By Shan Kenshin Ecaldre
Bulatlat.com
Cabuyao, LAGUNA — “All we want is to see her, to make sure she is safe.”
This was the plea of Mayi Garzon in a video statement from Karapatan Southern Tagalog, mother of detained artist-activist Charlize (or Ceeka). She said that police barred them from being accompanied by a paralegal during their visit to the San Jose police station on March 31.
Ceeka, a 23-year-old student leader and cultural worker, was arrested on March 29 by elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Authorities claimed that she was involved in an armed encounter with the New People’s Army (NPA), a claim her family and rights groups denied.
Garzon said that they were only allowed to speak with her daughter under restrictive conditions. “They told us we could see her, but only if it was just me and her sibling. They did not allow a paralegal to accompany us,” she said in a statement. “I am not familiar with cases like this. Our lawyer requested that we be accompanied.”
For the family, the refusal to allow legal assistance raised serious concerns about Ceeka’s condition and the conduct of authorities. “They are limiting our access. Why are they afraid to let a paralegal in?” Garzon asked.
Allegations of abuse
When she was finally able to speak with her daughter, Garzon said that Ceeka recounted being subjected to physical harm and intimidation from the moment of her arrest.
“She was hurt by the soldiers who arrested her. They kept saying things to intimidate her,” she said. “What they called an ‘interview’ was actually an interrogation, with death threats.”
The family stressed that these acts constitute violations of her rights as a detainee, including the right against torture and the right to counsel during custodial investigation. More than three days since her arrest, Ceeka remains detained at the San Jose police station without publicly known charges, according to her family.
‘Pattern of violations’
Human rights alliance Karapatan said that Ceeka’s case reflects a familiar pattern of violations against activists, particularly in militarized rural areas.
“It has been more than 48 hours since she was held in detention without clear charges, while police and military personnel have prevented full access to her by her family and paralegals,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary-general.
“We raise the alarm on the possibility that she is being subjected to torture and other forms of cruel and inhumane treatment to force her to admit to crimes she did not commit,” she said.
The group criticized the circulation of photos allegedly showing Ceeka beside a firearm, calling it a “staged narrative” meant to portray her as an armed rebel. “They have violated her rights since day one,” Palabay said.
‘Vilification of dissent’
For youth group Kabataan Partylist, her arrest is part of what it described as the continued vilification of activists and cultural workers.
“This is a contemptible attack against artists of the people,” the group said in a statement, noting her work in amplifying grassroots issues, including the struggle for genuine agrarian reform.
Kabataan also linked the incident to intensified militarization in Mindoro, which it said has led to the displacement of indigenous communities such as the Mangyan-Buhid.
“The military acts as a private security force for projects that displace communities,” the group said.
It held the Marcos Jr. administration accountable for continuing counter-insurgency operations that, it said, target civilians and activists instead of addressing the roots of poverty.
Calls for release
Her family continues to call for her immediate release, insisting that the charges being built against her are fabricated. “As a mother, it is painful to hear what they did to my child,” Garzon said. “We are calling for justice.”
Rights groups also renewed calls for an independent investigation into her arrest and detention, as well as broader accountability for alleged abuses by state forces.
“These cases reflect the continuing pattern of human rights violations,” Karapatan said.
For her part, Garzon said, “We hope the support continues, so the truth will come out and people will see the injustice being done to us.” (AMU, DAA)
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