Castro, Ocampo to appeal RTC ruling before CA | ABS-CBN
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Castro, Ocampo to appeal RTC ruling before CA
Castro, Ocampo to appeal RTC ruling before CA
Ka Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 15, 2024, following a guilty verdict by the Tagum City Regional Trial Court against the Talaingod 18 for 'child abuse'. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
Ka Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 15, 2024, following a guilty verdict by the Tagum City Regional Trial Court against the Talaingod 18 for 'child abuse'. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo plan to elevate to the Court of Appeals the decision of a Tagum City, Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court convicting them and eleven others for violating the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
MANILA -- ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo plan to elevate to the Court of Appeals the decision of a Tagum City, Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court convicting them and eleven others for violating the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
They have been sentenced to imprisonment of four to six years and were ordered to pay jointly and severally a total of 20,000 pesos in moral and civil damages to each of the 14 minors involved.
They have been sentenced to imprisonment of four to six years and were ordered to pay jointly and severally a total of 20,000 pesos in moral and civil damages to each of the 14 minors involved.
In his decision, Acting Presiding Judge Jimmy Boco said the prosecution established proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor Lumad learners when they transported them on foot from their school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last November 2018 for around three hours on a remote, dark, and unsecured road, without the assistance of law enforcers, any government agency and written permission from the minors' parents.
In his decision, Acting Presiding Judge Jimmy Boco said the prosecution established proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor Lumad learners when they transported them on foot from their school in Talaingod, Davao del Norte last November 2018 for around three hours on a remote, dark, and unsecured road, without the assistance of law enforcers, any government agency and written permission from the minors' parents.
He said this exposed the children to the risk of getting shot by either government troops or the New People's Army, getting bitten by snakes, or falling off a cliff.
He said this exposed the children to the risk of getting shot by either government troops or the New People's Army, getting bitten by snakes, or falling off a cliff.
But Castro maintained it was a rescue mission, prompted by a call they received from teachers who were then allegedly being harassed by a paramilitary group.
But Castro maintained it was a rescue mission, prompted by a call they received from teachers who were then allegedly being harassed by a paramilitary group.
Ocampo noted their bail bonds remain applicable for the period of the appeal.
Ocampo noted their bail bonds remain applicable for the period of the appeal.
"Kung mabalitaan ninyo na aarestuhin kami, wala silang basis. There is no warrant of arrest issued. Malaya kami. At ang kalayaang ito ang gagmitin namin sa paglaban sa kasong ito at sa paglaban sa karapatan ng mga katutubo," he said in a press conference on Tuesday.
"Kung mabalitaan ninyo na aarestuhin kami, wala silang basis. There is no warrant of arrest issued. Malaya kami. At ang kalayaang ito ang gagmitin namin sa paglaban sa kasong ito at sa paglaban sa karapatan ng mga katutubo," he said in a press conference on Tuesday.
"Ginamit ko 'yung aking kapangyarihan para matulungan sa bingit ng dangerous na pangyayari 'yung ating mga teacher and students. Ang ating panawagan sa korte, mag-aappeal kami na mabaligtad itong sitwasyon na ito at tingnan ang mga pangyayari before itong mga nangyaring pagsasara ng eskwelahan na nagbunsod sa paglisan ng mga teachers and students," Castro added.
"Ginamit ko 'yung aking kapangyarihan para matulungan sa bingit ng dangerous na pangyayari 'yung ating mga teacher and students. Ang ating panawagan sa korte, mag-aappeal kami na mabaligtad itong sitwasyon na ito at tingnan ang mga pangyayari before itong mga nangyaring pagsasara ng eskwelahan na nagbunsod sa paglisan ng mga teachers and students," Castro added.
A Lumad student also defended them.
A Lumad student also defended them.
Hina-harass ng Alamara, ng AFP, ang mga kasama naming estudyante. Ginagawa nilang dahilan, wala raw permit to operate ang schools namin. Tinuturuan daw kaming maging NPA. Training ground daw ang mga eskwelahan namin. Accredited ang mga eskwelahan namin. May permit to operate mula sa DepEd," Kat Dalon, student of a Lumad school in North Cotabato said.
