‘… the state’s silence on the disappearance of the two contravenes Republic Act No. 10353, or the law against enforced disappearance that has been in existence since 2012.’

IT has been more than a month since James Jazmines disappeared. It will be a month on Saturday in the case of Felix Salaveria Jr.

No one disappears in the normal scheme of things in this world. Life’s cycle consists of birth, childhood, adulthood, old age, and death. Some get to complete all the stages; others are not so lucky and skip some stages between birth and death. But nowhere is there a stage when one simply disappears, unless something drastic happens to disrupt that cycle, as in the case of James and Felix.

The Jazmines and Salaveria families point to government agents as behind the dastardly act. Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said, “The tell-tale signs of state involvement in the abductions of Jazmines and Salaveria are there.”

In their demand for authorities to surface the two, they narrated that James attended Felix’s 66th birthday dinner with friends at a restaurant in Tabaco City, Albay on Aug. 23.

“After the celebration, James left on his bicycle and has not been seen since. Five days later, and after he had reported that James had gone missing, Felix was abducted. According to eyewitnesses, he was shoved into a silver van by men in plain clothes. Later, a group of uniformed policemen entered his home and removed personal belongings, including his cell phone and laptop.”

Karapatan has released CCTV footage obtained during a search mission in Albay last Sept. 11 to 13, showing the abduction of Felix near his home by men in plain clothes in Barangay Cobo, Tabaco City, Albay on the morning of Aug. 28.

“An operation like this is highly organized and it was done in broad daylight, indicating the brazen character of the crime. The abduction of Jazmines and Salaveria bears these indicators, which are similar to previous cases of such abductions committed by state forces. Several questions remain as the two remain missing, and this includes questions on state actors’ duty to investigate such incidents. So far, no government official has publicly spoken on their abduction,” Palabay said.

The families have launched a campaign to demand the authorities to investigate the abductions, return the two safely to their families, and bring to justice those responsible for their disappearances.

Who are James Jazmines and Felix Salaveria Jr.?

The information materials by Karapatan say James is a 1978 graduate of the Philippine Science High School and a BS Psychology student at 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.

Felix, a 1976 graduate of San Beda High School and 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 indigenous people’s rights. He was likewise a staff member of the now-defunct Ethnic Studies and Development Center’s Minority Rights Advocacy Program.

In Barangay Cobo, Tabaco City, Felix became known as an avid eco-waste management advocate who encouraged the proper disposal of waste. He coordinated with other groups based in Tabaco for alternative ways of transporting waste for conversion to compost for permaculture and even donated a bike for this purpose.

In addition to his waste disposal advocacy, Felix maintained a small community garden in his residence. He is well-liked in his community both for his advocacies and for being a kind and helpful neighbor.

Palabay said the state’s silence on the disappearance of the two contravenes Republic Act No. 10353, or the law against enforced disappearance that has been in existence since 2012. Under RA 10353, state security forces are required to issue certifications on the whereabouts of a missing person. They must also disclose the location of all detention facilities and allow inspection by the Commission on Human Rights. State authorities responsible for enforced disappearance can be sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Jazmines and Salaveria families said they are targeting 1,000 signatures in five days for their petition to surface James and Felix, which they will present to President Marcos Jr., Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil and Armed Forces Chief Romeo Brawner Jr.