PNP ordered to probe Jazmines’ disappearance

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January 16, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the disappearance of activist James Jazmines, who has been missing since 2024.

In a 66-page ruling promulgated on Wednesday, the CA’s 12th Division granted a petition for writs of amparo and habeas data filed by Jazmines’ wife Ma. Elna Corazon, whom the court said was able to prove that her husband is a victim of enforced disappearance.

The appellate court said there is substantial evidence showing Jasminez was forcibly deprived of his liberty, as indicated by his sudden disappearance on Aug. 23, 2024.

“His continued absence and the surrounding circumstances indicated coercion rather than voluntary withdrawal,” the ruling, penned by CA  Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob, said.

Associate Justices Raymond Reynold Lauigan and Ma. Consejo Gengos-Ignalaga concurred with the ruling.

The CA said that while respondent officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the PNP denied having custody of Jazmines, they failed to investigate or account for his whereabouts.

The court said the AFP and the PNP did not look into the case despite availability of material evidence and repeated demands for transparency and investigation.

“The violation is continuing as James remains missing to date and respondents have failed to show that they exercised extraordinary diligence to prevent, investigate and remedy the disappearance. In amparo proceedings, where doubts are resolved in favor of protection and against the State, these facts sufficiently establish an enforced disappearance,” the appellate court said.

The CA declared former PNP chief and now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Nicolas Torre III as responsible and accountable for failing to prevent or investigate Jazmines’ disappearance.

Aside from Torre, the CA said that four other police officials – Bicol police director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, Albay police chief Col. Julius Añonuevo, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bicol chief Col. Ma. Ivy Castillo and Tabaco City police chief Lt. Col. Edmundo Cerillo Jr. – were responsible for the case.

Jazmines, a psychology graduate from the University of the Philippines-Diliman and former information officer of labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, was reported missing after attending the birthday of fellow activist Felix Salaveria in Tabaco City.

A few days after Jazmines’ disappearance, Salaveria was reportedly seized by unidentified men on Aug. 28, 2024, according to rights group Karapatan.

The group said the disappearance of the activists could be connected, noting there were indications that Jazmines and Salaveria were under surveillance before they went missing.

The CA said there were striking similarities in the disappearance of the activists that should have prompted authorities to investigate.

With the granting of the writs of amparo and habeas data, the CA directed the PNP-CIDG to conduct a “speedy, thorough and independent investigation” on Jazmines’ disappearance.

The court said the PNP-CIDG may seek the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation and other agencies including the Land Transportation Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs to shed light on Jazmines’ case.

The CHR was directed to conduct a parallel investigation on the matter.

The CA ordered the Tabaco City police to “immediately surrender” to Ma. Elna Corazon all personal effects and belongings of Jazmines in its possession.

The PNP officials were given 90 days from receipt of the decision to submit a written report on the actions taken in compliance with the court’s directive.