By Reynard Magtoto
The families and human rights groups are asking the public’s help to surface the two activists abducted in separate incidents in Tabaco City, Albay.
It has already been almost two weeks since the abduction of activists James Jazmines and Felix Salaveria Jr. Jazmines is a labor rights defender and the brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Alan Jazmines, while Salaveria is a cycling enthusiast and eco-waste management advocate.
On Aug. 23, Jazmines had gone missing after he was reportedly abducted by a group of men who forced him into a white van around 10 p.m. in Brgy. San Lorenzo, Tabaco City, according to the quick reaction mission report of rights group Karapatan.
Meanwhile, Salaveria was reported missing on Aug. 28 at around 10:00 pm in Brgy. Cobo, Tabaco City. He was on his way home after buying food when he was abducted by men in plain clothes and forced inside a silver van, Karapatan’s report also stated.
Before the series of abduction, Jazmines was with Salaveria to celebrate the latter’s 67th birthday on the night of Aug. 23 at Patang Siram restaurant in Brgy. San Roque, Tabaco City according to Karapatan. “It was Salaviera who informed Karapatan that Jazmines had gone missing.”
Jazmines and Salaveria are the 14th and 15th cases of enforced disappearance of activists under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration according to the group’s secretary general Cristina Palabay.
Corazon, wife of Jazmines, joined the Karapatan’s quick reaction mission from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 to search and gather information on the reported abduction. However, their search in the cities of Tabaco, Ligao, and Legazpi did not yield any information on the whereabouts of Jazmines and Salaveria.
“Isn’t it strange that an abduction happened, but the local authorities don’t know about it,” said Corazon who also reported the enforced disappearance of her husband to the national agencies.
“As each day passes with no news of him, our anxiety increases especially because of our father’s age and medical condition. He’s frail and suffered a stroke last year in 2023. and was paralyzed on the left side of his body. He is still recovering,” said Gab, daughter of Salaveria, during an online press briefing on Sept. 3.
“We are still gathering all the information that we need to take the next steps, especially the legal steps to surface the two who have been abducted. In my case, my client Felix,” said former Ateneo de Manila University College of Law Dean and Salaveria’s legal counsel Antonio La Viña.
“Which agencies took them? Which units took them? We do not know yet. But we will get to that,” La Viña said as he asked the public to help find information that will give clarity to those behind the abduction of Salaveria and Jazmines.
‘State-sponsored abductions‘
Jazmines and Salaveria, both long-time human rights defenders, were already under surveillance of the state forces since February this year in Tabaco City, Albay.
The results of a quick reaction mission on their disappearances also provided more indicators that State security forces were behind their abduction. “We have a basis to conclude that the abduction of the two is an act of our state security forces,” Palabay said.
Palabay is calling the attention of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army as they suspect the 49th Infantry Battalion to be involved in the abductions. Tabaco City is within its area of responsibility.
“This is not the first time they have done that. This is also not the first time that the plate numbers of the vehicles used in abductions are different from those registered to the right vehicle,” Palabay added.
“The patterns and circumstances point to the state forces being the perpetrators. By the nature of these cases, we know how difficult it will be the next days, weeks, and how crucial it is at this time,” said Atty. Julienne Agpalo of National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL).
In terms of the pattern, the use of stolen plates for vehicles used in State-sponsored abductions, according to Palabay, was seen in the case of the Jonas Burgos abduction in 2007 where the plates used in the abductors’ vehicle was traced to a vehicle impounded in a military camp. “This modus, which is clearly meant to throw searchers off the trail, was also used in Salaveria’s abduction.”
In the case of Salaveria, “the speed with which the uniformed policemen arrived after the abduction points to the distinct possibility that the abduction and the seizure of Salaveria’s belongings are parts of the same State-sponsored operation against him,” Palabay said.
“Salaveria had likely been rendered vulnerable after he began inquiries on James’ whereabouts and reported his disappearance to Karapatan,” Palabay added.
Under RA 10353 or the anti-enforced disappearance law, State actors have the duty and obligation to conduct thorough and impartial investigations on cases of enforced disappearances. However, the quick reaction team members were disappointed when they presented the inquiry form. “The PNP CIDG in Region 5 refused to sign it, claiming that they were unaware of such a law.”
Who are James and Felix?
Jazmines and Salaveria are both long-time human rights defenders. They already spent a year living in Tabaco City to continue their respective advocacies– labor rights and eco-waste management.
Jazmines, is a 1978 graduate of the Philippine Science High School and a BS Psychology student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He served as information officer of the League of Filipino Students from 1977 to the early 1980s. He later became the executive director of the Amado V. Hernandez Resource Center, a cultural institution, from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he served as information officer of the Kilusang Mayo Uno labor center. Up to the mid-2000s, he was the information technology (IT) consultant of a development NGO and has been working freelance in the IT sector since then.
“He was known in his community as quiet and unassuming, but also a frequent biker,” Karapatan stated.
“I believe in what he believes in, his advocacies and the issues he stands for the basic rights of the people and workers,” said Corazon who never regretted marrying James.
“I agree with his stance and have supported him ever since. I’m ready for those consequences. I’m not in denial that there are threats, risks, but it comes with the job,” Corazon added. “You should be prepared for it. That is my belief.”
Salaveria, a 1976 graduate of San Beda High School and a former Sociology major at the University of the East in Manila, is a founding member and former president of Cycling Advocates (CYCAD), a group that promotes biking as a low-cost, healthy and non-polluting form of transportation. He is also a founding member of Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa mga Katutubo (Tabak) and Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino (Katribu), groups advocating for indigenous people’s rights. He was likewise a member of the staff of the now defunct Ethnic Studies and Development Center’s Minority Rights Advocacy Program.
In Tabaco City, Salaveria became known as an avid eco-waste management advocate who encouraged the proper disposal of waste. He coordinated with other groups in the area for alternative ways of transporting waste for conversion to compost for permaculture, and also maintained a small community garden in his residence, according to Karapatan.
“He was well-liked in his community both for his advocacies and for being a kind and helpful neighbor,” Karapatan stated.
“He is a true believer of bicycling and has taken us, his daughters, biking for as long as we can remember,” said Gab, daughter of Salaveria. “In addition to bicycling, our father is also an advocate of eco-waste management.”
“Since he moved to Tabaco City, he has encouraged proper waste management in coordinating the transport of biodegradable waste for conversion to compose,” Gab added. “He even donated to his community a bicycle specifically modified to collect waste for composting.”
Karapatan joins the families of Jazmines and Salaveria in demanding that they be surfaced immediately, alive and unhurt.
“With growing indications that their abduction and disappearance is a State-perpetrated operation, we demand that those responsible be held accountable for violating RA 10353 or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012, which punishes the crime of involuntary disappearance with life imprisonment,” said Palabay.
