The TANGGULAN Youth Network of Civil Liberties and Human Rights condemns the continuous harassment experienced by Glaiza T. Dimapilis, 19 years old, student and the incumbent President of University Student Government of the Philippine Christian University (PCU), from elements of the government's intelligence agency.
Biyaya Quizon, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines chairperson and TANGGULAN Convenor joins Glaiza in a Press Conference held today at the PCU grounds. Quizon demands that the military stop its harassment of student leaders and called on the government to stop its counter-insurgency operations in the campuses in Metro Manila and nationwide.
"The government is undoubtedly wary of the opening of classes and harassment of student activists is part of its preparation to avert the protests and student mobilizations in the coming months towards the State of the Nation Address of Arroyo in July," Biyaya said.
Dimapilis and her friends reported to TANGGULAN Friday, that she is being stalked by a military intelligence agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAPF) for two consecutive days since May 7, 2008.
Worried of her safety, Dimapili's parents moved her from their house to a relative's house on May 9, after the same intelligence agent came to their house located in Barangay Villamor near the Villamor Airbase, and convinced them to "turn over" their daughter to Camp Crame.
"Order of Battle"
Glaiza said that she was present when the ISAFP agent, who identified himself as Mike Santos, said that Glaiza is a known figure in PCU and included in "Order of Battle" of the ISAFP in the National Capital Region. Glaiza added that the ISAFP agent even told her parents that there is a "plan" to abduct her so she is being warned to stop her activities.
"In the line of his speaking, he wants my parents to believe that my involvement as a student leader in PCU is a trouble. He added that I am being used as a front of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) and that is why I should go to Camp Crame."
Glaiza is a member of the Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) of the Jesus is Lord Church, an officer of the student council of PCU since 2006 and its current President. During her term in the council, she has been vocal against the deployment and incursion of the military in the campuses in Metro Manila and became the spokesperson of the U WATCH!, a network of youth groups formed last year opposing urban and campus militarization.
Real Threat
Her parents went to the PCU Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) on May 9 and sought the university's help regarding the threats, while Glaiza stayed in her relative's house. They complained that Glaiza is fearful of the "stalker" who follows her from their house to the PCU gates and knew her exact class schedules.
The OSA offered a certain Maj. Fernandez of the ISAFP which the OSA said could help Glaiza's security problems. The OSA arranged the meeting of the parents and certain Maj. Fernandez. Maj. Fernandez went to the Dimapilis residence at Barangay Villamor late afternoon of May 9.
During the meeting of her parents with Maj. Fernandez, Leonisa Dimapilis, Glaiza's mother texted Glaiza not to go out from their relative's house because she said there are many men "posted outside". She was referring to the companions of Maj. Fernandez who stayed outside of their house and other suspicious-looking men nearby and observing.
Glaiza's mother also informed her that Ma. Fernandez also confirmed that Glaiza is in the OB (order of battle) of the military and been convincing them to accompany her to the Camp Crame and "cooperate".
Fearing any eventuality, this prompted Glaiza to ask for a "rescue team" who can pull-her out of Barangay Villamor, where she felt she is not "secure" about her movement and freedom.
Rescued
At around 9 p.m. yesterday, Glaiza was taken out of Barangay Villamor, Villamor Airbase by her friends, colleagues in the student council, and TANGGULAN in coordination with the PCU administration and some churches. She is temporarily under the custody of a church.
In a phone conversation around 10:30 in the evening, Glaiza's mother said that Maj. Fernandez' visit was not to give protection but rather convinced them to sway Glaiza to go to Camp Crame, give her information on other youth activist groups listed in the OB and be a "tracer" for them. She further said that, Fernandez said Glaiza is involved in "front organizations" of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Dimapilis went emotional as she recounted her ordeal during the past days. She urged her parents not to be threatened by the ISAFP and pleaded for support in her plan to file a writ of amparo to stop the harassment.
Quizon, also a student of the PCU, called on the PCU adminstration to "investigate and strenghten the security of progressive student groups in the campus, while upholding their right to association, freedom of expression and movement without fear of harrassment". ###
Reference: Biyaya G. Quizon, SCMP Chairperson
TANGGULAN Youth Convenor
09289526973
No comments:
Post a Comment