MANILA, Philippines – In a press conference surrounded by military officials, the two environmental activists who had gone missing in Bataan declared that they were indeed abducted by the military on September 2.
under military custody. Environmental advodates and human rights groups had warned that the had been coerced into executing their sworn affidavits.Hindi rin totoo ‘yung laman ng affidavit dahil ginawa ‘yun, pinirmahan ‘yun sa loob ng kampo ng militar. Wala na kaming magagawa sa mga pagkakataon na ‘yun“That night, on September 2, we were walking on the road when someone abducted us,” Tamano said in Filipino, recounted the events leading to their abduction.
NTF-ELCAC Director Alexander Umpar said they stand by the report of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and called Castro and Tamano “victims of terrorism.” He also claimed that there was no intervention when Tamano and Castro made their sworn affidavits, and that only Tamano’s parents and the lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office were present beside the two.
Palabay warned of the “possible illegal detention, coercion, and psychological torture” that the two may face under prolonged custody. Castro herself said that what they want highlighted at the press conference is the “government’s fascism against activists” who were only protesting the big-ticket reclamation projects in Manila Bay.