In Memory of Trifonio Non Andres
Trifonio N. Andres is a Human Rights Violations Victim (HRVV) who was given a score of 10 points. To view the a full list of HRVVs who were given a score of 10 points list click the following link: 10 Points. To view the rest of the Roll of Victims see this link: Roll of Victims
This article is also available in Filipino. To read this version, press the following link: Trifonio Non Andres (FIL)
Trifonio Non Andres, or also known as Ponyong, was born in Koronodal City in South Cotabato.[1] At a time where militarization and suppression of basic human rights were rampant, young Trifonio had already shown compassion for the less fortunate sector of the society with his involvement in the fight for human rights. However, his struggle for defending human rights abruptly ended as he was abducted and killed by government forces.[2]
Living most of his life as a seminarian in Davao City, Trifonio expressed his support for dispossessed farmers and indigenous communities, along with underpaid workers. For Trifonio, “justice is the minimum of love,” For him, the community they were living in was not based on love anymore, but on money, power, and prestige.[3] For Trifonio, the people must achieve justice for all members of the community if they want to experience genuine love for one another.
As a dedicated youth striving to achieve equal human rights for all, Trifonio continued his life by doing volunteer work for the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) and Citizen’s Council for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Davao, even with all the dangers it may bring to his life. However, Trifonio’s promising future was cut short when he was involved in a military operation. He was falsely accused of being involved in a skirmish against the government forces.
In 1983, Trifonio was at the house of Pastor Ruben Ong-oy[4] in Libungan, North Cotabato, for the wedding of his friends Emmanuel and Agnes Sagaral. Some notable guests in this celebration were Leoncio “Jun” Evasco, Jr.[5], Rev. Reuben Genotiva[6], and Rev. Ben Barloso[7][8] As festivities began and celebrations were held, around fifty members of the Philippine Constabulary, headed by an intelligence chief along with the Philippine Army, raided the house and abducted a number of male guests. They were all hogtied with their eyes and mouths taped, before they were taken to a military camp in Libungan.[9] The military operation was conducted on the grounds of the military’s alleged investigation on a killed rebels’ diary of a supposed communist leader’s meeting that was to be held in Libungan.[10] Four guests, namely Trifonio, Celso Maghanoy, Clemente Espina, and Geracleo Paquera, were then taken to Davao City.[11]
As it was a time where enforced disappearances among those who were vocal against the government were rampant, Trifonio and his companions were among those falsely accused by the government of being involved in a military encounter.[12] Among Trifonio’s companions, one was said to be a partisan unit commander of the New People’s Army.[13] The group of four were then brought to the Metrodiscom Headquarters in Digos, Davao City, where they were executed.[14] Their bodies were later found in shallow graves near Digos City,[15] with multiple signs of brutal abuse and gunshot wounds found on the chest of Trifonio.[16] With their disappearances and deaths, the military made it look like Trifonio and his companions fought them back, hence why they were killed
Footnotes
[1] “Andres, Trifonio ‘Ponyong’ Non,” Bantayog ng mga Bayani, accessed August 02, 2023.
[4] Pastor Ruben Ong-oy was a preiest from the United Church of Christ in the Phillippines (UCCP)
[5] Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. served as Cabinet Secretary during the time of the Duterte Administration from 2016-2018. He was an ordained priest in 1970, before joining the New People’s Army (NPA) in 1974.
[6] Rev. Reuben Genotiva is part of the Roll of Victims. His story is included in a publication entitled That We May Remember, that tells stories of church members who fought against repression and became victims themselves.
[7] Rev. Ben Barloso is also part of the Roll of Victims. Like Rev. Genotiva, the story of Rev. Barloso is included in a publication entitled That We May Remember, that tells stories of church members who fought against repression and became victims themselves.
[8] Promotion of Church People’s Rights, That We May Remember (Quezon City: Promotion of Church People’s Rights, 1989), 207-208.
[9] “Me and Martial Law, Last of 4 Parts,” Asian Correspondent, September 29, 2012, Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Accessed on August 02, 2023, accessed through the archives of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission. The claimant used this website article as an attachment to their application at the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board. However, the website is now defunct.
[10] That We May Remember (1989).
[11] Claimant’s affidavit (Case No. 2014-14-14231, Quezon City, 2014).
[13] Asian Correspondent (2012).
[14] Claimant’s affidavit (2014).