Last Seen:

May 1, 1989

Manila
Two labor leaders were abducted by three suspected elements of the Western Police District near the vicinity of the Manila Hotel in Luneta Park on May 1, 1989, shortly after a violent dispersal of Labor Day rallyists by members of the WPD anti-riot squad under General Alfredo Lim and Col. Romeo Maganto.

Declared missing were Felix Cardano, secretary general of Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Malabon (AMMA), and Rodolfo Obusan, active member of AMMA. The two were last seen surrounded by three men at around 5:30pm after fleeing from a tear gas attack by the WPD anti-riot squad and dispersal team. According to reliable witnesses, the two were arrested by persons in civilian clothes and were hauled inside a van with no plate number. Thereafter, the two were taken to an unknown location.

The next day, May 2, 1989, families of the two missing victims, together with labor activists, human rights organizations, and lawyers, visited Station 5 of WPD and WPD headquarters to inquire about the whereabouts of Cardano and Obusan. But police officials at WPD denied arresting workers during the May 1 Labor Day rally. From May 3 to 5, relatives and friends have made visits to the different precincts, jails, and detention centers in Metro Manila, but to no avail. Press conferences and TV and radio guestings were made to help in the search.

The families of the missing victims received reports from police sources inside WPD that the two AMMA officers were detained at WPD Station 5. Another source told them that the two were allegedly arrested by the so-called "dirty dozen," a group of undercover cops.

As a last resort, the families of the missing victims filed a writ of habeas corpus in the Supreme Court. A case of abduction was filed against the perpetrators at the Commission of Human Rights; letters were sent to Station 5, the Manila prosecutor, and the Department of Justice; and a picket was conducted in front of the WPD HQ. and Precinct 5. Until now, Felix Cardano and Rodolfo Obusan remain disappeared.

details about their circumstances.