Groups appeal for release of Lumad teachers

From the Sun Star-Manila (Oct 5):  Groups appeal for release of Lumad teachers

TO COMMEMORATE Teacher's Day, various groups held protest in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Wednesday to call for the release of illegally detained Lumad teachers in Mindanao.

Representatives from Save our Schools (SOS), Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), Salinlahi, and women's group Gabriela appealed to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to review the cases of detained teachers in Mindanao Amelia Pond and Dominiciano Duya.

Pond, 64, a missionary teacher, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) in Cebu on August 19 after attending an assembly of RMP. Her arrest was based on a warrant named after a certain Adelfa Toledo.

According to the groups, she is facing "trumped up charges" for murder and frustrated murder while Duya is also facing "fabricated charges" of illegal possession of firearms, multiple murder, double frustrated murder, robbery with double homicide and damage to properties.

Salinlahi Secretary General Kharlo Felipe Manano believes that these charges filed against the Lumad teachers undermine the rights of the indigenous people in the Southern Philippines.

"Their arrests are part of the systematic design by state forces to undermine the rights of the lumads, targeting as well those individuals and advocates who are supportive of the struggle," Manano said.

Based on a joint affidavit from certain Alberto Egagamo, Jaymar Gonzaga and Andro Bansag, Pond is a member of the New People's Army (NPA) involved in the killing of a barangay official in Compostella Valley in 2000.

The allegation was denied by Pond. Oliver Castor of RMP also claimed that Pond is not Adelfa Toledo, contrary to the claims of the CIDG.

The groups are seeking for a dialogue with Aguirre to discuss the cases of the two and appeal for their unconditional release.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/10/05/groups-appeal-release-lumad-teachers-501759