THE legal counsel for Haran 15, who have been cleared of kidnapping and serious illegal detention after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dropped the charges against them, assured that they will uphold the rights of Indigenous People (Lumad) who have been innocently involved in fabricating the charges filed against the 15 progressive leaders.
Lawyer Manuel Quibod, in a press conference in Salugpungan Hall at the United Church of the Philippines-Haran Compound on Wednesday, viewed they will have a careful treatment on the counter charges they intend to file.
“The IPs in this case are being used, sila mismo ang complainants against human rights advocates and defenders. I think that is to be cleared and that is the intention, we will be going to the bottom of this and charge this people who are really legally responsible to this incident,” Quibod said.
The dismissal of the case against the 15 progressive group leaders followed after the same Indigenous Peoples (IP) who filed the charges to them appeared and filed an affidavit of desistance and recantation.
“What was fortunate and helpful in resolving the motion is that the complainants executed an affidavit of desistance and recantation and with that affidavit of desistance and recantation they have withdrawn their affidavit of complaint. They further declared that they had no interest and no intention of filing the case,” Quibod said.
Quibod said that the affidavit of desistance and recantation of the lumad complainants expressed that it was allegedly through the insistence of a certain Datu Nestor Apas, Datu Landahay Sibugan that led them to file the charges which were now dropped by the DOJ.
Quibod added that they will try to avoid filing charges against the IPs involved.
“That is one thing we tried to avoid and work out if it can still be resolved, there are also probably customary laws that could become a way for the resolution of the conflict. These laws could be used to resolve this issue apart from the grievances of human rights advocates and defenders,” Quibod said in the vernacular.
Quibod added that the Haran 15 is set to meet to plan out a counter charge against the people responsible after the formal dismissal and withdrawal of the case from the courts. (KVC)