FOLLOWING the arrest of former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo and Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Representative France Castro, ACT Davao Region said that the detainees are now in need of more than P1.5 million for bail for their release.
ACT Davao chapter president Reynaldo Pardillo said that the amount set by the fiscal is for the 18 teachers and volunteers or P80,000 each member of the group.
Ocampo and with his other 17 companions will be facing charges for child abuse.
Charges for the violation of Republic Act of 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act were filed against Ocampo, France Castro, Jesus Modamo, Maryro Poquita, Meggie Nolasco, Maria Concepcion Ibarra, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Maricel Andagkit, Ariel Ansan, Mariane Aga, Nerfa Awing, Wingwing Dansay, Marcial Rendon, Pastor Edgar Ugal, Reverend Ryan Magpayo, Reverend Jurie Jaime, and Pastor Eller Ordeza at the office of provincial prosecutor on November 29, 2018 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Castro is a representative of Act while Modamo and Poquita are Act Staff.
Ibarra, Paraba, Talledo, Andagkit, Rendon, Ansan, Aga, Awing, and Dansay are teachers of the Salungpungan Community Learning Center Incorporated (SLCLC) while Nolasco is the school's administrator.
Pastor Ugal, Rev. Magpayo, and Rev. Jaime are from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, while Rev. Ordeza is from United Methodist Davao.
The group will be filing a counter affidavit on December 3, 2018 Monday at the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Tagum City.
On November 28, 2018, Ocampo and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) representative France Castro, together with 72 others were held by the Philippine National Police on Wednesday night in Talaingod, Davao del Norte after minors were found onboard of their convoy.
ACT Davao region gathered at the Freedom Park Friday, November 30, 2018, urging the government to just release the detainees because the arrest was made illegally in the first place.
Division representative of ACT-Igacos Leone Lemuel Paje said yesterday that the arrest had no basis and that the case was filed late.
“Isa sa matabang nato diri mao ang pagpanawagan na i-release sila tungod kay ang ilang gihimo na pag aresto usa ka illegal arrest, walay basehan (One of the things we can do to help them [Ocampo and Castro] is to call for their release since the arrest made was illegal, there was no basis),” Paje said.
“Ang nahitabo sa Talaingod, adunay pagtugot sa mga ginikanan (What happened in Talaingod was, there was a consent from the minors’ parents),” Paje said, adding that the Talaingod policemen only flipped the story against them.
“Unta respetuhon sa gobyerno and katungod sa mga magtutudlo or katungod sa iyang gisakupan na ihatag ang justice (We hope that the government will respect the rights of the teachers and its subordinates. Justice should be served),” he added.
“Dili namo masabatan nga nganong ang ingon ani na mga buluhaton, mahimo man nga babag ang nasyonal nga gobyerno sa pagkab-ot sa edukasyon sa mga kaigsoonan natong Lumad (We could not understand why the government is hindering these activities in providing education for the Lumad),” Paje said.
Police Regional Office 11 Police Chief Superintendent Marcelo Morales said in a statement they received complaints from tribe leaders that the group of Ocampo was taking children most of the nights without the permission from the parents.
“There were reports that the children were taught with false ideas at school, far from the mandates of the Department of Education (DepEd). Also, allegedly these group are using the children to be with them to rally against the government,” Morales said.
He said several minors were students of Salugpungan Ta’tanu Igkanugon Learning Center at Sitio Duluyan, Talaingod, Davao del Norte. The school was padlocked in the early months of 2018 by the indigenous peoples’ leader in the area.