James Jasmines,63 yrs old, and Felix Salaveria Jr., 66, went missing last week of August in Tabaco City, Albay. It was a “Professional Operation,” according to a human rights lawyer.
As the public has already been aware since former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte held political and economic powers from 2016 up to the installation of the current administration tandem of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and VP Sara Duterte, enforced disappearances of individuals have been the order of the day.
This is most likely the result of the red-tagging operations of the notorious NTF-ELCAC, and a carry-over of ex-president Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s bloody legacy (with the loyal support then of his PNP chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa and his faithful personal assistant Bong Go) of his “War on Drugs” from the time of his incumbency as City Mayor of Davao.
10 Sabungeros
Remember the mysterious disappearance of more than 10 “sabungeros” which today remains to be fully explained by the main enforcement agency, the PNP.
Remember, too, the two youth environmental activists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano,who boldly exposed their kidnapping by policemen in a press conference set up by the PNP.
Needless to say, these disappearances have to be resolved by the PNP, the so-called “Protector of the People,” the main government law enforcement agency, mandated to catch criminals and other violators of the Rule of Law and the Constitution.
Ghosts Of The Past
The Filipino people are wondering today if the ghosts of the atrocities and economic plunder of the Marcos Sr Martial Law regime are back, as if the son serves to be an ‘“incarnation,” as it were? Karapatan said that under President Bongbong Marcos’watch since July 2022, there have been 13 enforced disappearances, 53 frustrated EJKs and 89 EJKs.
And that is, despite the various agonizing calls and cries of “Never Forget, Never Again!” by the countless democratic organizations in street parliaments.
Do the Marcos and Duterte dynasties and their fellow dynastic officials in congress, in the executive branch, and in the judiciary have a conscience to finally stop these enforced disappearances?
This is especially expected after the fugitives Alice Guo and the self-appointed son of God, Apollo Quiboloy, have been apprehended after a topsy-turvy search by the PNP.
Of course, stopping enforced disappearances and human rights violations by state forces does not mean for the current administration to put aside and neglect the paramount importance of managing and improving the economy.
True Progress
The administration should give employment to the jobless, homes for the homeless, land for the landless, the appropriate assistance to the laborers, farmers, fishermen, IPs, including providing affordable prices of staple food items, and improvement of the country’s education system and health programs.
Such has been the longed-for aspiration of the Filipino people -- good governance and true progress for the country.
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