Wait not.

It has been years and counting.

Yes. It has been two years now since the two University of the Philippines (UP) students have allegedly been held captive and tortured by soldiers from the 24th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army. It is two months now since UP-Baguio graduate and founding member of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA), James Balao has been missing with his black jacket and yellow traveling bag. It is almost a month now since the former editor-in-chief of Velez College’s student publication and vice president for Visayas of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Rachelle Mae Palang has been found dead in an encounter between the army and the New People’s Army in Dauin.

One of these days, we would not be surprised if another activist or another “suspected enemy of the state” is shot dead or held captive for violations and never to be seen again. There are no exemptions, whether you are rich or poor, famous or not. This is not to say that everyone who goes against the government or its laws is killed right away. This is to say that these extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances impose injustice in this country and oppress human rights, which, is not fair. Abductions and killings have been the trend─ one rally in the street and the next day, you’re covered with newspaper sheets, blood has came out either from your head or from your chest.

The Philippines has been to ups and downs, in economy, in peace and order and in almost all the aspects of its existence as a democratic country. Democracy has taught people to be vigilant and vocal, as well. But, is living under a democratic system of government enough to let these killings pass? Enough to let these cases of enforced disappearances represent injustice in the society? Is being vocal with an opinion about one thing or another justifiable of the death that the lawless people sentence to one?

NO.

The killings must be stopped, the abducted must be returned. Those detained with no reasonable cause must be heard and released; those who were forced to disappear must be found unharmed.

It is one’s right to express his point of view on something. He is free to do what he wants for as long as he is not stepping badly on other people’s toes. It is one’s right to go against something if he thinks it is wrong and it is his prerogative to explain the things he say or do. It is a good thing if self-expression is not a right because in one way or another, our people would not march on the streets to look for their missing loved ones and beg for justice from the highest courts. If it is not, then “they” have all the reasons to shut “them” up. But, self- expression is a right; therefore, no one is allowed to oppress someone because he said something against you and your awful doings.

Like Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan who were both UP student activists before they were kept, many other individuals are still found missing because of abductions, detentions and extrajudicial killings. Forced disappearances seem to be the most popular way of physical and emotional torture nowadays. James Balao who is an active political advocate for the ancestral domains in Cordillera was also abducted. Many are already on the list and only a few were given justice.

You have the right to be vocal but you must also remember that we only have the right to be vocal if we say what is honest and true. Hence, we should act towards giving justice to the oppressed by starting with ourselves. If you have something good and true to say, then say it and don’t be afraid. We should be vigilant about these injustices for we never know who’s next.

Wait not for another Karen or Sherlyn, wait not for another James.