Human rights alliance Karapatan deplores the unjust verdict by Judge Judge Jimmy Boco of Tagum City Regional Trial Court, Branch 2 of 18 members of a humanitarian mission for “child abuse”.
In a decision, Judge Boco issued the verdict against former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro and 10 others comprising Lumad teachers and members of Alliance of Concerned Teachers on malicious and trumped- up charges of other acts of child abuse. The case arose after they responded to calls for rescue from a group of Lumad children in November 2018 who had been repeatedly threatened and harassed by military and paramilitary forces who even locked them out of their schools.
Judge Boco disregarded the defendants’ assertion that they were engaged in a humanitarian act, and that it was the military and paramilitary forces who were endangering the Lumad children’s rights and welfare.
“This verdict shows that even courts of law are increasingly being weaponized against human rights defenders,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay. “We denounce this court ruling, as the double standard in our justice system remains so stark especially when the moneyed and powerful are acquitted while those who advocate for the rights of the Lumad and other vulnerable sectors of society are repeatedly violated,” she said.
“We know that this temporary setback will not deter Ka Satur, Rep. Castro and others in the human rights community from persevering in the collective struggle for truth, justice, Lumad and people’s rights,” said Palabay.
