The Aktionsbündnis Menschenrechte – Philippinen (AMP) is deeply concerned about the enforced disappearance and death of Elena Tijamo, a dedicated human rights defender and community coordinator. Before she resurfaced in a hospital in Manila on August 30, 2021, Elena had been a victim of enforced disappearance for over 13 months. On June 13, 2020, four unidentified armed men and two women had kidnapped her from her home in Sitio Avocado, Barangay Kampingganon, Bantayan Island, Cebu (Visayas). Since then, her whereabouts were unknown.
On August 30, 2021, one of her family members based in Manila – far away from where she was originally abducted – received a call from an unknown person saying that Elena had received surgery and had died in a hospital. It took her family two more days to get access to her body, which had already been brought to a funeral home under a false name.
In a statement, the AMP strongly condemns the enforced disappearance and the death of Elena Tijamo and calls upon the Government of the Philippines to immediately and impartially investigate her enforced disappearance and death and prosecute the perpetrators and all parties involved in the crime, among others.
Download (PDF): AMP-Statement on the disappearance and death of Elena Tijamo 2021
