Last Seen:

March 28, 1987

Metro Manila
Reynaldo Garcia y Obias, a former KADENA community worker for Pandacan and currently residing at 4886 Int. 16-B, Old Sta. Mesa, Manila, was abducted in plain view of witnesses by two carloads of armed men at 6:15 am on March 28, 1987, at the corner of N. Domingo and F. Manalo streets in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Emily Garcia, the 26-year-old, 8-month-pregnant wife of Reynaldo, said that witnesses saw her husband walking towards F. Manalo St. when two cars, a flesh-colored old model Gemini and a black Gemini with plate no. NBM-729 suddenly blocked his passage. Witnesses recounted that the said cars have been spotted parked in the vicinity as early as 5:00 am. They added that three armed men, all big-built, properly dressed, and with crew-cut hairstyles, got out of the car and arrested Garcia, forcing him to enter one of the cars. When Garcia struggled, one of the armed men hit him in the stomach. Two other armed men got out of the car, and one hit him in the nape. It was then, the witnesses said, that Garcia fainted and was brought inside one of the cars. Both cars then sped along Aurora Boulevard.

Emily Garcia said that witnesses, among them a store owner, a delivery boy, a taxi driver, and some pedestrians, heard her husband shouting for help but were afraid to intervene because the men were armed. "Akala naming may atraso kasi mukhang awtoridad yung kumuha," witnesses said.

Garcia was abducted less than half a kilometer from his house. On March 29, 1987, his family went to San Juan police headquarters and reported the incident. The police categorically denied any involvement in the matter. Garcia's family then approached the Presidential Commission on Human Rights (PCHR) for assistance. In response, the PCHR acting Chairman instructed the commanding officers of the San Juan Police Headquarters and the director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to act on the case.

details about their circumstances.