MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be asked to look into the supposed kidnapping of two community development workers in Cebu City on Jan. 10.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who oversees the NBI as an attached agency, said he needs more details to inform the NBI’s Cebu office.
“For as long as the NBI has been given notice, (they can act upon it). We will inform them, but I need details to inform them,” Remulla told reporters.
The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) said it would assist in the investigation.
In a statement released yesterday, CPA said its port security, safety and environmental management department would check and verify footages of closed-circuit television cameras at the port on the day of the incident.
Dyan Gumanao, a volunteer union coordinator of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in Central Visayas, and Armand Dayoha, a coordinator of the Alliance of Health Workers-Cebu Chapter, were reportedly taken by a group of men at the Port of Cebu.
The two, who reunited with their families on Monday, claimed the people who seized them introduced themselves as police officers.
A video released by Tug-Ani, the official student publication of the University of the Philippines-Cebu, showed men in civilian clothes pushing Gumano and Dayoha into a vehicle.
‘Not cops’
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. ordered an investigation into reports that the two were seized by police.
However, Azurin expressed doubts that policemen were involved, noting that the suspects were using an unmarked vehicle.
He directed Central Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Jerry Bearis to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Highway Patrol Group should track down the vehicle of the suspects, Azurin added.
“Nagpakilalang pulis yung dumukot kaya tsinitsek natin nang maigi kung totoo nga pong pulis, kasi unang una ay hindi sila naka-uniporme,” he said in an interview over dzRH.
Parallel probe
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) in Central Visayas is calling for an independent investigation into the incident, saying it “highlights violations of freedom of association, right to organize and freedom to collective bargaining.”
“Both are especially involved in collective bargaining. This is on top of the two activists’ status as development workers working with support services NGO (non-government organization) Community Empowerment Network and labor advocacy NGO Visayas Human Development Agency,” BAYAN-Central Visayas said in a statement.
The Alliance of Health Workers said it would ask the International Labor Organization High-Level Tripartite Mission to investigate the “brief disappearance” of Gumanao and Dayoha. – Emmanuel Tupas, Janvic Mateo, Rhodina Villanueva, The Freeman