CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City—The AFP, in compliance with the writ of amparo granted for Alipio Juat and Elizabeth Magbanua, intensified its search for the two missing labor activists.
Colonel Danilo Dupiag, Deputy Provost Marshal General of the AFP, met with District Director PBGen Andre Dizon and Intelligence Director PCol Samuel Pabonito both of the Manila Police District on November 15 to request information on the activities of the missing persons before their reported disappearance on May 3.
He also sought a meeting with individuals who may have information on their disappearance, including a certain Rogelio Dioquino of Tondo, Manila who reported that he met the two in Punturin, Valenzuela on May 3.
Col Dupiag, assisted by PMaj Haina Asalan and PCpt Jesus Mason Jr of Quezon City Police District (QCPD), also conducted a dialogue on November 9 with the detainees in Quezon City Police District. However, the detainees reported that they did not see the missing persons.
The activity was approved by PBGen Nicolas Torre, District Director, QCPD through PCol Fernando Ortega, Deputy District Director for Administration, QCPD.
Missing persons posters were also disseminated in various locations, especially in housing units and personnel quarters in Camp Aguinaldo on November 17.
Earlier, the AFP created a fact-finding committee that will “conduct speedy, comprehensive, and exhaustive investigation” on the continued disappearance of Magbanua and Juat.
This was done through a letter directive dated October 5, 2022, which is one of the AFP’s actions in compliance with the Petition for Writ of Amparo filed by the relatives of the missing persons before the Supreme Court and granted by the Court of Appeals in a decision on September 9.
The AFP Provost Marshal General leads the committee as its chairperson with the Deputy Army Provost Marshal; Command Provost Marshal of JTF-NCR; Legal Officer of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, OJ2; and a representative from the AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict as members. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
