MAKABAYAN lawmakers welcome the release of former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, ACT Teacher Representative France Castro and the 16 others arrested in Talaingod, Davao del Norte for alleged human trafficking and kidnapping charges.
"We welcome the release of the Talaingod 18, despite the attempts of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to obstruct a judicial order,” said Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate in a statement on Sunday, December 2.
Satur, Castro and the 16 other members of the National Solidarity Mission were released Saturday evening, December 1 after they posted bail amounting to a total of P1,452,600 or P80,000 each for every respondent.
Zarate earlier said the police had wanted to defy the order of Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court that recommended the release of the Talaingod 18 on bail.
"With apparent orders ex cathedra, the police and the military are hell bent in stopping the release of the Talaingod 18 even if Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Arlene Palabrica ordered it by virtue of a bail posted. In fact, because of the stand-off, Judge Palabrica had to issue last night a supplemental order reiterating the basic right of the respondents to be released on bail,” Zarate said.
"This disregard for court processes shows the condemnable Machiavellian mindset of state forces in dealing with critics of the government,” Zarate added.
The respondents, along with members of the National Solidarity Mission were arrested at a checkpoint in Talaingod while they were on their way to the town to conduct their humanitarian mission to help lumad students displaced by the forcible closure of schools by paramilitary group Alamara and the 56th Infantry Battalion (IB).
The team were arrested after 14 minors were found inside their convoy. The police cited in their complaint against the group the absence of parental consent for the latter to bring the children with them.
The Makabayan bloc earlier claimed that since the arrival of the 56th IB in June 2018 and their encampment in the community and school premises in Sitio Nasilaban and Sitio Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil, classes in Salugpongan Learning Center’s campuses in Talaingod, Davao del Norte have been disrupted while students, teachers and community members have been subjected to threats, harassment, and intimidation in order to forcibly close the school.
Zarate has vowed to make those behind the closure of the lumad schools accountable.
"Make no mistake about it: while we welcome this victory, those reponsible for these despicable acts cannot just rest yet because they will be surely made accountable. The Department of Education itself issued a statement that they issued no such closure of lumad schools,” he said.
Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao, for his part said the “absurdity” of the complaints manifests the Duterte administration’s desperate move to curtail the rights of its critics, including the so-called Talaingod 18.
“Clearly, the charges are false in the beginning. Definitely it will backfire to all those behind the fabricated charges against them,” Casilao added.