ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, former Bayan Muna congressman Satur C. Ocampo and 11 other persons convicted of child abuse by the Tagum City regional trial court (RTC) last July 15 have filed a notice of appeal to elevate their conviction before the Court of Appeals (CA).
They were convicted of violation of Section 10(a), Article VI of Republic Act No. 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Judge Jimmy B. Boco of RTC Branch 2 found Castro, Ocampo, and the 11 other accused of exploiting 14 Lumad students of the Salugpongan Ta Tanu Ingkanogan Community Learning Center, Inc. in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
Aside from Castro and Ocampo, also convicted were Maria Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianie Aga, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Maria Concepcion Ibarra, Nerfa Awing, and Wingwing Daunsay.
All of them were sentenced to a prison term ranging from four years, nine months and 11 days as minimum to six years, eight months and one day as maximum.
They were also ordered to pay, jointly and severally, P10,000 as civil indemnity and P10,000 as moral damages to each of the victims.
Four other accused – Pastor Edgar Ugal, Rev. Ryan C. Magpayo, Eller A. Ordeniza, and Rev. Jurie Jaime -- were acquitted for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said that those convicted force the 14 Lumad children to travel on foot without the consent of their parents along a dangerous road where firefights have taken place between government forces and members of the New People’s Army.
Immediately after the promulgation of the decision, Ocampo and Castro said the ruling of the RTC “is unacceptable and unjust.”
They alleged: “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.”
In their notice of appeal, Castro, Ocampo and the other persons convicted asked the RTC to give due course to their notice and to elevate the records of the case to the CA.
Their notice was filed through lawyers from the Ateneo Legal Aid Services through Atty. Manuel P. Quibod, Public Interest Law Center through Atty. Rachel F. Pastores, and Attys. Maneeka Asistol Sarza and Filemon D. Nolasco.