By Shayne Elizabeth T. Flores and Kasharelle Javier

With the recent trend of attacks against environmentalists, victims of enforced abductions face further threat from state security forces under President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s administration.

The intensified threat is manifested by the recent case of environmental activists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro, who spoke out about their supposed abduction in September 2023 upon being released from state custody.

Prior to their abduction, the two youth activists were working with coastal communities who opposed the Manila Bay reclamation in Orion, Bataan according to AKAP KA Manila Bay and KARAPATAN.

National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya claimed that the two environmentalists were “safe and sound” under military custody in a press briefing two weeks after their disappearance.

According to Bataan Provincial Police Office Chief Public Information Officer Captain Carlito Buco Jr., the two women “voluntarily surrendered” to the 70th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army.

Following the press briefing, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) held a press conference to show that Tamano and Castro are “returnees” to the military. 

However, Castro revealed that they were abducted to a van and coerced to surrender by the state forces.

She also exposed they were in military custody, leaving them no choice but to sign the affidavit provided by the military.

Due to their revelations, both activists were charged with a perjury complaint filed by a military personnel but was later dismissed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), and instead indicted them of Grave Oral Defamation for “embarrassing and putting the army in a bad light.”

In a joint statement, the activists expressed their dismay over the decision of the DOJ to indict them for the case filed by the 70th IB Commander Ronnel Dela Cruz.

“Nakakadismaya ang malinaw na pagpanig ng Department of Justice sa tinahi-tahing kuwento ng AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] at NTF-ELCAC sa inilabas nitong resolusyon sa kasong Perjury na isinampa sa amin,” it read. 

Meanwhile, the activists filed writs of amparo and habeas data to the Supreme Court (SC) for protection, which the SC granted along with a temporary protection order in February 2024 since elements of an enforced disappearance were present for forcibly abducting the activists.

The protective writs serve as critical legal remedies and protection order against intimidation and the unlawful collection of personal information, particularly by state forces.

However, the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed the two activists’ plea for the writs saying that they did not present sufficient evidence to prove their claims last August 2, 2024.

The Doña Remedios Trinidad Municipal Trial Court in Bulacan also issued the arrest of Castro and Tamano for grave oral defamation last February 20, 2024 and later posted bail worth P18,000.

The CA Former Special Eighth Division (Division of Five) has junked the petition for reconsideration filed by Castro and Tamano for lack of merit in a nine-page resolution released on October 29. 

As of the latest update, the environmentalists filed a formal complaint against state authorities for violating the Anti-Enforced Disappearances Act last December 5. 

They also accused the NSC, NTF-ELCAC, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and other state agencies of violating the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 for mentally and psychologically torturing them.

Among worst conditions 

Having the highest number of advocates killed in Asia between 2012 and 2023, the Philippines is recognized as one of the world’s deadliest countries for environmentalists as reported by international watchdog Global Witness.

According to KARAPATAN, there are at least 757 political prisoners nationwide as of November 2024. With 148 of them arrested under Marcos Jr., 102 are elderly, 17 are from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, 97 are sickly, and 156 are women.

Last July 2023, environmental activists Miguela Piniero and Rowena Dasig were arrested for allegedly possessing illegal firearms while conducting research regarding the effects of a power plant in Atimonan, Quezon Province.

Due to the acquittal, Dasig was supposed to be released last August 21, 2024 but went missing right after her release from police detention. After two months of disappearance, Dasig was found safe. However, Piniero remains detained due to trumped-up charges while battling health issues.

Similar to other enforced abduction incidents, environmental rights defenders and Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment conveners Francisco ‘Eco’ Dangla III and Joxelle ‘Jak’ Tiong were forcibly dragged into an SUV seen by witnesses and local citizens last March 24 at Barangay Polo, San Carlos City, Pangasinan. 

Four days after the reported abduction, they were found safe. 

Meanwhile, human rights groups continue to slam Marcos Jr. for the escalating cases of activist abductions throughout his term, with at least 15 active cases of enforced disappearances as reported by KARAPATAN.

*The article was first published in FEU Advocate’s Vol. 27 Issue No. 2 last March 19, 2025.

(Photo Courtesy of Jolina Castro)