SC issues TPO on missing activists

SC issues TPO on missing activists | Daily Tribune

A temporary protection order was issued by the Supreme Court for two activists and community organizers who have gone missing since 3 July and allegedly in the custody of either the police or the military.

A Writ of Amparo issued last 29 November but was only made public on Friday said that the TPO was also issued for the families of Ma. Elena "Cha" Cortez Pampoza of Anakpawis and Elgene "Leleng" Mungcal of Gabriela Women's Partylist.

The two were last seen at Winfare Supermarket in Moncada, Tarlac last 3 July.

The petition for a Writ of Amparo was filed last 4 November in their behalf by Azase Galang, daughter of Pampoza.

The SC as per its order prohibited the military and police officials "from going within a radius of one kilometer of petitioners Pampoza and Mungcal and their immediate families."

A Writ of Amparo "is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity."

Named respondents in the petition were Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, in his capacity as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel, in his capacity as the deputy chief-of-staff for Intelligence (J-2) of the AFP; Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres, Jr., in his capacity as the Commander of the Northern Luzon Command; PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, in his capacity as the chief of the Philippine National Police and PBGen. Cesar R. Pasiwen, in his capacity as the Acting Regional Director of Police Regional Office 3 with an area of responsibility over Central Luzon.

The SC ordered the respondents to file their comment within 20 days upon receipt of the resolution.

It added that the comment should contain "the lawful defenses to show that respondents did not violate or threaten with violation the right to life, liberty and security of petitioners, through any act or omission; the steps or actions taken by respondents to determine the fate or whereabouts of Ma. Elena 'Cha' Cortez Pampoza, and Elgene 'Leleng' Mungcal, and the person or persons responsible for the threat, act, or omission; and all relevant information in the possession of respondents pertaining to the threat, act, or omission against petitioners."

The High Court also said that it needs "actions that have been or will still be taken to recover and preserve evidence related to the disappearance of Ma. Elena 'Cha' Cortez Pampoza, and Elgene 'Leleng' Mungcal, which may aid in the prosecution of the person or persons responsible; to identify witnesses and obtain statements from them concerning the disappearances; to determine the cause, manner, location, and time of disappearance, as well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the disappearances; to identify and apprehend the person or persons involved in their disappearance; and to bring the suspected offenders before a competent court."