Vizcaya cops deny hand in activist’s kidnap

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines– The provincial police office has denied responsibility in the disappearance of an anti-mining activist, whom the human rights group claimed was taken by the local police last month.  

Senior Superintendent Valfrie Tabian, provincial police director, said they have nothing to do with the disappearance of Bryan Epa, 34, who has been missing since Aug. 21.

Reports said Epa was taken by six policemen on Dumlao Boulevard in Barangay Salvacion. Witnesses said they heard the policemen saying that Epa would be taken into custody as he looked suspicious.

Tabian admitted that his men had apprehended a suspicious-looking man on the same night that Epa was taken. He said the man, who introduced himself as Felix Bacsa Jr., was released later that night.

“We don’t know whether the apprehensions were mere coincidence, or if Epa and Bacsa were one and the same person, or if he used an alias to hide his identity. But our men released the person they invited for questioning that night,” he said. 

Human rights group Karapatan-Cagayan Valley said Epa was a known anti-mining crusader, who led a barricade to prevent the transport of mining equipment to one of the province’s mineral-rich villages.