(National Security Council FB screengrab)
MANILA, (PIA) — The National Security Council (NSC) on Friday refuted allegations of abduction and provided a different perspective surrounding the alleged disappearance of students Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro.
NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan E. Malaya, during a press briefing held at the National Press Club in Manila, revealed that the missing students had voluntarily sought refuge in a safehouse due to concerns for their safety after leaving the left-leaning movement.
Contrary to reports of abduction, Malaya said, "They left the movement. Hindi totoo na abducted itong dalawa (It’s not true that the two were abducted). They left the movement on their (own) free will."
According to the NSC official, Tamano and Castro decided to distance themselves from the leftist movement and voluntarily approached the authorities.
Malaya also clarified their affiliations, saying, "They are not environmentalists, they were organizers ng kaliwa (leftist group),” referring to their involvement in local communist front organizations such as Kabataan and Karapatan.
The NSC Assistant Director-General further emphasized that the students' decision to come forward was a conscious one.
He disclosed that the two had been planning to leave the movement since September 1, 2023, as detailed in their sworn statements, which have been forwarded to the Department of Justice for the preparation of charges against individuals and groups that exploited their situation.
These sworn statements were not obtained in the presence of soldiers or police but were taken with the participation of lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office and representatives from the Commission on Human Rights.
Malaya also raised concerns about fundraising efforts through G-Cash or Pay Maya, purportedly aimed at finding the missing students. He described this as a scam and called upon the communist front organizations responsible for these efforts to return the collected funds or allocate them to Tamano, Castro, or their families who have suffered due to false narratives.
The NSC assured that the Department of Justice would file cases against these groups and individuals involved in misleading the public.
For his part, P/Capt. Carlito l Buco Jr., chief public information officer of the Bataan Provincial Police Office, expressed concerns about the recruitment of young students by the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and National Democratic Front.
He called on students to be cautious and consider their loved ones' welfare.
While Tamano and Castro are now safe and sound, Buco said their sworn statements will provide insight into their experiences within the Communist movement, shedding light on the reasons behind their concerns for security. (PIA-NCR)
