The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) in cooperation with the Committee on Human Rights of the House of Representatives are hosting the “KNOW ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE,” a mini film expo on the global phenomenon of enforced or involuntary disappearance.
The film showing will be held on 22 March 2012 in Rooms 9 and 10, RVM Building, at the House of Representatives from 1:00 -5:00 PM.
Slated for screening are two films; “Dukot”, a movie of Joel Lamangan and Boni Ilagan which was nearly banned by MTRCB in 2008 for depicting the grim reality of the plight of the disappeared persons in the Philippines in recent years.
“Finally we are getting somewhere in our campaign to make the phenomenon of enforced disappearance a societal concern,” sighs Joey Faustino, Secretary General of the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND).
Last Monday, 05 March 2012, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill No. 98, “An Act Defining and Penalizing Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance.”
Former Minority House Leader and Honorary Chairperson of FIND, Cong. Edcel C. Lagman is the principal author of HB No. 98 which defines enforced or involuntary disappearance as the “arrest, detention, abduction, or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such person outside the protection of the law”.
Recent developments in the search for the three missing Islamic scholars took a positive turn. Najir Gumuntul Ahung, 38; Rasdie Bisita Kasaran, 21; and Yusup Cadlus Mohammad, 21, all residents of Al-Barka, Basilan disappeared on January 4, 2012. All three were bound for Khartoum, Sudan and were scheduled to leave Manila via Qatar Airways at 12:10 a.m. of that day.
The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) on 14 February 2012, in what it considered as a breakthrough, was able to confirm from Air Philippines’ baggage section that the checked-in bags of Najir Ahung and Yusup Mohammad were never claimed.
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In commemoration of the 39th anniversary of the declaration of martial law, the Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) in cooperation with the Office of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives opens today a two-day photo exhibit in the north wing lobby of the House to give face to enforced disappearance.
"By baring the face of this odious offense that martial law spawned, we hope to stir an amalgam of compassion, courage and love of country among the viewers even as we call for an end to impunity," FIND Co-chairperson Nilda L. Sevilla said.
"We urge the Aquino government to immediately enact a law penalizing enforced disappearance and help the families of desaparecidos bring the perpetrators to justice." Sevilla added.
The Senate before adjourning sine die on Wednesday passed on second reading Senate Bill No. 2817 which seeks to define and penalize enforced disappearance.
Senate Bill No. 2817 was approved in substitution of Senate Bills numbered 100, 1226, 1455 and 2176 respectively authored by Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Manuel Villar, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Francis Pangilinan.
We support the immediate enactment of the proposed Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2011 and the signing and ratification by the Philippine Government of the United Nations International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPAPED).
