Mother Pleads for Release of Daughters Held by AFP

In 2003, her husband was killed by elements of the Philippine Army under the command of then Col. Jovito Palparan, Jr. Her two daughters, one of whom is a minor, are now being held by the AFP.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat

Maria Gumanoy (Photo courtesy of Bulatlat)

On July 3, Rose Anne, 21, and Fatima Gumanoy, 17, were on their way to a mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa to meet their mother, Maria. They did not meet that day. Instead, Maria received a text message from her daughters that they were taken by military men.

Maria sought the help of Karapatan-Southern Tagalog to search for her daughters. On the same day, members of Karapatan ST accompanied Maria to the office of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp). The Isafp denied having custody of the Gumanoy sisters.

In a press conference, July 12, Glenn Malabanan of Karapatan ST related that the next day, Col. Ernesto Torres issued a statement from the Philippine Army Headquarters at Fort Bonifacio claiming that the two have willingly sought the help of the AFP.

Maria said that before she was able to see her daughters, the soldiers checked every part of her body. “Kulang na lang hubaran nila ako. Sinuksok rin nila ang katawan ko ng stick.” (The only thing they did not do was to strip-search me. They poked my body with sticks.)

She said that during her first visit, she asked her daughters if it is true that they were not forcibly taken. Her daughters told her, “Saka na lang, Nanay.” (We will tell you later, Mother.) Maria said soldiers surrounded them and did not leave during the entire visit.

Maria said when she asked questions to Fatima, 17, a woman soldier who identified herself as Weng Arcel was the one responding to her questions. She noticed too, that Fatima would look at Arcel before saying anything.

Maria told the soldiers that she would take Fatima with her but a soldier who identified herself as a doctor refused. The military doctor who did not wear any nameplate told Maria that Fatima is under observation for urinary tract infection (UTI).

Maria told the soldiers, “Ako na magpapagamot, ako ang ina. Gustong-gusto nang sumama [ni Fatima]. Sabi ng doktora, di raw pwedeng sumama.” (Let me bring her to a doctor for treatment, I am the mother. Fatima was eager to come with me. The military doctor said she could not.)

The next day, the same doctor told Maria that Fatima contracted German measles.

Maria related, “Nang bumalik kami, di ko na makausap si Fatima. May lagnat siya. Para nang gulay, maputla ang labi.” (When we came back the next day, I could no longer talk to Fatima. She was so weak; her lips were pale.) Maria said Fatima had small red spots on her body.

Maria also said that the AFP is not authorized to arrest Rose Anne. Rose Anne was charged with rebellion and had just been released on bail last May 29.

Continuous harassment

Karapatan’s Malabanan disclosed that when Rose Ann was detained at the Quezon Provincial Jail, Lt. Juvy Cabading wanted to get her. When Rose Ann was confined at the V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City, it was Arcel who guarded her.

Malabanan said the soldiers at Fort Bonifacio prevented Fatima and Rose Anne from seeing a human rights lawyer and a doctor of their mother’s choice.

In the same press conference, Eileck Mañano, a social worker at the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) said that since 2001 the Gumanoy family has been continuously harassed by the military. They transferred from one place to another to avoid the military’s harassment and intimidation.

In 2003, Maria’s husband Eddie Gumanoy was killed along with Eden Marcellana while conducting a fact finding mission in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro by elements of the Philippine Army. Eddie was then the secretary general of the peasant group Katipunan ng Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK or Federation of Peasant Associations in Southern Tagalog) and Marcellana was the secretary general of the Karapatan chapter in Southern Tagalog.