April 28, 2024, marks the 1st anniversary of the disappearance of Indigenous Peoples’ rights advocate Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus and an Igorot from the Bontoc-Ibaloi-Kankanaey tribe Dexter Capuyan. We heed again our calls to uphold human rights and for the safe surfacing of Dexter and Bazoo.
According to reports, Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz “Bazoo” De Jesus were abducted by individuals who identified themselves as agents from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) last year in Taytay, Rizal. The two activists are the 7th and 8th victims of forced disappearances under the current administration. We may recall some cases that happened since Marcos Jr. assumed office in June 2022: The abduction of Indigenous peoples’ rights advocate and member of Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance (CPA) Steve Tauli, and environmental defenders Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro in Bataan. All of them were resurfaced due to pressure from the people’s movement. However, unlike what happened to the said cases, Dexter, Bazoo, and many other victims are still missing, and the government is still brazenly withholding information about them.
Panaghiusa Philippine Network calls on the government to surface Dexter and Bazoo, and all of the other victims of enforced disappearances.
We also urge the CHR to remind the government that these environmental and IP rights advocates/defenders are protected under international and local laws, such as the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and Republic Act 10353 or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012. These laws ensure the protection of IP and rights advocates to freely exercise their rights to defend and uphold self-determination and ancestral lands.
We call on the public to join us in condemning the systemic attacks against IP and human rights advocates. The AFP, PNP-CIDG, and Marcos Jr. must be held liable as the main culprits for violating human rights. They must be pressured to put a stop to adding victims of forced disappearances.
Reference:
Florante Reyes
Communications and Networking Officer
09671191803
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