Last Seen:

July 12, 1997

Zambales
Gaudencio Devaras, a community organizer in Zambales, has been missing after he was abducted by members of the 68th IB Philippine Army soldiers in Purok Dabu, Mapalad, Zambales, on July 12, 1997.  Gaudencio Devaras was resting at a friend's house when army soldiers of the 68th IBPA suddenly surrounded the house and forcibly dragged Gaudencio out of the house, witnesses claimed. He was forced to lie on the ground with both his wrists tied on his back. In full view of his friend and other residents in the area, the soldiers beat him up, hit his stomach with a rifle butt, and burned his tongue with a lit cigarette.   The soldiers were trying to force Gaudencio to admit that he was a member of the NPA rebels. Later, the soldiers took him away through a helicopter.   A local human rights group made inquiries at several police and military camps in the area to locate Gaudencio, but officials denied having any knowledge of Gaudencio's arrest or whereabouts. An army officer of the 68th IBPA claimed that no military operation had been conducted on July 12, 1997, in the area. Three days later, a news report came in the Philippine Star newspaper claiming that Central Luzon Police have Gaudencio in their custody, but after a human rights group visited the camp, police officials continued denying Gaudencio.   Gaudencio Devaras remains disappeared as of this date.

details about their circumstances.