Hinatulang guilty ng Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 sina dating Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo at Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Teachers) Rep. France Castro sa kasong kidnapping dahil sa umano’y trafficking ng 14 na bata mula sa Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Pareho silang hinatulan ng korte ng apat hanggang walong taong pagkakakulong.
Sa isang pahayag, kinondena nina Ocampo at Castro ang desisyon bilang hindi makatarungan at nangakong lalabanan ang desisyon sa lahat ng posibleng legal na paraan.
“The decision of the Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 2 wrongfully convicting us, the eight teachers of the Salugpungan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center and the Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao, and two from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, is unacceptable and unjust,” anila. “This wrongful conviction speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of Lumad children and the persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities.”
Nag-ugat ang kaso sa isang insidente noong 2018, kung saan sina Ocampo at Castro, kasama ang ilang guro, ay inakusahan ng pagdadala ng mga batang Lumad sa kanilang solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao Del Norte nang walang pahintulot ng magulang.
“The decision ignored the testimonies regarding the continued harassment of the Lumad schools by military and paramilitary forces and the danger that the students faced. Even the prosecution’s own witnesses testified that it was out of fear that the teachers decided to leave the community to a safer area,” pagpapatuloy nila. “The justification for the supposed presence of conspiracy has no basis. Our mere presence on the highway where we met the teachers and the children is insufficient to establish conspiracy.”
Binigyang-diin nina Ocampo at Castro na ang mga indibidwal na responsable sa sapilitang pagsasara ng mga paaralan at ang mga banta laban sa Lumad community ay hindi pa rin naiimbestigahan.
“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” iginiit nila.
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