Chira Lou Vicente appeals to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to surface her brother, New People’s Army (NPA) fighter Jerwel Domingo and his wife National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Lora Manipis who have been missing since February 24. (Mark Joy G. Basallajes/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Families of missing National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant called on the military to surface Lora Manipis and New People’s Army (NPA) member Jerwel Domingo who were last seen in Kidapawan City, February this year.
Chira Lou Vicente, sister of Jerwel Domingo, accompanied by Aunt Rachel Española sought help in finding their relatives.
They said they did not know that Domingo is a member of the New People’s Army and only learned about it after they saw a Facebook post regarding Domingo and his wife who are missing.
“He left home in 1998. He said he would look for a job in Davao City, but after that, we didn’t know where he went,” said Rachel Española in a press conference on Tuesday.
They said they didn’t have any contact with Domingo for 20 years after he left home at Lebak, Sultan Kudarat. He came from a family of farmers and is the second of four siblings.
Española said she wants to know the whereabouts of Domingo and his wife. They also understand the risk Domingo took in joining the communist movement but they are still hoping that the two are still alive.
“I beg you [military], please let him live,” said Vicente.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Far South Mindanao issued a statement on April 8, demanding the immediate surfacing of its consultant Lora Manipis and husband Jeruel Domingo who has been missing since February 24.
In their statement, the NDFP-FSMR said it holds the Duterte administration accountable for the couple’s disappearance.
Manipis and Domingo are supposed to arrange activities related to the peace process, including a consultation with farmers on the issue of open-pit mining of Sagittarius Mines in Region 12.
According to reports gathered by Karapatan SOCSKSARGEN, Manipis and Domingo went to Kidapawan City last February 23 on board a motorcycle to arrange the transportation. At around 6 pm they got off along the main street in Kidapawan in front of One Network Bank. They asked a motorcycle driver to negotiate for a public utility Toyota Hi-ace van from the Overland Terminal, to bring them to Kabacan, North Cotabato.
That was the last time the two of them were seen.
Earlier the chief of the Division of Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the 10th Infantry Division Captain Jerry Lamosao denied the accusation of the NDFP that they are responsible for the enforced disappearance of the couple. (davaotoday.com)
