By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
The conviction of ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, and 11 others for child abuse by a Tagum City court proved that the justice system in the country is working, a military spokesperson said on Tuesday, July 16.
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said that military welcomes the decision of the Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 which found Ocampo, Castro, and their companions guilty of violating Section 10(a), Article VI of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
“Justice has been served to the Talaingod IP [indigenous peoples] children and other victims. Their conviction highlights that our justice system is effective, sending a clear message that those who exploit and endanger IP children will be held accountable,” Padilla said in a press conference at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The case stemmed from the apprehension of Castro, Ocampo and 17 other members of a supposed fact-finding mission at a checkpoint by elements of the Talaingod town police on Nov. 28, 2018 in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
According to investigation, the group was caught transporting minor children from different parts of Mindanao to an undisclosed location. It was learned that the minors were students of Salugpungan Learning Center which had been ordered closed by the Department of Education (DepEd) earlier that year.
Police had claimed at the time that the children were being given “anti-government education” for them to go against the government.
However, Ocampo's camp denied the allegations of the police and said they were rescuing the Lumad children after a paramilitary group allegedly operated to close the Salugpungan Learning Center.
Castro, Ocampo and their companions who had been incarcerated eventually managed to post bail.
However, the Philippine Army (PA) belied that what Castro, Ocampo and their companions did was a rescue mission, saying that the Talaingod IP children and other victims transported by the group “have fallen prey to their manipulations.”
Col. Louie Dema-ala, PA spokesperson, reiterated the army’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding the welfare of all Filipinos, “particularly vulnerable groups that are often targeted by deceitful beliefs.”
Castro and Ocampo have denounced the court decision, saying that it was an apparent miscarriage of justice. They added that they would exhaust legal means to question the court's decision.