Last Seen:

August 18, 2004

Sampaloc

Joseph Gonzales and 2 other members of the left-wing political party BAYAN MUNA and BAYAN were reported abducted by ten unidentified armed men believed to be members of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

According to reports, on August 18, 2004, as the men drove through Sampaloc at around 5pm, their car was blocked by a waiting vehicle. Around ten unidentified men alighted from their car and surrounded the victims' car, then fired a warning shot and forced Joseph Gonzales to transfer to the other vehicle, and both vehicles were then driven off in a convoy of several cars.

A local district official took the license number of the assailant's vehicle and recorded the incident in a logbook. Bystanders were reportedly informed that the incident was related to an operation against suspected bank robbers.

Human rights activists and lawyers made an inquiry at a local police station but found no records of the arrested persons. However, a police officer, while denying knowledge of an arrest, reportedly confirmed that an 'operation' was underway in the area. The officer gave the name of an ISAFP staff sergeant reportedly involved in the operation, but continuing inquiries of the whereabouts of the three men have been unsuccessful. 

details about their circumstances.