Another Victim of Enforced Disappearance

Press Release
October 30, 2008
FOR URGENT RELEASE


Another Victim of Enforced Disappearance Abducted by Alleged CIDG Agents


A technical consultant for the farmers’ organization Life and Food for Leyte Evacuees (LFLE) Norberto Murillo was forcibly abducted this morning outside the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) building by three men who identified themselves as operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Murillo was abducted after having a meeting at the DAR to follow up on the papers regarding LFLE’s land claim for alienable and disposal land in Leyte. According to Murillo’s companion, LFLE Chairperson Paulo Dellosa the three men showed Murillo a warrant of arrest and introduced themselves as CIDG operatives after which they forcibly dragged Murillo to a waiting FX vehicle.

Dellosa immediately reported the case to human rights group Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP). As of the time of writing the identity of Murillo’s abductors and the detention area to which he was brought to remains unknown.

Murillo joins the long list of victims of enforced disappearance documented under Gloria Arroyo’s government. He was an active member of the progressive movement during the 80’s and early 90’s but has since left the mainstream to work with farmers organizations as a technical consultant helping them with their land issues.

LFLE which Murillo is currently working with represents farmers who were displaced from their farmlands in Leyte during the late 80’s due to the effect of former President Corazon Aquino’s “Total War Policy”; after being displaced from Leyte these farmers sought temporary refuge at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines under then University President Nemesio Prudente. #