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MANILA, Philippines?American-Filipino activist Melissa Reyes arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Monday night to pursue her complaint that she was abducted and tortured by military agents in Central Luzon while on an exposure tour last month.
Roxas was met by the chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Leila de Lima, who had made security arrangements for the star witness in an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal abductions and the use of torture by Philippine military agents.
The United States embassy in Manila said Tuesday it would also closely monitor the security of Roxas, an American citizen.
?We take the safety and security of American citizens very seriously and will watch the case closely,? said US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson, refusing to comment any further.
Roxas, a member of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-USA, will face an independent CHR investigation in Quezon City Thursday. On July 30, she will be in Manila at the Court of Appeals to testify in a writ of amparo (protection) case that she filed.
Roxas was accompanied by a 10-member delegation of the United Methodist Church?s California-Nevada Conference that will conduct their own investigation of the human rights situation in the country.
A visibly emotional Roxas told reporters she was still traumatized by what happened to her.
?It?s really hard for me to come back but I really wanted to tell the truth about what happened to me,? Roxas said, wiping away tears with a handkerchief.
?I?m doing this not for myself but for all victims (of abductions and torture). I believe that in pursing this case, the abuses will stop,? she added.
Aside from De Lima, Roxas and the Methodist fact-finding group were met by National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) secretary general Fr. Rex Reyes, Karapatan secretary general Marie Hilao-Enriquez, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo ?Erin? Tañada III and Bayan Muna party-list representatives led by Satur Ocampo.
?We?re happy about her return and we praise her for her courage,? said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., who was also among those who fetched Roxas at the airport.
The Office of the Solicitor General and the Armed Forces of the Philippines has denied Roxas? charge, countering that that the abduction never took place.
