The eleventh of July is a special day for victims of enforced disappearance in the Philippines. It is a day of remembering the well-loved Redemptorist priest, Fr. Rudy Romano, who disappeared in Cebu City on July 11, 1985. A staunch defender of human rights during the Marcos dictatorship, Fr. Rudy became the voice of the voiceless farmers, workers and urban poor. He championed their issues in the many organizations that he headed: as executive secretary of the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace; chairperson of the Coalition Against People’s Persecution; vice chairperson for the Visayas of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Cebu Oust Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism and Democracy, among others.

A man of the cloth, Fr. Rudy profoundly imbibed, through his spiritual and pastoral life the “preferential option for the poor” of the Second Vatican Council. Imitating the Most Holy Redeemer, he spent his life for the “wretched of the earth” and never confined himself to the temple. He immersed himself with the workers in strikes to attain humane working conditions; linked arms with the little ones of God’s flock in rallies and demonstrations against the Marcos dictatorship. In a number of occasions, he braved truncheons and teargas; he was imprisoned a number of times for his courageous defense of life. He was a father to the student leaders who found refuge in his office to discuss their struggle to restore academic freedom. He inspired them with his wit, wisdom, sense of humor and compassion. Amidst his hectic activist life, he failed not to hear confessions and to religiously celebrate the Eucharist with the poor.

But this noble cause had cost him his dear life when he was made to disappear by alleged members of the Military Intelligence Group in Labangon, Cebu City on 11 July 1985, and remains missing until now. While there were relentless efforts to know the truth behind his disappearance, it remains a mystery. Like Fr. Rudy Romano, there are still others who disappeared without a trace and their families continue to suffer. In fact, on the same day, a student activist, Rolan Levi Ybanez also disappeared in Cebu City and never returned until today.

Thus, for the families of the disappeared, July 11th is also a day of courage, because nine years after the disappearance of Fr. Rudy, the Bantayog ng mga Desaparecido Flame of Courage Memorial Shrine was erected at the Redemptorist church in Baclaran. The shrine is meant to honor Fr. Rudy and all the disappeared who offered their lives at the altar of freedom. The Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearances (FIND) initiated the memorial shrine as a symbol of courage of their disappeared loved ones and also for themselves who have to endure the seemingly endless search for truth and justice.

When all else is gone, only hope is there for them to cling on. The Flame of Courage Monument embodies this aspiration of the families of the disappeared that no matter how long and circuitous the journey might be, truth and justice will prevail. A bust sculpture of a woman carrying a torch with a child holding the picture depicts the hope that one day, the families will be reunited with their disappeared loved ones.

Hope, indeed, like a taper’s light finally emits a brighter ray with the enactment of Republic Act No. 10353 or the “Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012” on 21 December 2012 and the promulgation of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on 12 February, 2013. This special law is a clear recognition of the non-derogability of the right against enforced disappearance and puts in place measures and mechanisms for the search for the truth, redress, reparation, accountability, prevention, including appropriate care for surviving victims and their families.

While the enactment of the domestic law criminalizing and penalizing the egregious act of enforced disappearance is a significant step, its full and effective implementation can make a big difference. It should also be complemented by conforming to international human rights standards through the Philippine government’s signature and ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPAPED).

We thus call on the government of President Aquino to step up its commitment to human rights by ratifying the Convention NOW and recognizing the competence of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances! We further call on concerned government agencies especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strictly implement and observe RA 10353 or the “Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act of 2012”.

We call on you who value life and the dignity of the human person to join hands with us in expanding the light of hope by preventing further cases of enforced disappearance and in resolving past cases by punishing the perpetrators. Let the courage of Fr. Rudy and other disappeared victims inspire us to break our silence and continue the work of seeking justice to end impunity.

We remember, we reckon with the past, we keep the flame of courage alive in order to attain the elusive truth and justice. This is the challenge for both the citizens, who have the civic and moral duty, and the government, which has the obligation to bring justice to Fr. Rudy and the scores of others who have fallen victims to enforced disappearance and other human rights violations.

Signed and authenticated by:

MUGIYANTO
Chairperson

MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO
Secretary-General