A temporary protection order was granted by the Supreme Court for the family of missing activist James Jazmines, directing state forces to stay at least one kilometer away from them.
The directive was issued by the high bench in a 6 May resolution, in response to a petition for a writ of amparo and a writ of habeas data filed by Jazmines’ wife, Cora, who alleged that state agents or persons acting under their authority were involved in his abduction.
The resolution also directed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as commander-in-chief; Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.; former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil; current PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III in his capacity as former head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; and four other PNP officers to make verified returns of the writs and respond to the petition.
The Court of Appeals was also ordered to conduct a summary hearing on the petition.
The petitioners alleged that Marcos failed to order an investigation into the alleged abduction.
Their lawyer earlier said the AFP, PNP, and other government security agencies have the mandate to surface Jazmines and fellow activist Felix Salaveria.
The 63-year-old Jazmines, younger brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant Alan Jazmines, went missing in August last year after attending Salaveria’s birthday celebration in Tabaco City.
Karapatan, a rights group, said Salaveria received information that Jazmines was taken by a group of men and forced into a white van.
A few days later, Salaveria was also taken by men who forced him into a silver van, it said. The incident was recorded on the barangay’s security camera.
Under the law, a writ of amparo petition is a remedy to seek protection for individuals whose right to life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened.
Meanwhile, a writ of habeas data is a remedy to allow individuals to access information or data collected about them, and to stop the unlawful processing, dissemination, or use of that information.