Karapatan-Cagayan Valley condemned the 5th ID for the forced disappearance and illegal detention of two young organizers for over a month after their arrest on April 20. The victims, Andy Magno and Sofia Almonte, an indigenous Agta, have been kept from their families, lawyers, church people, or human rights groups.

Magno and Almonte were arrested in Barangay Dicamay II, Jones, Isabela while campaigning for the elections. Soldiers falsely claimed that they were New People’s Army (NPA) Red fighters captured following an “encounter.”

The NPA-Cagayan Valley earlier refuted this claim and stated that no clash occurred in the area. The 86th IB soldiers reportedly fired at houses to falsely stage an encounter.

After the incident, the perpetrators encamped in the homes in Dicamay II and sowed terror among residents to force them to twist their statements regarding the fake encounter.

“Who ordered the 5th ID elements to violate the rights of the two young women? Who blocked them from being brought to court, to choose their own lawyer, and speak with church people?” Karapatan-Cagayan Valley said.

The group appealed for habeas corpus for the two victims and for them to be allowed to speak with their chosen lawyer. They also insisted on holding the 5th ID officials and others involved accountable for the numerous crimes and human rights violations.