CA grants Writ of Amparo to missing indigenous rights advocates

The Court of Appeals (CA), in a decision hailed as "a win for the cause of the desaparecidos," has granted the privileges of the Writ of Amparo to missing indigenous rights advocates Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus, declaring them victims of enforced disappearance and citing strong indications of State agents’ involvement.

The two rights advocates went missing on 28 April 2023 after being abducted by armed men while riding a tricycle from a mall in Taytay, Rizal.

In a decision dated 12 August 2025, the CA found not only “egregious shortcomings” in the Philippine National Police’s investigation but also deliberate efforts to conceal key evidence.

The ruling revealed that police had already located and interviewed the tricycle driver who witnessed the abduction. Despite this, the information was withheld from both the petitioners and the Court, with the PNP attempting to claim that the victims voluntarily left with the armed men.

But the witness stated that the passengers were taken at gunpoint by the armed men who claimed to be members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) — evidence the Court said was suspiciously concealed and misrepresented.

“This marks a significant step in our search for Dexter and Bazoo,” said Atty. Ben Galil Te of the La Viña Zarate & Associates (LVZ Law), co-counsel for the victims' families.

He added that the Court’s decision gives hope that they may soon be found, assuming the respondents comply with its orders.

“While we know the road ahead remains long, this is a win not just for the families of Dexter and Bazoo, but for all indigenous rights advocates and human rights defenders.”

“The State failed to discharge its duty to prevent and investigate the disappearance of Bazoo and Dexter. Whether the respondents faithfully comply with the Court’s firm directives is a matter we will still have to closely monitor — and we will do just that,” Atty. Anton Rodriguez, co-counsel of the petitioners, said.

Exactly one year ago, on 14 August 2024, Idda Alexa C. De Jesus, sister of Bazoo, and Gabrielle Chuwaley D. Capuyan, daughter of Dexter, filed the petition before the Supreme Court. They were represented by La Viña Zarate & Associates (LVZ Law), a firm providing legal assistance to environmental defenders and indigenous peoples advocates and their families.

The CA’s ruling comes shortly after it also granted the privileges of the Writs of Amparo and Habeas Data in the case of missing activist Felix Salaveria, further underscoring the courts’ recognition of the urgency in addressing enforced disappearances.

“We are deeply grateful for the court's decision to grant our petition for the Writ of Amparo. It's a powerful message that justice, though delayed, will not be denied. This strengthens our resolve in demanding accountability,“ Idda De Jesus said.

Atty. Te added, “We hope the day will soon come when the State’s practice of forcibly disappearing activists with impunity ends — and that all those responsible will finally be brought to justice.”