena), Principe’s and Velasco’s daughter. ” I am all the more
resolved to file a petition for her release and protection,” an angry
Lorena added.

Velasco was allegedly abducted by military elements on February 19,
2007 in Cagayan de Oro City. Nine months later, Principe was abducted
on November 28, 2007 in Cubao after she went to a diagnostic clinic
for a medical examination. Three days later, the Armed Forces of the
Philippines admitted custody of Principe and presented her to the
media as one of its “rebel captives”. As NDFP consultants to the Peace
Process, both Velasco and Principe are protected by the Joint
Agreement on Securities and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). This,
according to Atty.Principe is a clear violation of their rights as
citizens and in particular, as consultants to the peace process.

The Peace Negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the
Republic of the Philippines (GRP) has been initiated to resolve the
armed conflict in the Philippines. The Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) pinned its hope on the Peace Negotiations by
calling for its resumption in a press statement released on January
22.

Lorena also told the press that the GRPs sincerity in resolving the
armed conflict is severely tainted by the illegal arrest and detention
it has imposed upon my parents. “Together with DESAPARACIDOS, our
relatives and friends, I shall relentlessly fight this battle for my
parents and for all of those whose human rights have been violated by
the Macapagal-Arroyo regime,” she said with determination. ###

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