Unlike Sherly and Dee, JL admitted that somehow, the family hoped that Aquino would take action on cases of enforced disappearances during his first 100 days. But they have been disappointed.
Romy, brother of the Leopoldo Ancheta, one of the missing consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), wanted to tell Aquino what it is like to have a loved one missing.
(Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)
“It is very difficult that you don’t have a clue on the situation of a missing loved one. It has psychological effects because you don’t have know if he is still alive or not. We still hope that one day, he will come back to us alive,” Romy said.
“We also feel the disappearance of Noynoy [Aquino] because he is always missing every time there is a major issue,” Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said. “He’s been in Malacanang for two months and still, there is no justice.”
Reyes said Aquino did not do anything concrete to address human rights violations and instead extended the Oplan Bantay Laya . He also has not Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable for the human rights violations committed during her admnistration.
Insulting
Reyes also lashed out at the appointment of Loretta Ann “Etta” Rosales, former representative of Akbayan as chairwoman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
“It is insulting for the families of victims and survivors that Etta has been placed at the CHR. She is politically biased and cannot be relied on by the victims,” Reyes said in his speech.
Visual artist JL Burgos, brother of Jonas, criticized the extension of Oplan Bantay Laya under the new Aquino administration. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)
Award-winning poet Joi Barrios-Leblanc also criticized Rosales’s appointment. “This only proves that the relatives and victims of human rights violations cannot expect anything from Aquino. Where will these victims and their families go to for help?” Leblanc said.
Continuing Struggle
JL said until all those who disappeared are surfaced or located and the perpetrators are punished, the families of the disappeared and other human rights organizations would be in the streets to call for the government to take action on the issue.
Sherly said she still feels anger. “There are many of us now. We are the kind of organization that does not want to expand,” she said. (Bulatlat.com)
In my opinion, you should absolutely look into the corruption processes now going on at Boracay in favor of a certain clan of Iloilo origin. Though it had begun before the election, the business policy of destroying neighboring resorts by making excessive noises has been enforced near Station 2 area, by the help of the tourist police (who dont intervene) and the newly-elected mayor of Malay municipality (who ignores the noise regulation law). I am a mere visiting observer but a long-time observer of the evolution of the island since 1975, and feel very sad about this lost paradise.
Atenistas, like Noynoy, are from the Philippine elite. Are Atenistas, coddled as they are, even have the consciousness to feel the pain of the families of the disappeared. Noynoy is honest, but the "militarists" and the "gimmickers" are obviously toying with him, like they would do with other naive "Atenistas" or La Sallistas or "Maroons" and any other rich alumnae, na, num, driven to school as kids and fed by their "yayas." Noynoy is a good man. I really think he is, but I think he is afraid of the "militarists" in the Philippines.