Last Seen:

July 23, 1998

Albay
In the morning of July 23, 1988, Renato Mataba went to Barangay Mabini to visit his friend. On the way, he met a group of military men conducting a military operation. A person who was acting as a guide of the military pointed him out, alleging that he was involved in some activities of the NPAs during the past month somewhere in the 3rd District to the Daraga INO Station for Investigation.  On August 7, 1988, Mrs. Medalla Mataba, mother of the victim, went to Daraga INO Station and to Camp Bagong Ibalon in Legaspi City to avail his son. But the military denied having Renato Mataba in their custody.

On August 8, 1988, Atty. Ruperto Listana and the mother of the victim filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Legaspi City for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus against the Station Commander of DARAGA INO, the Provincial Commander of the Albay PC-INP Command, and the Commanding Officer of the 8th Coy, Scout Rangers, based in Paulog, Ligao, Albay.

On August 22, 1988, Judge Wenceslao Villanueva Jr. dismissed the Petition for the Issuance of the Writ of Habeas Corpus for lack of evidence and the witnesses and for the testimonies of military personnel that no person was arrested by the military in Mabini on July 23, 1988, or in another place in Albay named Renato Mataba.

The whereabouts of Renato Mataba are still unknown up to this time.

details about their circumstances.