Today, August 24, human rights defenders, led by Karapatan-Southern Tagalog and Free Owen & Ella Network launched a humanitarian mission to find and ascertain the condition of Rowena Dasig (Owen), environment defender and former Anakbayan-Southern Tagalog general secretary, who has gone missing. Dasig is a political prisoner reportedly “released” on August 22 after the charges against her were dismissed.

The mission delegates went to the BJMP Lucena City District Jail (LCDJ) to gather information and find out Dasig’s true condition. “Despite the efforts of the humanitarian team, LCDJ personnel did not face the paralegals because they did not open their office today to avoid cooperating,” Karapatan-Southern Tagalog said.

The group said Dasig’s paralegals only found out about her release from jail more than 48 hours later. The mission and Dasig’s relatives are concerned because the circumstances of Dasig’s “release” from prison are questionable.

La Viña, Zarate & Associates, standing attorney for the victims, stated that despite having completed the papers for Dasig’s release on August 21, the jail warden unjustly and illegally prevented her to walk free that day. “On August 22, when the paralegals returned to the LCDJ they were told that Dasig has already been released,” the lawyers said.

A court in Gumaca, Quezon on August 13 dismissed the case of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives against Dasig and her companion Miguela Peniero who was arrested on July 12, 2023. They were arrested in Purok Banaba, Barangay Caridad Ibaba in Atimonan town.

They were then in the community to investigate the impact of the planned cycle gas turbine power project and liquefied natural gas terminal plant. The project to be built by Atimonan One Energy, Inc. (A1E), a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp, is feared to have a severe impact on copra (dessicated coconut) farmers and fishermen in Atimonan.

The LCDJ said Dasig was freed with the support of her relatives. “Legal counsels, including her paralegal team, who spent the whole day attending to and waiting for [Dasig’s] release that day, were not even notified,” Karapatan-Southern Tagalog said.

Dasig’s family also refuted the LCDJ’s claims and said they received no news regarding her release. “Instead of celebrating Dasig’s release, her relatives and friends are very worried and disappointed that she has still not been found due to the continued sabotage of the LCDJ and its refusal to properly coordinate,” the group said.

Peniero remains in detention because of other charges filed against her by state forces in various courts.