No deadline yet on result of CA-ordered probe on two missing activists — AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday no deadline has been set yet on the release of the result of its probe on the disappearance of union leaders Elizabeth “Loi” Magbanua and Alipio “Ador” Juat.

During the House appropriations panel hearing on the Department of National Defense's proposed P310 billion budget for 2023, Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas asked about the military's compliance on the Court of Appeals ruling issuing the writ of amparo in favor of Magbanua and Juat and ordering permanent protection order for them and their immediate families.

The CA also ordered the speedy conduct of  investigation on the continued disappearance of Magbanua and Juat.

"We received the CA Resolution September 12, and we issued the directive to the Armed Forces to comply with the CA issuance providing writ of amparo. We required the Armed Forces to come up with an immediate action," DND officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino, Jr. told the panel.

Brosas asked when the initial report on the military's compliance with the CA ruling will come out.

"As to the exact time [for the release of the initial report on our probe], sad to say, we are also following the process. The Armed Forces is a big organization, we are also coordinating with other agencies. Rest assured we are onto this and as soon as we have ample information from our units, we will inform the department accordingly," AFP deputy chief of staff Vice Admiral Rommel Anthony Reyes replied.

The petition for a writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened.

Brosas lamented the response of the officials.

"Ibig sabihin, wala pa po kayong ginagawa. The CA ordered you to conduct a speedy probe. Sino sino ba ang nag-iimbestiga? Ano na ang ginawa ninyo? Hindi ba puwede magbukas ng ilang kampo para makita nasaan exactly kasi 'yun ang directive sa inyo, speedy probe," she said.

(As of now, you are yet to do anything about it. Who are the ones doing the probe? What did you do so far? Were you not able to open military camps to find out where the missing activists are?)

"Bawat araw po ay napakahalaga para sa mga union leaders at sa kanilang mga pamilya (Every day matters for those missing and their families)," she added.

Brosas said the CA gave the military six months to comply.

"You have a deadline," she said.

Reyes responded by saying that the military has been investigating the disappearance of the two activists even ahead of the issuance of the CA ruling.

"Rest assured that the Armed Forces is doing its best to locate the whereabouts of these personalities. We are also interested in where they are and their welfare," he said.—AOL, GMA News