UP Manila concerned over missing activists

THE University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) said it was concerned over the disappearance of two activists on May 16.

In a statement posted on the UP Twitter handle on Saturday, the university called for the release of Cedric Casaño and Patricia Nicole Cierva, who were allegedly abducted by elements of the 501st Infantry Brigade in the town of Gonzaga in Cagayan.

Cierva is an alumna of Development Studies at the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. She was also an officer of the student council.

“UPM is supporting the call for the immediate surfacing of Patricia Cierva and Cedrick Casaño,” the university wrote. “We urge all concerned agencies of the government to assist in their release and ensure their safe return to their families.”

The state university has condemned all forms of “red-tagging,” threats and other acts against their teachers, students, alumni and employees.

This is not the first time this year that people involving UP students or alumni have been declared missing or have been arrested.

On January 13, development workers Dyan Gumanao and Armand Jake Dayoha, both of UP Cebu, disappeared, but have since been reunited with their families.

In February, UP Diliman professor Dr. Melania Flores was arrested for not paying her contributions to the Social Security System. Her case was dropped a month later.

And last month, Indigenous people’s activists Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” de Jesus, both UP Baguio alumni, were abducted by men claiming to be members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“We urge all government and concerned agencies, specifically those that have already been approached by the families of Bazoo and Dexter, to exhaust all means and resources to fully address their disappearance,” UP Baguio stated on Wednesday.