Last Seen:

December 3, 1988

Pasay City
Roque Montero, an electrician, both of 577-A Ventanilla St., Pasay City. was with his relative Jose De los Reyes, a former local secretary general of Partido ng Bayan (PnB-Pasay) and ex-detainee, when they were waiting for a passenger jeepney along Libertad St. when a white car with license plate number NJZ 231 stopped in front of them.

A witness claimed that four policemen in plain clothes armed with high-powered guns came out of the car and, without identifying themselves, grabbed the two. One of the abductors shouted, "Don't run," while pointing his AR-15 rifle at Montero's head. The two were forcibly dragged inside the vehicle.

De los Reyes resisted the arrest while Montero was continuously shouting for help, but witnesses did not attempt to move because the armalite-wielding men were ready to fire their guns. The witness ran out of the incident and informed Reyes' wife, Esperanza, of what had happened. According to Ezperanza, the two were looking for a distant relative named Bernard Liwanag. Liwanag was abducted for an unknown reason while walking along Ventanilla Cor. Aurora St.. in the evening of December 2.

Reyes' family had a strong suspicion that the abductors of Liwanag were the same people responsible for the abduction of the two, based on the description of the witnesses on the respective abduction incidents.

Relatives of Reyes revealed that there are possibilities of Pasay City policemen's involvement in the case. It was also learned that Reyes was receiving threats from his arresting officer.

Families and relatives had gone to several military camps and jails in search of Reyes and Montero. But officers assigned denied having them in their custodies. 

Roque D. Montero was forcibly disappeared when he was just 30 years old. At the time of his disappearance, he was working as an electrician who had to travel to various cities and provinces as he was designated in different areas. He is remembered to be a very friendly and approachable and a very loving son to his parents. He always loved to make jokes, his way of making everyone around him laugh, particularly his family and his Friends. He always had a smile on his face which was infectious to those who saw him.

Roque was always adamant in joining protests, reasoning with his family that there was nothing wrong in protesting, and that it was actually just to demand for the rights of people and better living conditions. He loved playing basketball and was also fond of playing the guitar as he sang his favorite songs.

Every December 3, Roque’s birthday, his family lights a candle for him. His family continues to wait for him and hopes that someday, they may be able to know what has happened to him.

.