“An operation like this is highly organized and it was done in broad daylight, indicating the brazen character of the crime. The abduction of Jazmines and Salaveria bears these indicators which are similar to previous cases of such abductions committed by State forces.” KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay.
The abduction of cycling buddies and activists James Jazmines and Felix Salavierra Jr. increasingly point to the involvement of state security forces, rights group Karapatan said.
Closed circuit television footages obtained by the group showed Salavierra’s abduction near his home in Barangay Cobo, Tabaco City, Albay on the morning of August 28.
In a press conference in Quezon City today, Karapatan said they obtained the footages in a search mission it conducted on September 11 to 13, along with the families of the victims.
A silver Toyota van with plate number VAA 5504, originally belonging to a red Toyota Rush wagon, was used in Salavierra’s abduction. The wagon belongs to an information technology company based in faraway Laguna province.
While the abductors wore civilian clothes, Karapatan reiterated that uniformed policemen twice broke into Salavierra’s home on the day of his abduction and carted away personal effects, including mobile phones and a laptop, Karapatan added.
“An operation like this is highly organized and it was done in broad daylight, indicating the brazen character of the crime. The abduction of Jazmines and Salaveria bears these indicators which are similar to previous cases of such abductions committed by State forces,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.
In the CCTV footage, Salavierra was seen walking along a busy road when two men in ski masks grabbed him and forcibly carried him into the van.
After the vehicle sped off, burly men in motorcycles who may be lookouts and spotters, followed closely. They are “persons of interest,” Karapatan said.
The abduction was witnessed by bystanders and motorists.
Five days earlier, on August 23, Jazmines was abducted by a similar silver Toyota van with plate number NDR 5274.
Jazmines just came from Salavierra’s birthday celebrations at the latter’s home when he became missing.
On screenshots made public by Karapatan, the van was seen 10:00pm entering the barangay where Jazmines was abducted at 10:00 pm and leaving at 10:16pm.
Between this period is the estimated time of James’ abduction, the group said.
It was followed by a black Hilux pick-up, grey Avanza vehicle, and grey Innova vehicle.
Jazmines and Salaviera are the 14th and 15th victims of enforced disappearance under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government.
Jazmines is the brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant Allan while Salavierra is his fellow activist, cycling enthusiast and environmental advocate.
READ: Rights group raises fear NDFP consultant’s brother is latest enforced disappearance victim
READ: James Jazmines’ cycling buddy also abducted
In today’s press conference, Karapatan hit Marcos Jr.’s silence on the ever-increasing number of enforced disappearance cases, especially in the face of “growing indications” that state forces were behind the abductions.
“The tell-tale signs of state involvement in the abductions of Jazmines and Salaveria are there,” said Palabay. “The state’s silence contravenes Republic Act No. 10353, or the law against enforced disappearance that has been in existence since 2012,” she added.
Palabay pointed out it is the government’s duty to investigate the abductions, but no government official has yet publicly spoken on the case of Jazmines and Salavierra.
Palabay said that there have at least been three cases of state abdiction in the month of August alone—those of Jazmines, Salaveria and former political prisoner Rowena Dasig who disappeared right after she was acquitted of “trumped-up charges.”
Under RA 10353, state security forces are required to issue certifications on the whereabouts of a missing person. They are also required to disclose the location of all detention facilities and allow inspection by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“Due to the prevailing culture of impunity, however, RA 10353 has failed to act as a deterrent against enforced disappearances, a crime that is on the rise under the Marcos Jr. regime,” said Palabay.
State authorities responsible for enforced disappearance can be sentenced to life imprisonment.
“We urge the CHR to take the necessary steps to ensure the thorough investigation of the Jazmines and Salaveria abductions, in hopes that such measures will lead to their surfacing,” said Palabay. “Those responsible must be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law, and justice rendered to the victims and their families,” she added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)