INDIGENOUS peoples in Talaingod, Davao del Norte were dismayed after former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo and 17 others were released after posting a P1.4 million bail was granted Saturday, December 1.
"Nadismaya nga po raw sila bakit po ganun (They were dismayed because of the result)" Public Information Officer of 56th Infantry Battalion captain John Louie Dema-ala said in a phone interview with Sunstar Davao.
Dema-ala said some of the parents will be filing counter-affidavit against the group for allegedly kidnapping of their children.
He further said that the lumad from Talaingod which composes mostly of Ata-Manobo and Obo-Manuvu held a protest rally against the group of Ocampo on December 1, 2018 to denounce salungpungan schools in their place.
"Pinapakita po nila yung pagkakaisa nila, ayaw nila ng Salungpungan Schools, ayaw na nila na may pumasok na mga NGOs na ginagamit lang po sila, minamanipula yung mga bata (they showed their unity that they do not want salugpungan schools, they do not want non-government organizations to enter in their place who are using them, manipulating the children)," Dema-ala said.
Meanwhile, temporary representative of the “Talaingod 18” lawyer Joel B. Mahinay said in a phone interview with Sunstar Davao that the bail was recommended by the Provincial Prosecutor for the violation of Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act). He added that the prosecutor and the judge reviewed the evidence to consider Ocampo and other 17 to be granted bail of P80,000 each.
"Ang nagpiyansa po ay group of lawyers at mga supporters (The group of lawyers and supporters who paid for the bail)," Act Davao president Reynaldo Pardillo said in an interview with Sunstar Davao.
Despite the bail granted by the Office of the Executive Judge in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Saturnino Ocampo, France Castro of Act and their group will still undergo preliminary investigation for Kidnapping and Failure to Return a Minor law.
"Paano naging kidnapping, paano naging child abuse na yung nagasabi they have permission from their parents (How could that be called kidnapping, child abuse when the children said that they have permission from their parents)," Mahinay said.
Mahinay added that the respondents were given ten days starting on November 29, 2018 to respond to the charges hurled against them.
Mahinay added that Ocampo and Castro flew to Manila around 11 p.m. on December 1 while the other 16 returned to their place after they were released under the custody of Davao del Norte Police on the same day.
ACT Davao Region president said that the presence of Castro in Talaingod, Davao del Norte is to see the situation among lumad schools because they have received reports that the schools were closed due to wrong teaching.
"Kailangan ang tuluy-tuloy na pagkakaisa at pagkilos upang tuluyang maibasura ang mga gawa-gawang kasong isinampa laban sa Talaingod 18 at papanaigin ang katotohanan at katarungan (The continuous unity and action is needed to dismiss the case which was filed to Talaingod 18 and let the truth and justice prevail)," ACT said in a statement.
It can be recalled, that Ocampo and the group were held by the authorities on November 28, 2018 in Talaingod, Davao del Norte after 14 minors were found onboard their convoy.
The case 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 C. Magpayo, Reverend Jurie Jaime, and Pastor Eller A. 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, meanwhile, are from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines while Reverend Ordeza is from United Methodist Davao. (RJC)