UPB Student Organizations Call to Surface Dexter and Bazoo after Yearlong Disappearance
By Chinee Ortega | April 27, 2024
University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) student organizations united in the protest to surface alumni and activists Dexter Capuyan and Gene Roz Jamil “Bazoo” De Jesus at the cafeteria and Iskolar ng Bayan (IB) lobby, April 26.
Almost a year after the disappearance of Capuyan and De Jesus, multiple student organizations joined the protest led by the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS).
Cathleen De Guzman, UPB University Student Council (USC) chairperson, called on the UP administration to act on the continuous search for the missing alumni.
“Kung kaya bilang isang institusyon, bilang isang institusyon na pinanggalingan nina Dexter at Bazoo, bilang mga iskolar ng bayan, mayroon tayong malaking responsibilidad na makialam at patuloy ding maghanap sa kanila,” De Guzman stated.
De Guzman encouraged the university students to participate in the search for Capuyan and De Jesus.
“Patuloy natin silang hanapin sa bawat sulok,” the chairperson stated. “Patuloy nating dalhin ang kanilang legasiya sa ating pag-aaral bilang mga iskolar ng bayan dahil walang saysay ang pagiging iskolar ng bayan kung hindi tayo makikialam tulad nina Dexter at Bazoo sa kung anong kinalalagyan at kung ano ang tunay na kondisyon ng lipunang Pilipino.”
In contrast to the case of Capuyan and De Jesus, Jobelle Mila from UPB Outcrop mentioned the recent state-enforced disappearances and their return.
“Nandyan yung pagdukot kanila Eco at Jak nitong nakaraang buwan lamang sa Pangasinan, kanila Jonila and Jhed sa Bulacan, at sila ay mga nasurface na,” Mila said. “Sa kaso nila Dexter at Bazoo, isang taon na at hindi pa rin sila nahahanap.”
The activists from Pangasinan were resurfaced three days after their captivity while it took more than two weeks for the activists from Bulacan.
Mila said it was confirmed that the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) was behind the abduction of Capuyan and De Jesus.
“At nakumpirma natin dahil sumama tayo sa fact-finding mission sa mga pag-iimbestiga na ang CIDG, mga pwersa ng estado, ang dumukot sa kanila,” Mila said.
Mila added that until now, the case of Capuyan and De Jesus continues to fight in court for the search and to hold the people and the forces behind their abduction accountable.
According to De Guzman in the protest, De Jesus served as the former chairperson of ACS and Council of Leaders. Meanwhile, Capuyan was the former editor-in-chief of UPB Outcrop from 1985 to 1986.
The two UPB alumni have been reportedly missing since April 28, 2023 and were last seen in Taytay, Rizal.
