Last Seen:

March 9, 2010

Zambales
On March 9, 2010, at 8:30 pm, four unidentified men armed with pistols entered the house of the Landingin family in Sitio Matalvis, Barangay Inhobol, Masinloc, while the entire community was in darkness due to an electricity blackout. The perpetrators forcibly took the victims, Nimrod "Ronron" Y' Tañada Landingin, Jinky Garcia, and Daryl Fortuna, to a waiting car.  Three days later, on March 12, the victim's whereabouts became known among villagers in Barangay Inhobol and Barangay Banban, Masinloc. Persons fitting their description had been seen in the custody of the 24th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army (PA) with their hands cuffed during a military operation in the area. It appeared that the three victims were being used as guides by the soldiers. They were easily recognizable as well-known community organizers in the area.  One of the Witnesses was able to speak with one of the soldiers on foot patrol to confirm that the three persons were with them. The army personnel were clearly identifiable, in full uniform with the nameplate "ARMY" visible.  On March 15, 2010, the parents of Ronron were able to speak to him via his mobile phone, and he told them that he believed that the soldiers had taken him to Pangasinan, another province. They were helped at this point by the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR-III), which has withheld further details of the conversation until their investigation is complete.  The victim's relatives were assisted by their colleagues in their organization, DEFEND Zambales and Kilusan Para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (Movement for National Democracy), in filling the complaint with the CHR. While Daryl's father was contacted/assisted by FIND on the case.  Meanwhile, the relatives of Jinky and Daryl Fortuna have been unable to locate the men by going to the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Battalion under the Philippine Army or to visit the Philippine National Police (PNP). They are also pursuing legal action against the soldiers to help secure the victims' release.  Despite having been positively identified by witnesses and villagers alike as directly involved in the victim's disappearance, Col. Wilfredo Patarata, commander of the 24th IB PA, has denied having them in custody. He has nevertheless committed himself to cooperating with the investigation. Since April 17, the victim's organization has been seeking a writ of Amparo.  This is a judicial remedy for a person whose life and security are threatened. The attempts were to lodge this on behalf of the three victims after two witnesses had initially expressed their willingness to testify. Yet, since the witnesses have expressed concern for their safety and have been reluctant to cooperate.  In March 2010 Ronron's parents said that they withdrew from their pursuit of the case due to feelings of insecurity; they have gone into hiding with their families.  Background of the victims:  At the time of the incident, the three were active in organizing communities, particularly in the northern part of Zambales Province.   The main issue was adverse effects of the mining on the environment and health of the local people. They had been deeply involved in collecting data and information about the effects of mining. They also tried to increase awareness among villagers by organizing communities to collectively oppose it.  When the three were abducted, the DEFEND Zambales, the organization to which the victims were attached, was at the height of its anti-mining campaign. It had begun in February 2010.   The organization had members from different sections and groups, from the church and academia, and had been involved in three major campaigns: against mining, militarization, and the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. 

Daryl Miguel Fortuna was 21 years old when he was forcibly disappeared by the state. He was then a university student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) taking up history. The eldest child among three siblings, he is remembered by his family as being kind and quiet. He was a voracious reader and would read every kind of book he would get his hands on. He loved visiting public libraries. He also loved watching television and playing computer games as he preferred to keep to himself but he also never forgot to show his love for his parents and siblings in his own ways. At the time of his disappearance, he was a member of the Legion of Mary at the Immaculate Concepcion Church of Cubao.

Daryl’s family keeps the lights on for him every day, but most especially on his birthday and every new year when the family gathers together to remember him. His family never forgets to pray for him, as they keep hoping until today, more than a decade since his disappearance, that he will still come home safe and sound.

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