CIDG files complaint vs. Anakbayan over 'missing' senior high school student

A complaint has been filed against members of Anakbayan over a "missing" senior high school student whom the group allegedly recruited, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said Wednesday.

Upon the questioning of Senator Panfilo Lacson, CIDG deputy director for administration Police Brigadier General Bernabe Balba said they have submitted the complaint before the Department of Justice on August 1.

“Last July, Mrs. Relissa Lucena, together with other witnesses, went to CIDG, particularly to the Office of Major Crime Investigation Unit. We got the statements and after a week on August 1, we filed a case against the respondents Mrs. Lucena mentioned,” Balba said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Named as respondents were Charie del Rosario, Bianca Gacos, Jayroven Villafuente Balais, Anakbayan national president Vencer Crisostomo and Anakbayan secretary general Einsten Recedes.

The complaint accuses them of kidnapping and of violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act; and the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.

During the hearing, Lucena said Del Rosario, Cacos, and Balais were among the Anakbayan members who were with her daughter who eventually left their home.

Lucena said her daughter, a senior high school student at the Far Eastern University, has yet to return home.

But in a Facebook post, Lucena's daughter said she is not missing and confirmed that she indeed joined Anakbayan.

"Gusto kong makita ang kahalagahan ko sa pamilya ko at sa lipunan. And so I joined Anakbayan. Siguro, sasabihin ng iba na kabaliwan na sa aktibismo ko yo’n hinanap. Pero simula nang sumali ako sa org, nahanap ko yung sarili ko bilang parte ng lipunan at hindi hiwalay dito. Nakita ko ang sarili ko sa bawat masa na hindi pinakinggan ang kanilang mga kahilingan. At hindi ko talaga kayang manahimik sa panahon ng kanilang ligalig, knowing the feeling of being oppressed," the daughter said.

Anakbayan spokesperson Alex Danday called the filing of the complaint a "desperate" move by President Rodrigo Duterte, with the help of the security forces and the Senate, to discredit activism.

“Desperate moves ito ni Duterte kasama ang militar at senado para i-discredit ang aktibismo, siraan ang paglaban ng mamamayan sa gitna ng tumitinding kalagayan ng bansa,” Danday said on Wednesday.

She noted that the participation in Anakbayan is voluntary, claiming many Filipino youth join Anakbayan over various issues, including poverty, sovereignty, and killings.

“Meron mang Anakbayan o wala, nagiging radikal ang mga kabataan dahil sa kasalukuyang ginagawa ng administrasyon ni Duterte,” Danday said. —KG/BM, GMA News