By Raymund Villanueva
Kodao Productions
MANILA – The Court of Appeals (CA) has ruled that activist James Jazmines is a victim of enforced disappearance, granting the Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data in his favor.
In a decision dated October 27, 2025 the appellate court’s 12th Division found that Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. and former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil “failed to observe extraordinary diligence” in investigating Jazmines’ disappearance. The CA’s decision was only made public last January 14 this year.
The CA held Brawner and Marbil “responsible and accountable” for Jazmines’ abduction on August 24, 2023 after celebrating the birthday of his friend Felix Salaveria Jr. in Tabaco City, Albay.
Salaveria himself was also abducted five days later, August 28, in the same city.
“This is a major ruling for truth and justice. But we continue to demand that the State surface James and fellow missing activist Felix Salaveria,” the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) said in its announcement of the decision.
Along with Brawner and Marbil, the ruling also impleaded the local police chiefs of Albay province and Tabaco City at the time of the abductions.
Jazmines’ wife Elna Corazon filed the petition in November 2024 with the assistance of the NUPL.
The CA said Jazmines’ disappearance falls within the definition of the law and jurisprudence on enforced disappearance, rendering his petition for a writ of amparo “meritorious.”
It added: “State authorities are shown to possess, control or have accessed personal data and effects of James, obtained and retained under questionable circumstances, without full disclosure, lawful justification or accountability.”
The Court assailed the respondents for failing to negate threats to the rights to life, liberty, security and privacy of James (Jazmines).”
The CA on July 21, 2025 granted the petition for protective writs filed by Salaveria’s daughter.
Desaperacidos, the organization of families of enforced disappearances said the grant of protective writs for victims of enforced disappearance confirms State accountability.
“With the CA decision, it is now incumbent upon State authorities to rectify this failing. They must surface James Jazmines and conduct a thorough investigation that will lead to the truth about his disappearance and accountability for the perpetrators,” Desaperacidos chairperson and award-winning filmmaker JL Burgos said.
Burgos, brother of enforced disappearance victim Jonas, added: “Desaparecidos will persist in supporting the Jazmines family in their continuing efforts to have James surfaced safe and sound, ferret out the truth about his disappearance and mete justice on his abductors.” (Reposted by Bulatlat)
The post CA rules gov’t responsible for James Jazmines’ disappearance appeared first on Bulatlat.
From Bulatlat via This RSS Feed.