Environmental groups, human rights defenders and others condemned the Court of Appeals decision for denying the writ of amparo petition filed by activists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano. The 70th IB abducted, tortured and secluded the two last year. They escaped from military control when they bravely exposed the abduction, threats and coercion against them in a press conference by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in Plaridel, Bulacan where they were supposed to be presented as “surrendered” Red fighters.

“This decision places their lives—and the lives of thousands more—in grave danger amid ongoing attacks against environmental defenders and activists in the Philippines,” the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment said yesterday, August 12. “The decision of the Court of Appeals former 8th Special Division glaringly highlights the limitations, to the point of denying justice, inherent in existing mechanisms for redress in the country.”

The decision violates international human rights standards, and even the local Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act. They called for the Supreme Court to re-examine the decision and overturn the decision of the Court of Appeals.

“[The decision’s] claim of insufficient evidence to support the allegations of state-sponsored abduction contradicts the broader documented pattern of state attacks against environmental defenders,” the group said. “Since 2001, over half of extrajudicial killings of environmental defenders have been linked to state agents. Since 2012, the Philippines has been recognized as the most dangerous and deadly country in Asia for environmental defenders.”

“The denial of protection to Jonila and Jhed is a shameful decision by the CA Special 8th Division that shows they would rather side with the fascist NTF-ELCAC and AFP,” Cathy Estavillo, Gabriela Women’s Party consultant on women farmers and secretary general of Amihan, said. “This decision is a grave injustice that will set precedent for future cases and allow the military to get away with its terrorist acts of abduction, torture, harassment, and killings— crimes that it has continued to avoid justice for throughout Philippine history.”