#STATEMENT
House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas vehemently condemns the recent guilty verdict handed down by the Taguig Regional Trial Court (RTC) against child rights advocate Sally Ujano.
The lawmakers said that this decision, based on fabricated charges of rebellion, is an outright injustice and sets a dangerous precedent for child rights advocates in the country.
“The Philippines remains a global hotspot for the online sexual exploitation of children. Yet, instead of focusing efforts on apprehending abusers and traffickers, the government is targeting advocates like Sally Ujano, who has dedicated decades to championing the rights of Filipino children,” stated Rep. Brosas.
Sally Ujano has been a cornerstone in the fight against child trafficking in the Philippines. She is the national coordinator of the Philippines Against Child trafficking since 2008 and served in the Women’s Crisis Center as mobilization officer from 2006 to 2007, as executive director from 2000 to 2006.
Adding to the climate of fear and repression, days after this unjust verdict, President Marcos Jr. addressed the press and refused to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
“This refusal signals an intent to intensify the crackdown on human rights activists, further endangering those who stand up for justice and children’s rights,” Rep. Brosas said.
“We urge the Taguig RTC to overturn this devastating decision and dismiss all baseless charges against Sally Ujano. We will continue to push for the protection of human rights and call on the government to direct its efforts towards genuine justice by targeting the real perpetrators of child exploitation, not the defenders of children’s rights,” Rep. Brosas urged.
