Last Seen:

March 4, 2006

Tarlac
Activist Ronaldo Intal (24) was forcibly taken by armed men at around 11am near a motorcycle terminal in Bargy. Balete, Hacienda Luisita, on 3 April 2006, allegedly by elements of the 70th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army. He was seen taken towards their headquarters in Aqua Farm of the Barangay village.  According to a report from Karapatan (Alliance for Advancement of People's Rights), when the victim's father, Gonzalo, went to the military headquarters on April 8 to inquire about his son's whereabouts, the military denied having him in their custody. Gonzalo and his wife Lourdes then sought the assistance of the Tarlac City Vice-Mayor to help them locate their son.  The vice mayor told the parents that Ronald was being held by elements of the Northern Luzon Command, Philippine Army (NOLCOM). She added that Ronald would only be released after the head of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army gave an order to allow this. "Ayaw pa siyang pakawalan ni General dahil di pa daw tapos ang appointment niya" (The General will not release him yet because his <intal's> appointment is not over).  Ronaldo is known as an active youth leader deeply involved in the struggle of the peasant workers inside the hacienda Luisita. Ronald was also a leader of the Samahan Demokratiko sa Asyenda Luisita (SAKDAL, or Association of Democratic Youth in Hacienda Luicita) and Anak Bayan (Sons and Daughters of the People) political parties. His abduction and disappearance took place after another labor leader, Tirso Cruz, Board of Director of the United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU), was killed.  It is reported that the vice mayor is set to present witnesses to Ronald's abduction to the NOLCOM to prove their claims of the involvement of the military men and to demand the victim's release without delay. However, Colonel Cesar Yano, chief of staff of the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command, has publicly announced that they have not received any report from the barangay (village) or local police officials about the incident.  The village chief of Balete was trying to interview other witnesses in connection with Ronald's disappearance. Although there are reports that the witnesses gave conflicting accounts while others refused to speak, no further investigation has been conducted to determine the victim's whereabouts. The police have yet to investigate the military men involved to answer the allegations made against them.

details about their circumstances.