Kin of missing UP alumni seek protective writs from SC

The families of two University of the Philippines (UP) alumni who have been missing since 2023 have filed a petition for a writ of amparo and writ of habeas data before the Supreme Court.

Activists Gene Roz Jamil "Bazoo" de Jesus was last seen in Taytay, Rizal with Dexter Capuyan on May 2 after the former failed to report for work on April 29 without prior notice.

"Para mapa-surface natin 'yung dalawang dinukot more than a year ago now… Naniniwala kami na buhay pa si Dexter at Bazoo somewhere," Tony La Vina, their legal counsel, said in a press briefing.

(This would compel the two alleged abductors to surface. The kidnappings were done more than a year ago now... We believe that Dexter and Bazoo are still alive somewhere.)

"Hindi namin alam saan, hindi namin alam kung sino ang nagdukot sa kanila, kung anong unit. Pero alam namin, tiyak namin na galing sa estado, and we're asking the help of the SC," he added.

(We don't know where, we don't know who abducted them, what unit, but we believe, we know it is from the state, and we are asking the help of the SC.)

In a statement, indigenous peoples organization Katribu said the petition stemmed from the Court of Appeals' dismissal of their writ of habeas corpus in 2023.

According to Katribu, the CA said that it was constrained to dismiss the petition because the case fell within the ambit of the writ of amparo as it involved the disappearance of the two alumni.

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.

For its part, state forces have denied arresting the two UP alumni. — VDV, GMA Integrated News