The Court of Appeals’ (CA) ruling that ordered the military to conduct a “comprehensive and exhaustive investigation” into the continued disappearance of two labor organizers and the protection granted to their families will encourage more victims to pursue justice, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
"CHR welcomes the strong response of the CA to the initial writ of protection issued by the Supreme Court (SC)" on the disappearance since May 3 of labor organizers Elizabeth "Loi" Magbanua and Alipio “Ador” Juat, CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.
De Guia also said: "It is notable that the court determined the accountability of some military officials and officers and directed the pursuit of an expeditious and exhaustive investigation. Moreover, the permanent protection granted by the CA is crucial in protecting the immediate family of the victims and can help encourage more families of victims to pursue justice.”
The families of Magbanua and Juat filed a petition for Writ of Amparo before the SC which granted it and tossed the case to the CA for hearing and immediate resolution.
Last Sept. 9, the CA issued the Writ of Amparo with permanent protection order to the families of Magbanua and Juat.
"All respondents are hereby directed to cause the speedy conduct of a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation using extraordinary diligence on the continued disappearance of Elizabeth 'Loi' Magbanua and Alipio 'Ador' Juat," the CA said.
Named respondents in the petition were Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro and other senior military officers, and retired Gen. Ricardo F. De Leon, officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense (DND).
The CA also ordered the military "to utilize all technical and modern technological resources at its disposal to assist in locating their whereabouts and once and for all determine the truth behind their continued disappearance."
A report from the military was ordered submitted in six months from receipt of the CA’s ruling.
Magbanua and Juat are members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno who were last seen attending a meeting with fellow community organizers in Valenzuela City on May 3.
De Guia said the CHR hopes that the CA will hold liable those involved in the disappearance of the two labor organizers to trigger renewed government attention to the human rights situation of human rights defenders and activists around the country.
"It is incumbent upon the State to reverse the continuing impunity that enable heinous human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, to persist," she also said.