Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has sought the help of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the disappearance of a Batangas provincial fisherfolk organizer.
In a statement, the group said Mariano Jolongbayan, an organizer of Pamalakaya’s provincial chapter Haligi ng Batanguenong Anakdagat (HABAGAT), was reportedly abducted on Nov. 16 in Lian, Batangas, by unidentified men.
Pamalakaya expressed grave concern for the missing fisherfolk organizer's safety.
“Nananawagan kami sa CHR na imbestigahan ang insidenteng ito at ang posibleng kinalaman ng mga awtoridad sa lalawigan ng Batangas (We call on the CHR to investigate this incident and the possible involvement of the authorities in the province of Batangas),” the group stated.
According to Pamalakaya, its local organizations in Batangas and other provinces will also continue to campaign for the resurfacing of Jolongbayan.
“Higit sa lahat, dapat nang itigil ang ganitong kaduwagang tipo ng atake sa mga aktibista at tagapangalaga ng kalikasan (Above all, this cowardly type of attack on activists and conservationists must stop),” it said.
The group noted that Jolongbayan is a strong advocate of fishers' rights in Batangas.