AFTER being released from jail by virtue of an acquittal, an environmental activist has been reported missing, according to her lawyers.
Lawyer Tony La Viña and Karlos Zarate from La Viña, Zarate & Associates (LVZ) in a statement said that Rowena Dasig has not been heard of since her supposed release from detention on August 21.
This comes as the law firm took note of the Lucena District Jail’s attempt to block Dasig’s release on the same date that the activist’s legal counsel was supposed to fetch her.
“On 21 August 2024, despite complying with all the requirements, the warden of the Lucena City District Jail (LCDJ) unjustly and unlawfully refused to release Dasig to her legal team,” reads the LVZ statement a week after a Quezon court acquitted her last August 13 due to insufficiency in evidence.
Dasig and fellow activist Miguela “Ella” Peniero, were arrested on July 12, 2023 after conducting research on the effects of combined cycle turbine power project and liquefied natural terminal gas plant in Atimonan, Quezon to the farmers of the province.
“On 22 August 2024, when the legal team’s paralegals returned to the LCDJ, they were informed that she had already been released. As of writing, Owen has not been heard from and her whereabouts remain unknown,” LVZ added.
However, the LCDJ insisted that Dasig was accompanied by her relative upon her release, which was denied by her family who even claimed that they were not even aware that Owen was released from detention. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
