June 26, 2006 turned out to be an eventful day for Gloria Soco.

While on her way to see her ailing father, the van that she was in was forced to a stop by five other vehicles carrying armed men somewhere in Camarines Norte. She and her four companions were then handcuffed, blindfolded and made to ride in separate vehicles.

“My mother is an ordinary citizen. She does not belong to any mass organization nor has she violated any law or caused trouble to anybody to deserve such a cruel fate,” says Eugenio Soco, the son, who has now taken it upon himself to continue the search for his mother.