The Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday, Sept. 10, aired their side on the Court of Appeal’s (CA) directive to the military to investigate the alleged disappearance of two labor organizers and activists last May.
DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said that they will comply with the CA’s order to find out the truth behind the alleged disappearance of Elizabeth “Loi” Magbanua and Alipio “Ador” Juat.
“We believe in our judicial processes and that they must be allowed to run their course. As such, we shall comply with the order of the Court of Appeals,” Andolong stated.
He emphasized that the DND and its bureaus “are duty bound to abide by the nation’s laws and respect human rights.”
Meanwhile, Col. Medel Aguilar, acting AFP spokesperson, said they have yet to receive a copy of the CA order
“It is therefore unnecessary for us to comment on it for now as we also have to seek the advise of our lawyers on the issue at hand,” he said.
Nonetheless, Aguilar maintained that the AFP “will always do what is necessary to work with our people, and to ensure their safety” since they are a Constitutionally-mandated organization that is “tasked to protect the people and the State.”
Magbanua and Juat reportedly went missing on May 3 after meeting with fellow organizers in Valenzuela City. Their families alleged that Magbanua and Juat were being held against their will at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
They reportedly asked the CA to direct the AFP to open Camp Aguinaldo as well as Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija for an inspection. They also reportedly made a similar request to the Supreme Court last month, which was also granted.
In a resolution released on Friday, Sept. 9, the CA granted the petition of Magbanua and Juat’s families to issue a writ of amparo in favor of the missing unionists. The writ of amparo grants the petitioners a permanent protection order.
The CA also directed the respondents in the petition to conduct a “comprehensive and exhaustive investigation using extraordinary diligence” on the continued disappearance of Magbanua and Juat.
According to reports, named respondents in the case are Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, AFP Chief of Staff; DND Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr.; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo de Leon; Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Commanding General of the Philippine Army (PA); Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, PA acting chief of staff; Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel, AFP deputy chief for intelligence; and Brig. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, AFP deputy chief for civil-military operations.