International Coalition For Human Rights in the Philippines
Urgent Alert
August 29, 2024
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) raises alarm at the reported disappearance of 63-year old James Jazmines, the youngest brother of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Alan Jazmines.
According to human rights group Karapatan, Jazmines was last seen on August 23, 2024 in Barangay San Lazaro, Tabaco City, in the province of Albay in Bicol Region. Friends and family of Jazmines, including human rights groups, continue to look for him as of the moment. The report comes just a few days after activist and environmentalist Rowena Dasig was reported missing after being released from detention in Quezon province.
Jazmines was a graduate of the premier science high school, the Philippine Science High School in 1978, at the height of Martial Law. He then took up a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He has been a long time activist and served as editor of the official paper of the League of Filipino Students, Commitment. He served in different development institutions and organizations including the Kilusang Mayo Uno labor center.
After the collapse of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the NDFP in 2017, the military engaged in a relentless hunt for all NDFP peace consultants, including James’ brother Alan. Because of this, James and his family have suffered countless instances of surveillance, threats, and red-tagging.
In the program “Laban ng Masa”, which is aired by the notorious and rabid red-tagger broadcast media outfit Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), James’ wife has been red-tagged multiple times in 2023. SMNI is owned by fugitive and indicted human and sex trafficker Apollo Quiboloy, a known supporter and close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
ICHRP is alarmed by the continuing reports of abductions and enforced disappearances under the Marcos Jr. government. The continuing cases affirm the verdict of the recently held International Peoples Tribunal, which found President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his government, along with other defendants guilty of violations of international humanitarian law (IHL).
ICHRP calls on the Philippine government to immediately surface James Jazmines and all victims of Enforced Disappearances. We call on the international community to join us in our Global Day of Action on August 30, the International Day of the Disappeared.
Let us amplify the calls to stop the US-backed counterinsurgency operations in the Philippines and to hold the Marcos Jr. government accountable for its continuing human rights and IHL violations against the Filipino people.
Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson. WhatsApp: +61 418312301. Email: [email protected].
