The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday raised alarm over the reported disappearance of an environmental advocate from Quezon province following her release from detention at a Lucena City jail.
The CHR stepped into the case of Rowena Dasig who was reported missing after being set free after charges against her were tossed out by the Gumaca Regional Trial Court Branch 172 on Aug. 13,
“As of (this) writing, there have been no updates on the whereabouts of Dasig after she had been freed from the LCDJ,” the CHR said in a statement.
Dasig was arrested along with Miguela Peniero, a community health worker on July 12 last year in Arizonan, Quezon for alleged illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Peniero remains in detention up to now.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ 85th Infantry Battalion earlier released a statement, tagging Dasig as a leader of the New People’s Army.
The CHR called for an the exhaustive search for Dasig, adding it was closely monitoring the incident to ascertain her whereabouts and safety.
“We also call upon all relevant government and law enforcement agencies to immediately conduct efforts within their respective mandates,” it said.
The agency urged the government to strictly implement Republic Act No. 10535 or the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Law.
“It is important that human right defenders in our country are able to effectively conduct their work without any fear for their own welfare. It is about time that we strengthen the safeguards on the rights of activists to address their susceptibility to violence, harassment and even red-tagging,” the CHR stressed.
