Produce Missing Negros Labor Leader, Military Told

More than 50 days have passed since a labor leader disappeared. The military is being eyed as a culprit, based on a source from the inside.

BY KARL G. OMBION
Bulatlat

Bacolod City – After more than 50 days, the family and friends of a missing labor leader are still clueless as to the latter’s whereabouts. They all know, however, that the military is involved in his disappearance.

Perseus Geagoni, 42, a resident of Zone 4, Talisay City, seven kilometers north of Bacolod City, was last seen Dec. 5 at around 7:30 p.m. when he borrowed a motorcycle from his sister who lives next door. He said he needed to go to the office of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) in Bacolod City.

Fred Cana, national council member of the human rights group Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), said his group has a “reliable informant from within the military” who said Geagoni was picked up by composite elements of 303^rd Brigade, 11^th Infrantry Batallion led by Lt. Clarence Garrido, and the 87^th Military Intelligence Command (MICO) of the 3^rd Infantry Division, led by a certain Maj. Ariel Quiatchon.

Geagoni’s wife Nieva and his sister Babeth said a few days before Geagoni’s disappearance, they noticed two unidentified persons on a motorcycle following him, asking neighbors about his activities and where he goes. “Only people who are not happy with his involvement with a militant organization, and his defense of the workers’ rights could be behind his involuntary disappearance,” Nieva said.

Geagoni’s family and Karapatan both insist that the military is holding Geagoni.

Cana said that the statement of his organization’s informant is consistent with the testimony of one of Geagoni’s kin who said that a little past 8 p.m. last Dec. 5, as she was riding a jeepney along the Mandalagan highway from Barangay Bata, north section of Bacolod City, she saw Geagoni on a motorcycle being chased by two motorcycles and a gray, tinted van without a plate number. Geagoni was heading in the direction of the city proper.

Cana said the military and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) are responsible for Geagoni’s disappearance. “The pattern of political killings and harassments against progressive organizations in Negros during the past months point to the military and the paramilitary RPA-ABB as the perpetrators because of their consistent and rabid anti-Left campaigns.”

Cana said 10 organizers were already killed this year, nine from NFSW and one from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement of the Philippines).

Brig. Gen. Joggy Leo Fojas, commanding officer of the 303rd Brigade, denied allegations that the military was behind the killings. Fojas challenged Karapatan to present evidence.

In December, the family, friends and human rights organizations formed the Free Perseus Geagoni Movement (FPGM). The group vows to locate or produce the body of the missing organizer via fact finding missions, lobby work, pressure campaign and legal actions.

Governor Joseph Maranon also issued appeals to public to help in the search for the missing NFSW labor leader. Bulatlat

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.