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KARAPATAN-Southern Mindanao expresses deep concern on the disappearance of its former secretary-general, Honey May Suazo, who was last seen on Nov. 2, 2019. It appears that the incident is linked to the intensifying crackdown on activists and Suazo’s experiences of harassment and red-tagging by State forces.

Honey May has been with Karapatan for five years. In that period, she was subjected to multiple threats and malicious accusations peddled by the military. Although she has left Karapatan, it seems that she still remains a target. If her experiences of continuous harassment are indicative of anything, it is that Honey May is still facing reprisal for her work as a human rights defender.

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As of this writing, Suazo remains missing. Karapatan renews its call to surface Honey May Suazo and raises the fears of military involvement in her abduction.

Suazo’s disappearance comes at the backdrop of an intensifying crackdown against activists and legitimate people’s organizations. With martial law in Mindanao, the repressive machinations led by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and implementation of counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapanatagan, attacks against activists like Honey May have become more commonplace, justified by false allegations and smear campaigns.

Suazo was Karapatan-Southern Mindanao’s secretary-general from 2011 to 2016. During this time, she was subjected to numerous threats. Recently, no less than the Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade, maliciously accused Suazo of being associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army. The general’s basis was solely on how Suazo assisted the family of NPA leader Zaldy Cañete to visit the latter who was hospitalized after suffering near-fatal injuries after an encounter.

As a matter of fact, Honey May Suazo’s photograph and name were viciously appended in the posters hanged in the cities of Butuan and Surigao, April this year, accusing her as a terrorist.

Suazo was performing a mandate of a human rights advocacy institution to assist wounded combatants who are accorded protection and right to visitation of families as mandated under the International Humanitarian Law of which the Philippine government is a signatory. Regardless of what the military is trying to insinuate, assisting families of combatants, including hors de combat, is not illegal or condemnable. They can double-check with the IHL provisions or go to the database and briefers provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross if they need a refresher.

After hearing of Suazo’s disappearance, an initial investigation team composed of Karapatan’s paralegal team was dispatched. The following are the team’s initial findings:

In the morning of Nov. 2, Suazo visited her relatives’ grave during the All Souls’ Day together with her partner, Anelo Pabuaya.

Following their visit to the cemetery in Panabo, Suazo and her partner were at a friend’s house in Barangay New Site Gredu. At around 3 in the afternoon, Suazo decided to go ahead of her partner to return to Davao City.

A few minutes later, Suazo called her partner saying she realized she had no ample money for the bus ride, and asked Pabuaya to fetch her along Panabo City Hall.

After a while, Suazo called Pabuaya again, saying she was tailed by a white pick-up truck. She asked Pabuaya to immediately come and fetch her. Pabuaya advised her to go to the nearest police station. When Pabuaya went to the station, he did not find Suazo. He tried to contact her mobile phone numbers but all were out of reach.

Given her background and the widespread targeting of activists, we hold the AFP accountable for Honey May’s disappearance. We demand the immediate surfacing of Honey May Suazo and to end all attacks of human rights defenders. – Jay Apiag, secretary-general, Karapatan-Southern Mindanao

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