CA orders military: Locate 2 missing activists

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the military to investigate the case of missing activists Elizabeth Magbanua and Alipio Juat and locate them as it issued a writ of amparo in their favor and a permanent protection order for them and their kin.

Women’s group Gabriela and Kilusang Mayo Uno alleged that Magbanua and Juat were kidnapped on May 3 and are allegedly being held against their will at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“Without any specific pronouncement on exact authorship and responsibility, declaring the respondents accountable for the enforced disappearance and continued disappearance of Elizabeth ‘Loi’ Magbanua and Alipio ‘Ador’ Juat,” the CA said in a 39-page decision released yesterday.

The respondents named in the petition filed by the trade union leaders’ relatives were Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacaro, retired generals Jose Faustino Jr. and Ricardo de Leon and Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Army acting chief of staff Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, AFP deputy chief for intelligence Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel and deputy chief for civil-military operations Brig. Gen. Nolasco Mempin were also named in the petition.

Last month, the Supreme Court issued a writ of amparo in favor of Magbanua and Juat as it directed the CAto summarily hear the case and decide on it.