Families of desaparecidos still hope that their loved ones would still be alive.
Swinging between hope and despair
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Desap Part 2
Emily Tolon Garcia was seven months pregnant when her husband Reynaldo, a community organizer of KADENA (Kabataan Para Sa Demokrasya at Nasyonalismo) was abducted in March 1987.
“Kasagsagan pa ng total war policy ni Cory Aquino na ibinaba noong Feb. 1987. After one month ‘yan ang resulta, raid sa mga community, maraming nawala sa mga organizers,†she said in an interview.
Emily was an active union member in a semi-conductor company when her husband went missing.
“Ang tingin ko na nakapag-implicate sa kanya ay ang GRP-NDF peace talks in early 1987. Bilang community worker alam niya ang mga pasikot-sikot, tumutulong siyang magbigay ng security para sa NDF peace negotiator,†she
said.
While searching for her husband, Emily was led to the organization of FIND (Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance), where other families of desap are supported and assisted.
She subsequently established Desaparecidos (Pamilya ng Desaparecidos para sa Katarungan) in 1995 in alliance with other human rights org that assist families in searching for their kin, counsels and aids them in their emotional and financial needs.
“Kung nagsurface sana (remains of victim), may dadalawin kang tomb at pwede mo siyang kausapin. Unti-unti mapa-process ang nararamdaman mo hanggang sa maka-cope up ka.â€
It took five grueling five years for Emily now 45 to cope with the loss of her husband. She said she needs to be strong for her daughter and other families in the organization she is in charge with.
“May anak ako kaya kailangan kong maging matatag,†she said. “Sa akin bilang sec gen kailangan magpakita ka ng strong personality para ‘yung mga susunod sa’yo makita ka nila na dapat mag-move on ka na,†Emily said.
Please click the link to read Part One http://www.yamsfiles.com/desaparecidos/
Desaparecidos
This is an excerpt of what I wrote in People’s Tonight about desaparecidos in December 2005.
Former activist Dee Ayroso is one of the many families of desap victims who still mourns for the loss of a loved one.
Dee’s husband Honor, a former member of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) during his younger years was abducted with his friend Johnny Orcino by suspected members of military or police in Sto. Nino III, San Jose City, Nueva Ejica on Feb. 9, 2001.
Dee said both victims are affiliated with Bayan Muna, with Honor as member and Johnny as coordinator of the party list organization.
Bayan Muna is headed by Congressman Satur Ocampo, who was a former member of the National Democratic Front (NDF). BM is a consistent number one party list organization since it joined the electoral process in 2001.
According to Girlie Padilla, acting Secretary General of the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP), almost all cases disappearances reported to human rights organizations are political in nature.
Many are activists, human rights workers, church people, local government officials, lawyers and even journalists who were critical of the Arroyo government.
Of late, Padilla said there is an increasing violation of human rights among peasants and workers who are implicated and accused of being members or supporters of the NPA.
Disappearances are reported in areas of Southern Tagalog – Mindoro, Quezon and Batangas for the last four years.
Recently, cases are reported in Eastern Visayas – Leyte and Samar.
Dee, a former correspondent of the defunct Manila Chronicle and Daily Globe, said that she was used to Honor’s ways of leaving home for a few days without any communication at all.
“Sanay akong umalis siya at hindi makontak. After one week (since his disappearance) hinahanap na siya sa akin ng mga kasama niya…,†said Dee in the verge of tears.
She relates: “Sa desap kasi crucial ‘yung 24 hours…After a month sinikap namin na mai-prop up sa media ‘yung issue para ma-pressure ang authorities…Gumawa pa ako ng media petition at nakakalap ng 200 signatures from journalists and authors para ibigay kay GMA. Pinasa ko kay Perez…pero pagbigay ko pa lang alam kong wala ng mangyayari (sa kaso).
“After several months, kailangan mo na ring mag-give up…,†she said in between tears.
“Ang masakit ‘di mawala ‘yung guilt kasi hindi mo siya nakita…hindi mo nakita ang kahit ano sa kanya…Hindi mo alam ‘yung hirap na dinanas niya…Kung patay na nga ba siya.â€
The mother of two young children, along with friends and relatives has searched every places and institutions where Honor and Johnny could possibly be found, the morque, police detachments, precincts, military camps, from San Jose City to San Fernando, Pampanga, but to no avail.
One of Dee’s friends who helped her locate Honor was Danny Macapagal, the secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Nueva Ejica Chapter for 17 years.
Macapagal or DM to his friends was himself abducted last March and never been found since.
Dee said there were two other Bayan Muna supporters in Aurora Province who were abducted a week before her husband and Johnny were taken by men in civilian clothes.
Dee and Johnny’s family were able to file a petition of habeas corpus before a local court but were dismissed for lack of enough evidence.
“Sa kwento ng asawa ko na may nauna ng karanasan sa pagdukot ng mga military noong 1989, sa torture na inabot niya wala na siyang pagasa na bubuhayin pa. Ano pa ‘yung second time?â€
Honor was able to publish a novelette that accounts the physical and mental torture he suffered in the hands of his abductors for one week.
Dee would read a portion of the novelette in every forum that she was invited to speak to and for each time she would shed tears. “Naiisip ko kung dinanas pa rin niya ang ganoong klase ng pagpapahirap.â€
“Naiinggit ako sa iba (human rights victims), dahil nailabas ang bangkay ng ibang napatay. Nailibing sila…naisara nila…kami hindi. Hanggang last year, umaasa ka na buhay.
“Pero habang tumatagal narerealize ko na hindi na talaga siya lalabas na buhay…pero minsan umaasa ako na uuwi pa rin siya.â€
Dee reportedly keeps her old cell phone number just in case her husband would call her one day. – MVT