ILOILO City — Nearly two decades after Ilonggo activists Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado and Nilo Arado vanished, human rights and cause-oriented groups are renewing pressure on the government to determine their fate and deliver justice to victims of enforced disappearance.
Cause-oriented group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay and human rights alliance KARAPATAN issued the call ahead of the International Day of the Disappeared yesterday, Aug. 30, saying families of the missing continue to endure years of uncertainty over whether their loved ones are still alive.
Dominado and Arado were abducted by armed individuals on the night of April 12, 2007 in Barangay Cabanbanan, Oton, Iloilo while returning home from Antique.
Dominado was spokesperson of the Panay Island chapter of Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainee Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), while Arado chaired Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS).
BAYAN Panay secretary general Elmer Forro said the government bears the responsibility of ensuring justice for those who disappeared.
“Ang aton panawagan nga dapat mahatagan na ini sila sang hustisya kag wala sang liwan nga may salabton diri kundi ang aton gobyerno. Gani, ginapanawagan naton sa aton gobyerno nga ipatuman ang hustisya para sa aton mga pumoluyo nga nadula,” Forro told Panay News.
Forro said human rights groups have been demanding answers over disappearances dating from the martial law period through the administrations of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte, but the issue remains unresolved even under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He said Dominado and Arado are only among numerous known and unidentified individuals across the country who disappeared, leaving their families without knowing whether they are alive or dead.
KARAPATAN staff member “Leeboy” Garachico, who was driving the pickup truck carrying Dominado and Arado when they were abducted, urged the government to respect human rights and prevent authorities from committing enforced disappearances.
“Ang akon panawagan bilang isa ka human rights worker nga i-respect gid ang human rights. Ang forced disappearance isa ka pintas nga klasi sang human rights violation. May law kontra sa enforced disappearance so dapat i-respect gid ya sang government nga indi gid mag-commit sang enforced disappearances especially sa mga human rights advocates,” Garachico told Panay News.
Garachico said enforced disappearance inflicts a particularly painful burden on families because they are denied certainty about what happened to their missing relatives.
“Masakit ang enforced disappearances kay indi maka-get over ang families kay wala sila kabalo kon ano na ang natabo sa ila pinalangga sa kabuhi,” he added.
BAYAN Panay, KARAPATAN and other cause-oriented groups had planned a short program for Aug. 29 to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared and remember activists killed in Panay.
Panay News also sought comment from May Wan Posa Dominado, Maria Luisa’s eldest daughter, but she had yet to respond as of press time.
During the 2024 International Day of the Disappeared, however, May Wan appealed for families of missing persons to remain steadfast in their search for answers and justice.
“May the families of the disappeared stay steadfast in their search and quest for justice for their loved ones. May the courts expediently grant the petitions for writ of amparo and habeas data for the safety and security of the missing and the survivors of enforced disappearance,” part of her message read.
Her post also carried photographs and names of other desaparecidos around the country, including Elgene Mungcal, Ma. Elena Pampoza, Renel Delos Santos, Denald Laloy Malen, Lyn Grace Martullinas, Dexter Capuyan, Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus, Deah Lopez, Normal Ortiz, Lee Sudario and Mariano Jolongbayan, who were reported missing on various dates in 2023./PN
