Officials of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) were “appalled” and “deeply saddened” by a shocking turn of events when two environment activists who were earlier reported missing were presented to the public in a government-organized meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19, only to reveal that they were allegedly abducted by the military.
Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, who studied at Bulacan State University and became community organizers credited for helping fishing communities amid reclamation activities in Manila Bay, faced the public in a press conference organized by the NTF-ELCAC at the municipal hall of Plaridel, Bulacan — the first time since they were reported missing in Orion, Bataan on Sept. 2.
Castro and Tamano, who were previously affiliated by the NTF-ELCAC with Left-leaning groups Karapatan and Anakbayan, were expected to narrate how they supposedly left their organizations and surrendered to government forces. Instead, they bared how a van allegedly carrying military personnel forcibly took them.
"Ang totoo po eh dinukot po kami ng mga militar sakay ng van. Napilitan din kami na sumurrender dahil pinagbantaan ang buhay namin (The truth is we were abducted by the military using a van. We were also forced to surrender because our lives are in danger)," Castro said, catching task force officials and military personnel by surprise.
Tamano added: "Noong gabi po ng September 2, naglalakad lang po kami sa kalsada nang mayroon pong dumukot sa amin (On the night of September 2, we were just walking on the road when we were suddenly abducted)."
In a statement, the NTF-ELCAC said that Tamano and Castro “parroted the propaganda lines of Leftist groups” allegedly out of fear of retaliation from their colleagues in the organization, instead of shedding light on what really happened to them.
“We felt betrayed,” the task force said. “Whatever caused their sudden change of heart is beyond us. Earlier engagements by Task Force officials with the two students regarding the veracity and truthfulness of their affidavits were convincing enough to merit their public appearance. We were hoodwinked.”
“If their intention was to humiliate the NTF-ELCAC and those who trusted them despite the good faith we have shown, we shall remain unfazed and committed to fulfilling our mandate for the greater good of the people and of the country,” it added.
The press conference was attended by NTF-ELCAC Secretariat Director Alexander Umpar, Plaridel Mayor Jocell Aimee Vistan, and 70th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Ronnel dela Cruz based in Bulacan.
Different narratives
Last Sept. 16, the NTF-ELCAC said that Castro and Tamano surrendered to the 70th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan, citing an affidavit allegedly issued by the two activists.
The task force said the two activists had been temporarily staying at a Methodist church in Orion town and planning to leave their organization. There, they allegedly sought help of a certain “Ate” who then brought them to Guagua, Pampanga where they stayed since Sept. 2 without money to buy food and other things they needed.
"Ate" then sought the help of the authorities who arranged for them to be taken to a safe house for safety reasons on September 12, the NTF-ELCAC added.
However, the environment activists said in the Plaridel press conference that they were coerced to sign the sworn affidavit that were prepared by the military.
"Hindi namin ginusto na mapunta kami sa kustodya ng mga militar. Hindi rin totoo 'yung laman ng affidavit dahil pinirmahan 'yun sa loob ng kampo ng militar (We did not want to be placed under the custody of the military. The contents of the affidavit were also not true since it was signed within the premises of the military camp)," Castro said.
Castro said they only agreed to surface to let the public know that they will not stop defending Manila Bay from the reclamation activity that has severely affected fishers in the area.
But Lt. Col. Dela Cruz maintained that Tamano and Castro executed their affidavits through the assistance by lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
“Nagkaroon po sila ng attorney na kanilang pinanumpaan po ang kanilang salaysay which is ‘yun nga po ibinigay sa kanila ‘yung salaysay nila. Klaro naman po, ini-edit nga po nila ‘yung salaysay nila, wala po kami roon nung kinuhaan po sila ng salaysay. That’s between the attorney and them po, ‘yun nga po ang nangyari (They were given an attorney where they executed their sworn affidavit. It was clear to them, they even edited their affidavit, and we were not present when they were drafting their affidavit. That’s between the attorney and them, that’s what happened),” the military commander explained.
Treated as surrenderers
In a document obtained by the Manila Bulletin, the NTF-ELCAC said that Tamano and Castro can still avail of all the necessary assistance from the national government so they could be reintegrated back to society as they will be treated as “surrenderers.”
“Notwithstanding, with documentary evidence proving that Castro and Tamano voluntarily surrendered to the AFP, they should be processed in accordance with the governing rules for ‘surrenderers’, including the necessity of extending medical intervention to determine the wellness of their physical well-being,” the document, signed by NTF-ELCAC chairperson for legal cooperation cluster Angelita Villanueva and co-chairperson Karen Ong, read