Human rights defender Honey Mae Suazo reported missing
As of 8 November 2019, human rights defender, Honey Mae Suazo has been missing for six days. She was last seen on 2 November 2019 while travelling from Panabo to Davao City.
Honey May Suazo is the former Secretary General of the Southern Mindanao Regional Chapter of the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan). Karapatan was formed in 1995 as an alliance of individuals, groups and organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. It is committed to the defence of people’s rights and civil liberties through education, training, advocacy, research and network building. Honey May Suazo has undertaken several fact-finding missions, predominantly in highly militarised communities, where, on several occasions, she has openly denounced human rights violations committed by military troops in the Southern Mindanao Region.
As of 8 November 2019, human rights defender, Honey Mae Suazo has been missing for six days. She was last seen on 2 November 2019 while travelling from Panabo to Davao City.
Honey Mae Suazo is the former Secretary General of the Southern Mindanao Regional Chapter of the Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan). Karapatan was formed in 1995 as an alliance of individuals, groups and organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. It is committed to the defence of people’s rights and civil liberties through education, training, advocacy, research and network building. Honey Mae Suazo has undertaken several fact-finding missions, predominantly in highly militarised communities, where, on several occasions, she has openly denounced human rights violations committed by military troops in the Southern Mindanao Region.
On 2 November 2019, Honey Mae Suazo was reported missing while on her way back to Davao City from Panabo where she was with her friends and partner to visit the graves of her relatives. The human rights defender had left their company and was on her way back home, when she called her partner. She asked him to pick her up near the Panabo City Hall as she noticed that she was being tailed by a white pick-up vehicle. However, when her partner reached the location, he could not find her and her calls remained unanswered.
Honey Mae Suazo has been frequently attacked for her peaceful work in defence of human rights. In April 2019, she was accused by Brigadier General Antonio Parlade Jr and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of providing money and bail funds for an arrested rebel leader, via Karapatan. The organization denied the allegations and Suazo released a statement calling for an end to the constant threats and harassment she has been subjected to by the AFP. She encouraged her fellow human rights defenders to continue their work in the fight for justice.
In 2015, Honey Mae Suazo and fifteen other human rights defenders faced trumped up charges of trafficking. These accusations were a form of retaliation for their support for the displaced indigenous people from Talaingod, Davao del Notre. The case was later dropped after the supposed complainant withdrew the charges.
Also in 2015, Honey Mae Suazo, along with staff and members of Karapatan, were attacked by unidentified men who broke into their office in Davao City.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the disappearance of Honey Mae Suazo. It urges the authorities to take all necessary steps to investigate Honey Mae Suazo’s missing persons case and ensure she returns safely to her family. Furthermore, it condemns the lack of a safe and enabling environment in the Philippines for human rights defenders to carry out their valuable work.
