Last Seen:

February 13, 1988

Manila
On February 13, 1988, at around 1:00 pm, Epifanio Gucela Jr. (nicknamed Jun) was fetched by a certain Linda Piedad, a neighbor and a self-confessed informer of the ISOD-South sector command at Fort Bonifacio, in their house at Tabun 1, Las Piñas, Metro Manila. They were going to Atty. Francis Cristobal got an affidavit to be used for the birth certificate of Linda's child. So they went, but Jun never came back since then. The next morning, Jettie Lyn, wife of Jun, looked/asked for him in the neighborhood, but she had not traced the whereabouts of Jun.   According to Linda Piedad, from Jun's house, they walked to the house of Atty. Francis, Cristobal, and talked for about 5 minutes. From there, they walked along Tramo St. Upon reaching the corner of Tramo and Naga Rd., they ate (merienda) in a corner store. At around 3:00 pm, they left and boarded a tricycle going to Real St. and the main road. When they reached the corner, Jun saw and approached a friend. Together they rode a jeep going to Zapote. That was the last time she saw Jun.  Other witnesses, in the name of Loreta Pojas and Ningning (sister of Linda Piedad), were at Real St. They boarded a tricycle going to Chavez Gravel and stood along Naga Rd. When they passed at the corner of Tramo St., Loreta saw Jun and Linda having their merienda. Loreta even shouted to Jun, "Jun, anong ginagawa mo rito?" They got off Chaves Gravel and Sand and waited for Roger Tangkad, whom they had an appointment with.  They noticed a red car with no plate number maneuvering at the gate/entrance of Mapayapa subdivision going out of Naga St. Seeing the red car, Ningning commented, "Mga kasama ng Ate ko ala."   Loreta asked, "Bakit sila nandito?"   Ningning replied, "Siguro may huhulihin silang NPA."   Loreta further asked, "Bakit si Jun kasama ni Ate Linda mo?"  Ningning, "nagpapatulong si Jun kay Ate Linda."  The red car stopped in front of a closed store just about 8 to 10 meters away from Chavez Gravel and Sand. They saw the two men standing at the store, boarded the car, and sped off out of Naga Rd. 

Epifanio G. Gucela was 35 years old when he was forcibly disappeared on February 13, 1988. He was working for the Bamboo Organ Church in Las Pinas. He is a loving husband and father to his family.
While he was working hard to take care of his family, Epifanio was also leading his community to fight for their rights. As a community organizer, he was well-regarded and loved because of his leadership and his dedication to help others realize that they all deserved a better life. He led his community and joining protests and reaching out to people to let them know of the country’s social ills. He was approachable and easy to talk to. He also loved reading and writing—an activist that put prime on the role of literature in the people’s liberation.
Many people relied on Epifanio, as he readily listened to anyone who had problems to share to him. In turn, he always found a way to provide solutions.
Since his disappearance, his family continues to remember him, to make sure that his spirit stays alive that the fight that he led won’t ever fade into nothingness.
details about their circumstances.