FINAL REPORT - Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Adeliza explained that the summary execution of her parents may have been
politically motivated. She said her father was known to be critical of the policies of
former Mayor Aldaba of San Teodoro, Mindoro Oriental. When Mr. Aldaba was killed
allegedly by the NPA, her innocent father was accused of the murder. But for lack of
proof, her father was released after nine months of detention.
She testified that her family wrote to the President appealing for help but that
nothing happened. It appeared that they were simply ignored.
Involuntary disappearance has also become widespread as among the cruel
forms of human rights violation committed by the military, the police, paramilitary
forces and their assets and/or agents. CRISTINA ABALOS testified on the abduction
by the military of her father who to this date remains missing.
Involuntary Disappearance
Cristina Abalos, 36-year-old, testified that her father, Patricio Abalos, was the
provincial chairman of a farmers’ cooperative in Samar. He was 67 years old at the
time he was abducted.
She narrated that in the evening of 28 March 2005, she was at home with her
father and other relatives. They were watching television when she noticed a Revo van
already parked in front of their house and saw some men standing around the vehicle.
She told her father about it. When he went out to check, the van had left.
Shortly thereafter, the van came back. Cristina saw about four men with highpowered
firearms alight, force her father into the van and thereupon speed away. The
van had no plate number. A motorcycle, also without any plate number, Fllowed the
van
The next day, Cristina and her mother searched for Patricio at Camp Lucban in
Maulong, Catbalogan where the 8 th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army is based.
But they were not allowed to enter the camp. They then tried to seek the help of the
Public Attorneys’ Office. But said office, explaining that it is itself being harassed,
turned them down. Not giving up, on 30 March 2005, they went back to the military
camp, but once again they were denied entry.
On 31 March 2005, six soldiers barged into and searched Patricio’s house
against the will of the residents therein and without a search warrant. The group was
led by one who introduced himself as Lt. Wilbert Basquiñas who arrogantly admitted
having custody of Patricio. He told Patricio’s family that he and his men were looking
for a gun allegedly kept in Patricio’s wooden trunk. Cristina and her family pleaded
with the soldiers. Lt. Basquiñas ignored them and proceeded to ransack the house,
threatening and aiming his pistol at the family members while brandishing his fan
knife.
The soldiers did not find any gun. Nevertheless they still took with them
Patricio’s trunk which contained his IDs, wallet and medicines. They also threatened
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