Cavite Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (CEMJP)

While the whole Christian world recalls the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ in

Mount
Calvary where he was crucified, political repression continues when a sixty-year old urban poor leader was abducted by four armed men while sleeping in a shelter at Megahouse, Sta.Cruz 1, DBB-E, Dasmariñas. 

Lourdes Rubrico, popularly known as Nanay Ude one of the pioneers of Ugnayan ng mga Maralita sa Gawa at Adhika (UMAGA) Federation, was known for her four-decade long struggle with the urban poor sector in Dasmariñas in fighting for their rights for a decent housing for they were one of the relocatees in Bagong Bayan in 1970’s from different parts of Metro Manila. 

Witness accounts say that Nanay Ude was sleeping when they saw a light brown colored van entered the abandoned industrial site, set by the National Housing Authority (NHA) to be as temporary relocation, in Sta. Cruz 1 at three o’ clock in the afternoon. They never suspected that the four fairly-looking men who alighted the vehicle would abduct the sleeping urban poor leader in a dwelling. The men woke and forcibly took the victim inside the van. Although the witnesses tried to get into Mrs. Rubrico, one of the abductors pointed his short firearm to them and carried out the abduction. Bystanders acquired the plate number of the vehicle that hurriedly went off in the community. 

Nanay Ude’s companions said that the former has no personal enemy but her deep commitment with the cause of the urban poor groups may have induced abhorrence to the organizers of Barangay Alternative Community Leaders (BACAL) group of organizations under the office of the provincial governor being the one under UMAGA Federation who rejects the idea of BACAL to relocate individuals under them in Megahouse, Sta. Cruz 1. BACAL is said to collect a certain amount from people from the time of their relocation in the said community while UMAGA Federation who handles the case and recognized by the NHA fights to award the temporary relocation site to the people. 

Relatives, friends, and companions of Nanay Ude strongly condemn the abduction and now are tirelessly searching in camps, hospitals, and other possible locations.