THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will again file kidnapping charges against former Bayan Muna party-list representative Satur Ocampo and his group after they were intercepted last week in Davao del Norte while transporting 14 minors to Compostella Valley.
PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said the kidnapping cases will be based on the complaints filed by five parents of the “rescued” minors.
“Actually, a kidnapping case was filed against them pero hindi tinanggap ng piskalya pero hindi dinismiss. Let's be clear on that. Hindi dinismiss. Hindi lang tinanggap ng piskalya (A kidnapping case was filed against them, but the fiscal did not accept it. It was not, however, dismissed). So I just talked with the regional director this morning and they will be refiling the case because there are five parents who signed their affidavits and are planning to file a case of kidnapping laban kay nila Satur Ocampo,” he said.
Ocampo, ACT Teachers party-list representative France Castro, and several others -- 12 teachers and 29 students of lumad schools, four pastors and administrator of the Salugpungan community learning center -- were arrested on November 28 after they were intercepted in a checkpoint in Talaingod.
The group was transporting the minors from Sitio Igang in Barangay Palma Gil to Maco, Compostela Valley.
Ocampo and his group were charged with violation of the anti-child abuse law. They were detained but were released on Saturday, December 1, after posting bail worth P80,000 each.
Albayalde denied the group's claim that the PNP was fabricating charges against its members.
“We cannot fabricate charges, di kami makapag-charge kung walang complainant, that's why unang-una di nga tinanggap ‘yung kidnapping na finile ng Region 11, pero ‘yung violation ng ra 7610 (anti-child abuse law) ay tinanggap ng piskalya (We cannot file charges if there's no complainant, that's why the kidnapping charge was not accepted by the fiscal, but the anti-child abuse case was accepted),” he said.
Albayalde also said there is no need for him to visit and see the situation in Lumad schools, as he already know that students there are being exposed to rebellion.
Earlier, Castro urged Albayalde to visit Lumad schools to see their condition.
“Hindi na siguro [kailangan bisitahin]. [Kasi] pagdating mo roon, iba na 'yung turo. Eh iba 'yung sinasabi [ng mga IPs sa amin]. We believe on these IPs natin, mga Lumad na pumupunta. You could just imagine, they are being exploited there at lason na lason ang kanilang pag-iisip. Kahit na ipinag-paalam mo ang mga bata, what do you teach to this children,” Albayalde said.
“Remember, itong mga IPs na ito, they were here last month to complain also. We are not telling that the school is illegitimate. What we are saying is ano ba ang tinuturo. Dahil sabi nila [na mga IPs] na pati yung pambansang awit na pinapakanta nila ay iba at kinanta pa nila rito. We're not making this up. Ang tinuturo nila ay kung paano mag-rally at tinuturuan nila kung anu-ano para sa kilusan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. said Ocampo and Castro as “active members” of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA).
“Nakikita natin talaga si Satur Ocampo is a propagandist of the CPP-NPA. Ang nakikita natin is ‘yung Talaingod, ‘yung Salugpungan at Alcadev, ginagamit talaga ‘yan. The people should know ‘yung Salugpungan at Alcadev is breeding ground for the NPA,” Galvez said.
“Yung ginagawa nila Satur dinadala nila dito sa Manila, ginagawa nilang exposure... Ito ‘yung talagang nagpapatunay na talagang itong si Castro at saka si Ocampo, they are active members of the CPP-NPA. Alam naman natin ‘yan eh. May charges sila dati sa Leyte ‘yung Oplan Ahos. Kaya hindi ‘yan trumped up charges. These are true realities,” he added.
Ocampo, however, denied Galvez's allegations, saying there is no such rule in the CPP-NPA to recruit minors. (SunStar Philippines)