Missing peasant leader remembered
Luis Posa, elder brother of Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado, and
Rosemarie Arado, wife of Nilo Arado, appeals for the release
of their kind during an interview with reporters
The family and friends of abducted peasant leader Nilo Arado yesterday released four maya birds as they commemorated his 40th birthday and the 271st day of his abduction.
The commemoration was led by his wife Rosemarie and the family of Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado was abducted along with Arado on April 12, 2006 in Barangay Cabanbanan in Oton town, Iloilo.
We are here despite his absence because this is the most important day in a person's life," Rosemarie told reporters before a program was held at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente church in La Paz District here.
My only wish on his birthday is that he will be returned to us safe," said Rosemarie.
The program was attended by around 100 colleagues and friends of Dominado and Arado, including farmers from hinterland towns and former political detainees.
Dominado was the spokesperson in Panay of the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at para sa Amnestiya (Selda) while Arado was the secretary general of the peasant group Pamanggas and regional chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
Lucia Capadocio, spokesperson of the Pamanggas, said they lost "a good leader" with Arado's abduction.
We continue to fight for justice by doing the work that he earnestly pursued," she said during a program.
Those who attended the commemoration later viewed a video presentation of Arado's life since he was a young boy in San Francisco town in Agusan del Sur. They also shared lunch with a birthday cake for Arado topped with rose icing.
Dominado's elder brother Luis Posa said their family has known no peace for the past 271 days that her sister has been missing.
Last month they rushed to Dumangas town in Iloilo upon hearing of reports of the recovery of the remains of an unidentified man. They went to Guimaras Island to identity an unidentified woman who was found dead.
The remains were not of the missing activists.
We rushed to identify the remains although we prayed hard that it would not be them. We still hope that they are still alive," Posa told reporters.
In a speech during program, Posa urged the military, whom the families and colleagues of the victims blame for the abduction, "to end our grief."
Our families can never be at peace until Nilo and Luisa will be surfaced," said Posa.
The military has repeatedly denied involvement in the abduction and has alleged that the abduction could be part of an internal purge within the Leftist movement.
The Iloilo Regional Trial Court has issued writ of amparo against military and police officials and ordered them to release the missing activists if they are in their custody.
The court has set the next hearing on the case on January 15.