In a solidarity gathering 26 days after the enforced disappearance of activists Gene Roz “Bazoo” De Jesus and Dexter Capuyan, student leaders and various organizations lobbied a demand from the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) administration to support the call to surface its alumni, May 23. 

 

Since their abduction on April 28, no statement from UPB or the UP System has been released yet. 

 

“Para lang magregister sa UPB, malaking impact po kasi kung UPB ang maglalabas ng statement,” said Patricia Daloria from the UPB Council of Leaders, an organization De Jesus headed in 2013. 

 

Incumbent University Student Council (USC) Chairperson Sofia Trinidad also mentioned how UP Visayas Chancellor Clement Camposano already expressed his support to the search yet De Jesus and Capuyan’s home campus has been staying mum about the situation. 

 

In his speech, Willie Alangui, Department of Mathematics Professor and Capuyan’s batchmate, reiterated the importance of a word from the university admin: Malaking bagay ‘yong marinig sila at kung paano sila pumosisyon. 

 

“Noong 2008, nanindigan ang UP Baguio… at ‘yon ang hinahanap natin ngayon,” Alangui added as he mentioned the 2008 disappearance of former Outcrop editor-in-chief James Balao.  

 

As of yet, no certain leads have resulted from the almost month-long search for the two. The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) reported that of all the police and military units their search teams checked, only three confirmed their non-involvement. 

 

Meanwhile, De Jesus and Capuyan’s families took to the Supreme Court letters appealing for support in search of the two activists on May 22. 

 

Other UP organizations such as the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and the Youth Act Now Against Tyranny-Metro Baguio are also set to file signed petitions to be sent to government offices. 

 

For any information on the whereabouts of Capuyan and De Jesus, call the CHRA hotline at 0918-919-9007. 

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— Rachel Ivy Reyes