PNP denies custody of 2 Cordillera activists

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 16, 2023): PNP denies custody of 2 Cordillera activists

(PNA file image)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday vehemently denied claims it has in its custody two Cordillera activists who have been reported missing.

The PNP issued the statement after the Court of Appeals 13th Division ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the police to present missing activists Dexter Capuyan, 57, and Gene Roz Jamil de Jesus, 27.

"The PNP strongly and categorically denies the allegation that the subjects of the writs, Capuyan and De Jesus, were arrested by the PNP," the PNP said in reaction to CA’s July 10 resolution finding the petition for habeas corpus filed by the relatives of Capuyan and De Jesus to be “sufficient in form and substance.”

The PNP also said that when the two were first reported missing, it immediately exerted efforts to locate them in "faithful compliance with our duty to serve and protect the people.”

Human rights groups said Capuyan and de Jesus were snatched at Golden City Subdivision in Taytay, Rizal on April 28 by men who introduced themselves as agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Capuyan is a member of the Bontoc-Ibaloi-Kankanaey indigenous group while De Jesus is the information and networking officer of the Philippine Task Force on Indigenous Peoples Rights.

Follow-up and search for the two activists are ongoing, the PNP added.

"Records would also show that there were certifications issued by various units of the PNP stating that Capuyan and De Jesus are not within their custody. They are neither among the list of Persons Under Police Custody nor can they be found within any PNP facilities," it stressed.

The PNP will file its answer to CA’s order this week.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205720