Karapatan-Southern Tagalog announced today, October 22, that former political prisoner Rowena Dasig who was abducted by state forces two months ago, has been found by her friends and lawyers. Dasig was forcibly disappeared after being “released” from prison on August 22.

No details have been released about Dasig’s ordeal. However, her lawyers and human rights groups reported that Dasig remains determined to continue fighting for the environment, political prisoners, and all victims of state terrorism remains strong.

According to Karapatan-Southern Tagalog, “it is only just to hold the 85th Infantry Battalion, 201st Infantry Brigade, and their accomplices in the LCDJ accountable for the illegal arrest of Ella and Owen and the enforced disappearance of the latter.” The group emphasized that the state forces should not be allowed to wash their hands off the suffering that Dasig and her family and friends endured.

It can be recalled that before Dasig was disappeared, the court in Gumaca, Quezon dismissed the case of Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunitions, and Explosives filed against Dasig and her companion Miguela Peniero. The two were arrested in Purok Banaba, Barangay Caridad Ibaba, Atimonan on July 12, 2023.

They were in the community to investigate the effects of the planned construction of a cycle gas turbine power project and liquefied natural gas terminal plant in the area. Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp, planned to build the project despite its devastating impact on Atimonan farmers and fisherfolk.

On the day of Dasig’s “release” on August 22, the BJMP Lucena City District Jail (LCDJ) claimed that her family attended to her release. In contrast, her lawyers said they received no notice of this and Dasig’s family also refuted the LCDJ’s claim, saying they had no news of her release.

“Our struggle is clearly far from over, and our call for justice and freedom continues,” the group added.