Cases filed vs lumad bakwits’ support groups part of vilification campaign – Rep. Zarate
EIGHT individuals, including a congressman, are facing criminal charges before the City Prosecution Office for alleged involvement in detaining the lumads at the UCCP Haran compound along Fr. Selga Street.
Sued for serous illegal detention and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” are Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Kerlan Fanagel, Datu Ginumao Andi, Sheena Duazo, Tony Salubre, Joel Virador, Juno Vegas, and Malaya Genovacia.
But Rep. Zarate said “these (complaints) are pure lies; clearly trumped up charges and part of the vilification campaign against those who support the legitimate cause of the lumad bakwits.”
The respondents were charged based on the complaints of a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly a rape victim, Datu Lumansad Basong Sibugan, and Datu Anastacio Balid.
Based on the affidavits of the complainants, they went to Haran because they were harassed by the military in their ancestral lands. But when they decided to return home because the Haran compound was crowded, they were not permitted to leave.
Apart from the affidavits submitted on August 12, the private prosecutor also submitted a copy of the medical certificate of the rape victim, a police blotter dated July 22 and 23, and pictures.
Zarate however said that “the people behind these charges are the same reactionary elements behind the misrepresentation of the findings of UN Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani who said that the bakwits were not trafficked persons and were in fact manipulated to return to their communities against their will.”
“These manipulators are mistaken if they believed that these charges will deter or scare us in pursuing our advocacies, particularly the defense and advancement of human rights. We will not take this sitting down as we will also file counter charges against these people,” Zarate said.
Meanwhile, 16 members of different progressive groups are also facing charges for campaigning to demilitarize Lumad schools in the Davao Region.
Based on the logbook of the City Prosecution Office, 16 individuals are facing charges.
The Eastern Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit filed kidnapping charges and illegal detention on May 12 against Mary Ann Sapar, Gabriela Southern Mindanao secretary general; Kharlo Manano, Salinlahi Alliance for Children secretary general; Rev. Jurie Jaime, Sheena Duazo, Hanimay Suazo, Ryan Lariba, Tony Salubre, Jimong Marciano, Jaja Necosia, Pedro Arnaldo, Kerlan Fanagel, Sr. Stella Matutina, Sr. Restita Miles, Isidro Andao, Riuz Valle and many John Does.
This is all part of the ongoing legal, psychological, and propaganda warfare being waged between the Philippine military/police forces and members of known/suspected Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) front organizations active on lumad issues in the Davao area, especially in the Paquibato district of Davao City
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