AFP, PNP told: Explain Bicol activist's disappearance

The Supreme Court (SC) has issued protective writs in favor of the family of missing Bicol-based activist James Jazmines and ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to explain the circumstances leading to his disappearance.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

The SC directed the AFP and the PNP to disclose the actions they have undertaken to determine his whereabouts.

In a revised resolution promulgated on May 6, a copy of which was released to the media only yesterday, the SC granted a petition for writs of amparo and habeas data as well as temporary protection order (TPO) filed last year by Jazmines' wife Elna Corazon.

The SC defines a writ of amparo as a "remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened by an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or of a private individual or entity."

The writ of amparo especially covers extralegal killings and enforced disappearances or threats thereof.

The writ of habeas data, meanwhile, is a remedy for any person whose right to privacy, liberty and security is violated or being threatened to be violated by any public official or private individual engaged in the gathering and storing of data or information against the aggrieved person or his family.