The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) is deeply concerned over the disappearance of Patricia Cierva and Cedrick Casaño, who were reportedly taken by alleged elements of the 501st Infantry Brigade at Brgy. Cabiraoan in the Municipality of Gonzaga, Province of Cagayan.
Patricia Cierva is an alumna of the Development Studies program of the UPM College of Arts and Sciences, and is a former officer of the UP Manila University Student Council. She was also the Secretary-General of the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP.
UPM, therefore, is strongly supporting the call for the immediate surfacing of Patricia Cierva and Cedrick Casaño. We urge all concerned agencies of the government to assist in their release and ensure their safe return to their families.
We urge all government agencies to adhere to the basic tenets of democracy. We believe that our democracy, won through decades of activitism and patriotism, can only be practiced to the fullest when the basic human rights of every Filipino is respected and protected, and these rights include individual safety, dignity, and freedom of speech.
We strongly urge all former and current teachers, students, officials, employees, and friends of UPM to speak out and join the call for the surfacing of not just Cierva and Casaño, but of all those who were wrongly taken and arrested. In equal fervor, UPM condemns the continued red-tagging, threats, and other acts against UP teachers, students, alumni, and employees, as evidenced by the recent abduction of UP Cebu faculty Dyan Gumanao and Armand Dayoha, the illegal arrest of former All UP Academic Employees Union National President Prof. Melania Flores, and the enforced disappearance of UP Baguio alumni Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz de Jesus.
