The TANGGULAN Youth Network of Civil Liberties and Human Rights condemned what it described as the “continuous harassment” experienced by Glaiza T. Dimapilis, 19, incoming student government president at the Philippine Christian University (PCU), from elements of the government’s military intelligence agency.
BY BULATLAT
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Vol. VIII, No. 14, May 11-17, 2008
The TANGGULAN Youth Network of Civil Liberties and Human Rights condemned what it described as the “continuous harassment” experienced by Glaiza T. Dimapilis, 19, incoming student government president at the Philippine Christian University (PCU), from elements of the government’s military intelligence agency.
In a May 10 press conference, Biyaya Quizon, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines chairperson and TANGGULAN convener, demanded that the military stop its “harassment” of student leaders and called on the government to stop its counter-insurgency operations in the campuses in Metro Manila and nationwide.
“The government is undoubtedly wary of the opening of classes and the harassment of student activists is part of its preparation to avert the protests and student mobilizations in the coming months that will build up toward the State of the Nation Address of Arroyo in July,” Biyaya said.
Dimapilis and her friends reported to TANGGULAN on May 9, that she had been stalked by an agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for two consecutive days starting May 7
Worried for her safety, Dimapilis’ parents moved her from their house to a relative’s house on May 9, after the same intelligence agent went to their house located in Barangay (village) Villamor near the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Villamor Airbase, and tried to convince them to “turn over” their daughter to Camp Crame.
Order of Battle
Dimapilis’ said she was present when the ISAFP agent, who identified himself as Mike Santos, told her family last May 7 that she is a known figure in PCU and is included in the ISAFP’s Order of Battle in the National Capital Region (NCR). Glaiza added that the ISAFP agent even told her parents that there is a “plan” to abduct her so she is being warned to stop her activities.
“(He) wants my parents to believe that my involvement as a student leader in PCU (means) trouble. He added that I am being used as a front of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF) and that is why I should go to Camp Crame.”
Glaiza is a member of the Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB or Christian Youth for the People) of the Jesus is Lord Church, an officer of the PCU student government since 2006 and currently its incoming president. During her past stints in the council, she had been vocal against the deployment and incursion of the military in campuses in Metro Manila and she had become the spokesperson of U WATCH!, a network of youth groups formed last year opposing urban and campus militarization.
Real threat
Her parents went to the PCU Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) on May 9 and sought the university’s help regarding the threats, while she stayed in their relative’s house. They complained that Glaiza is fearful of the “stalker” who follows her from their house to the PCU gates and knows her exact class schedules.
The OSA offered a certain Major Fernandez of the ISAFP whom the OSA said could help Glaiza’s security problems. The OSA arranged the meeting between Dimapilis’ parents and Fernandez, who went to the Dimapilis residence at Brgy. Villamor in late afternoon on May 9.
During the meeting with Fernandez, Leonisa Dimapilis, Glaiza’s mother, texted her not to go out of their relative’s house because said there were many men “posted outside.” She was referring to Fernandez’s companions who stayed outside of their house and other suspicious-looking men who were observing the surrounding areas.
Glaiza’s mother also informed her that Fernandez also confirmed that she is in the Order of Battle and that he was convincing them to accompany her to Camp Crame to “cooperate.”
Fearing for her safety, Dimapilis asked for a “rescue team” to pull her out of Brgy. Villamor.
Rescued
At around 9 p.m. that same day, Glaiza was taken out of Brgy. Villamor by her friends, colleagues in the student council, and TANGGULAN in coordination with the PCU administration and some churches. She is temporarily under the custody of a church.
In a phone conversation with the members of the “rescue team” around 10:30 that night, Glaiza’s mother said the purpose of Fernandez’ visit was not to give protection but rather to convince them to talk Glaiza into going to Camp Crame, giving information on other youth activist groups listed in the Order of Battle, and being a “tracer” for them. She further said that Fernandez told them that Glaiza is involved in “front organizations” of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
Dimapilis became emotional as she recounted her ordeal during the past few days. She urged her parents not to be threatened by the ISAFP and pleaded for support in her plan to file a petition for the writ of amparo to stop the harassment.
Quizon, also a PCU student, called on the university administration to investigate the harassment of student activists and take measures to ensure their safety on campus while upholding their right of association and freedom of expression and movement. (Bulatlat.com)
