CABANATUAN CITY – Mothers and relatives of the murdered, abducted, tortured and other victims of human rights violations in Central Luzon renewed their calls and pledged to continue their cry for justice.
They belong to the group called "Mother and Relatives Against Tyranny" (MARTYR).
"Human rights violations are continuing to this day," Cecille Ruiz, chair of Karapatan, a group of human rights defenders and advocates, in Central Luzon said in the assembly held at the United Methodist City Temple here Monday.
She said the holding of the assembly was held on the occasion of the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 "to remember the human rights violations during those days, which are continuing to this day, and for relatives of the victims to voice out more loudly they cry for justice and to contribute for a truly peaceful and democratic society".
She said MARTYR belongs to a national organization, formed during the Martial Law years.
Mrs. Edita Burgos, wife of a disappeared son, Jonas, was guest speaker.
"A mother cannot give up in seeking justice for her son. I will continue speaking to be the face of the disappeared", she said.
Jonas, she told the audience, was abducted April 28, 2007 by what she said were military agents, in a Quezon City mall which was witnessed by more than a hundred mallgoers. Since then, the fate of her son remains unknown, she said.
"I counted 130 steps from the spot he was abducted up to the entrance of the mall. No one shouted for help. If only somebody from among those who saw the abduction called out for help, my son could still be alive today," Ms Burgos said.
Continuing she said: "We could not stay quiet with what is happening. Let’s us be Good Samaritans to help others for the sake of our family, friends and other people living today and those that will come after us."
She called on every body to do his or her share in helping this fight against human rights violations in whatever way and opportunity possible. It could be giving food, water, prayer and moral support to the human rights advocates or speaking against violations and violators.
"But let’s do it in non-violent way," she said. "If we do our share (in this fight for human rights violations), in death we can say that we have done our share."
In front of the assembly, the organizers assembled the individual pictures of the summary executions and abductions in Central Luzon in previous years. Some of their relatives also spoke of the pain and grief of losing a love one while others spoke of what they said were "harassment by the military" against them.
Among the pictures shown of the alleged victims of summary executions were Leodegario Punzal, 41 then, of Norzagaray, Bulacan, who was murdered 2005; Priscilla Esteban, 55, of Lennec, Guimba, Nueva Ecija (2005); Armando Javier, 36, Sta. Clara, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija (2005); Florante Collantes, of Camiling, Tarlac (2005); Ricardo Ramos, 47, of Tarlac City (2005); and Feliza Ocampos, 59, of Morong, Bataan (2007).
Some of the abducted and still missing were Danilo Macapagal, 53, of Cabanatuan City (2005); Esteban Pastor, 53, of San Luis, Aurora (2005); Richard Collado, 20, of Guimba, Nueva Ecija (2008); and Edwin dela Cruz of Hermosa, Bataan (2008).
Ruiz said that since the Martial Law period up to this time, there were 153 unsolved summary executions in Central Luzon, 83 "desaparacidos (the disappeared)",31 frustrated killings, 51 abductions, 115 illegal arrest, and three political detainees up to now.
The assembly, later on the day, mapped out their next moves in order to continue their advocacy against human rights violations and cry for justice for the victims.