Hina-harass ng Alamara, ng AFP, ang mga kasama naming estudyante. Ginagawa nilang dahilan, wala raw permit to operate ang schools namin. Tinuturuan daw kaming maging NPA. Training ground daw ang mga eskwelahan namin. Accredited ang mga eskwelahan namin. May permit to operate mula sa DepEd," Kat Dalon, student of a Lumad school in North Cotabato said.
"Hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang dinaranas namin sa mga komunidad. Hindi kayo nakakaranas ng harassment araw-araw," she added.
"Hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang dinaranas namin sa mga komunidad. Hindi kayo nakakaranas ng harassment araw-araw," she added.
For Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel and Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares, the case will be a test to the Marcos Jr. administration.
For Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel and Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares, the case will be a test to the Marcos Jr. administration.
"Test ito sa Marcos Jr. administration, kung ano ang magiging kahihinatnan ng kasong ito. Nagpo-postura si Marcos Jr. na siya raw ay mas bukas na makinig at gusto manaig ang hustisya sa bansa. Pero kung ganito ang nangyayari, nananaig pa rin ang gawa-gawang kaso laban sa mga progresibo, makabayang leader, doon natin malalaman kung totoong hypocritical ang administrasyong ito," Manuel said.
"Test ito sa Marcos Jr. administration, kung ano ang magiging kahihinatnan ng kasong ito. Nagpo-postura si Marcos Jr. na siya raw ay mas bukas na makinig at gusto manaig ang hustisya sa bansa. Pero kung ganito ang nangyayari, nananaig pa rin ang gawa-gawang kaso laban sa mga progresibo, makabayang leader, doon natin malalaman kung totoong hypocritical ang administrasyong ito," Manuel said.
"Itong decision na ito ay weaponization ng batas laban sa mga aktibista, dissenters, oposisyon," Colmenares added. "Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na panahon ni Duterte 'yan. Sa'yo ang piskal eh. Kung gawa-gawa… ang kaso, madali lang sa prosekusyon na umataras dito eh,"
"Itong decision na ito ay weaponization ng batas laban sa mga aktibista, dissenters, oposisyon," Colmenares added. "Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na panahon ni Duterte 'yan. Sa'yo ang piskal eh. Kung gawa-gawa… ang kaso, madali lang sa prosekusyon na umataras dito eh,"
He is optimistic that Castro, Ocampo and 11 others have a good chance of getting the RTC decision reversed.
He is optimistic that Castro, Ocampo and 11 others have a good chance of getting the RTC decision reversed.
"I don't see any way na ma-affirm ng higher court ang decision, kung merits ang pag-uusapan at walang influence or anything sa justice system," Colmenares explained.
"I don't see any way na ma-affirm ng higher court ang decision, kung merits ang pag-uusapan at walang influence or anything sa justice system," Colmenares explained.
Former ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio, meanwhile, believes it is no coincidence that the RTC decision was issued after the Makabayan Coalition announced that it will field a full Senate slate in the upcoming midterm elections.
Former ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio, meanwhile, believes it is no coincidence that the RTC decision was issued after the Makabayan Coalition announced that it will field a full Senate slate in the upcoming midterm elections.
Castro is among the coalition's senate bets.
Castro is among the coalition's senate bets.
"Nakahanda tayo na harapin ang mga susunod pang panunupil na targetin ang Makabayan, ang ating mga kandidato, ang ating mga Party List. Aatras ba? Matatakot ba? Hindi po… Ang 'di makatwirang desisyong ito ay lalong nagtutulak sa Makabayan Coalition na pag-ibayuhin pa ang kampanya at laban," Tinio said.
"Nakahanda tayo na harapin ang mga susunod pang panunupil na targetin ang Makabayan, ang ating mga kandidato, ang ating mga Party List. Aatras ba? Matatakot ba? Hindi po… Ang 'di makatwirang desisyong ito ay lalong nagtutulak sa Makabayan Coalition na pag-ibayuhin pa ang kampanya at laban," Tinio said.
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