The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it recognized the rights of two environmental activists, earlier reported missing, to file protective writs against several security officers and other government officials for their alleged abduction.

In a 37-page petition to the Supreme Court, Jhed Tamano, 22, and Jonila Castro, 21, requested a writ of amparo and a writ of habeas data in their favor as well as to immediately issue a temporary protection order against Lieutenant Colonel Ronnel dela Cruz and members of the 70th Infantry Battalion, Police Captain Carlito Buco and members of the Philippine National Police-Bataan, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, and other officials of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed                      Conflict.

However, AFP chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., stood firm that Castro and Tamano had "voluntarily surrendered" to the Philippine Army's 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Voluntary surrendered

"Well, of course, we respect our laws that's why we know their rights to file a case, but we stand by the reports of our units in the field, and we know that these two, Jhed and Jonila, have voluntarily surrendered," Brawner said in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Saturday.

Brawner said the two activists underwent the military's standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees under the government's Balik-Loob program.

"We feel sorry that they were used by the leftist group for their interest," Brawner said, but he did not give further details about which left organization he was talking about.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army also stands by the initial handwritten affidavit of Castro and Tamano.