STRIKE A BLOW AGAINST THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY! GRANT THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR DEXTER CAPUYAN AND GENE ROZ “BAZOO” DE JESUS!
Today, July 5, 2023, Indigenous people’s rights advocates, progressive lawyers, and the relatives of Gene Roz “Bazoo” de Jesus and Dexter Capuyan, two Cordilleran activists who have been missing since April 28, are filing a petition for the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
This legal action, initiated by the National Union of People’s Lawyers and the Sandugo Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination, aims to compel state enforcement agencies to surface the two activists and shed light on their mysterious disappearance.
We, the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, the Environmental Defenders Congress (ENVIDEFCON), and the Center for Environmental Concerns stand in solidarity with these groups and strongly pledge our unwavering support for this petition.
We recognize the missing Cordillera activists as key figures in indigenous rights activism in the region. Both Capuyan, an Ibaloi-Bontoc-Kankanaey activist with four decades of experience, and De Jesus, a former student leader and the Information and Networking Officer of the Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, have dedicated themselves to fighting for the rights of indigenous communities and the protection of their ancestral lands.
We are deeply concerned about the rising number of abductions and disappearances occurring within just one year of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s tenure. Our records show a total of 11 abduction cases involving 21 persons during his first year in office, with 11 of them being environmental defenders or activists advocating for environmental concerns.
Some notable incidents include the disappearances of land defenders Ma. Elena Pampoza and Elgene Mungcal on July 3, 2022, believed to have been abducted by state agents, and the abduction of Stephen Tauli, a CPA officer and indigenous rights activist, on August 20, 2022, who was later found after enduring psychological torture by suspected state agents. Other incidents include:
🔴 The abduction of Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha, two young development workers and activists, on January 10, 2023, who were surfaced following public outcry
🔴 The disappearance of peasant organizer Leonardo Sermona Jr. since March 16, 2023, who has been subjected to red-tagging
🔴 The disappearance of indigenous rights activists Mary Joyce Lizada and Arnulfo Aumentado on April 24, 2023, while investigating violations in Mangyan communities, later presented by the military as New People’s Army (NPA) combatants.
🔴 The disappearance of environmental defenders Cedrick Casaño and youth activist Patricia Cierva on May 18, 2023, in Gonzaga, Cagayan, after being taken into custody by soldiers from the 501st Infantry Brigade. They were later presented as NPA “surrenderees” in a press conference on June 2, 2023
This troubling trend raises concerns about the state of human rights under Marcos Jr.’s administration and highlights the perilous situation faced by environmental defenders. The abduction of 11 environmental defenders — and the fact that some are still missing — are examples of the grave threats these defenders encounter in the Philippines, and highlight the culture of impunity and violence that engulfs the country today.
Moreover, these abductions and enforced disappearances not only pose immediate threats to the safety of these defenders but also have far-reaching consequences for environmental defense and the future of the Philippine environment.
Environmental defenders play a critical role in raising awareness, advocating for sustainable practices, and holding those who exploit the environment accountable. When defenders are subjected to violence or silenced, the momentum for change is disrupted, allowing the perpetrators to continue their destructive activities unchecked.
We demand an impartial investigation into the cases of disappearances and abductions under the Marcos Jr. administration.
We strongly urge the Court of Appeals to grant the Writ of Habeas Corpus for Capuyan and De Jesus, sending a powerful message that those responsible for abductions and enforced disappearances will face punishment and be held accountable. Such a signal would deal a significant blow to the pervasive culture of violence and impunity that has plagued our beloved country.
In the meantime, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to defending the rights of all environmental defenders and to persistently working towards the protection and preservation of the Philippine environment for the benefit of future generations of Filipinos. #
#SurfaceDexterAndBazoo
#StopTheAttacks
#DefendTheDefenders
