Bro. Edgar Bentain’s, MDG(UST Chapter Batch 1986) Mysterious Disappearance “Evil thrives because good men do nothing” -Touch by an Angel An Open Letter of Appeal to All Peace Loving Filipinos

It was Saturday morning, January 16, 1999 when armed men abducted my older brother Edgar Bentain outside the Casino Filipino of former Silahis Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. It will be the 6th year of his mysterious disappearance on Sunday. My family still remains in the dark as to any clues of Edgar’s whereabouts, nor real condition. We are asking the government, what now?

Years have passed since the CIDG and NBI conducted their own inquiries and investigations– only for us to learn and find out that all of these were mere moro-moro. I remember CIDG Chief Lucas Managuelod himself revealed that Edgar is still alive making us to believe therefore that they made a crucial discovery on their investigation but were afraid to reveal what they truly know or are being made to keep silent precisely by those behind the abduction as well to the whereabouts of my brother?

As I see it, my brother Edgar’s case is considered one of the most publicized cases in the country. It was an eye opener to every Juan Dela Cruz to question the safety of the lives of every Filipino which consequently provoked national interests regarding the true state of the nation under the presidency of Mr. Joseph Estrada. Perhaps it was one of the reasons that led to his ouster from the highest position in the land a few days following pro-impeachment senators walked of the Senate Hearing out in protest in January 16, 2001—exactly 2 years after Edgar Bentain’s abduction! A mere coincidence, wasn\’t it?

I recall it was also in the year 2001 alone when 3 NBI groups were tasked one after another by the Bureau Chief to follow up/investigate Edgar’s case. Up to this very moment, there is no single report made or was submitted to us when we requested for a full report. Such then no more re-investigation was organized by any of our police and government agency.

We find it too outrageous and hard to believe how our current administration’s enormous influence and power which includes full media coverage has not yield any result. Much more try to help ease up our suffering, by joining our quest to unveil the truth and put behind bars all those behind Edgar’s mysterious disappearance. We regret to say nevertheless, that our hearts can no longer put our hopes with the police or any other government investigating institution. Only a creation of an autonomous body like a taskforce to investigate Edgar mysterious disappearance could help solve my brother’s case. Otherwise, any efforts made by our government to project a good image for such actions are again political in nature.

We have stated our fears 6 years ago; there was already a stench of an obvious cover-up with the way our government agencies handled the investigations. Up to now, our family has all the reasons to believe and suspect that there is still a startling stench, not to cover-up but instead, forget totally Edgar’s case. More so, we strongly believe that most of those people who took part of the gruesome crime against my brother are still roaming free to go anywhere, still visibly active in PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino branches and inside the Philippine political arena. It is very apparent, that there are very important personalities involved in this case. Our country’s leaders in the government obvious display of apathy only proves that these people are indeed are real untouchables and above the law.

In spite of these, my family is asking the same questions again and again: Will there ever be a principled leader in our government? One who has the political will to attend seriously to the appeal of ordinary Filipino families’ sorry quests to give justice to all victims of involuntary disappearances i.e. the Edgar Bentain’s case? Are there leaders with such concerns? One who could seriously resolve such quests for justice and firmly impose security and safety to all Filipinos? If none, what help we could really expect from our government and its leaders?

In lieu of the circumstances, the Bentain family therefore appeals again to every peace loving Filipinos to please join our prayers in our desperate hopes and to find and recover Edgar, and that all those behind the January 16, 1999 abduction of Edgar be brought to justice once and for all. Let us also pray for our government leaders and its agencies concerned that Filipinos want assurances that these people or their kind shall not have chance to repeat such hideous act against their fellow man ever again.

JUSTICE FOR BRO. EDGAR BENTAIN!
JUSTICE FOR ALL DESAPARASIDOS!

by Edzel Bentain (UP Chapter)