‘CONVICTION’ SA CHILD ABUSE KINONDENA
‘Power of Red taggers’ inginuso

KINONDENA ng mga makabayang kongresista at mga militanteng grupo ang ipinataw na hatol ng Tagum City Regional Trial Court sa mga miyembro ng Makabayan bloc kaugnay ng pagsagip sa mga batang Lumad na sinabing ginigipit ng mga sundalo.

Ayon kay ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, ang hatol sa kanila at sa tinaguriang “Talaingod 18” ay resulta ng “power of red taggers.”

Si Castro at si dating kongresista Satur Ocampo ay hinatulan sa asuntong Child abuse na may kulong na apat hangang anim na taon.

“The effect of this decision is that rescuing children from military intimidation and harassment is wrong and the children would have to go through bureaucratic documentation before they can be rescued in an emergency crisis. We will appeal this decision even if it reaches the Supreme Court,” ani Castro.

“As it is, we will continue to work for the reopening of Lumad schools for them to be more informed and prepared for the future,” aniya.

Ang Talaingod 18 ay mga miyembro ng National Solidarity Mission (NSM) sa Talaingod, Davao del Norte na ikinulong sa paglabag umano sa Republic Act 7610 (Child Abuse) noong 28 Nobyembre 2018.

Ang insidente ay tungkol sa pagsagip nila sa mga estudyanteng Lumad at guro sa Salugpungan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc., at sa Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao (CTCSM) laban sa Alamara paramilitary group at mga sundalo.

“Why is it that the ones who rescued the children from harm are the ones being convicted while the paramilitary group, the military and the NTF-ELCAC who were threatening the children go scot-free? Hindi ba dapat sila ang kinasuhan?” tanong ng Deputy Minority leader.

Giit ni Castro, ang hatol ay hindi katangap-tangap at hindi makatarungan sa mga Lumad ng Mindanao.

“The fabricated charges, harassment, and persistent threats against the Lumad people and those who stand in solidarity with them must end. These challenges perpetuate cycles of violence and oppression, especially in light of the continued closure of Lumad schools,” pahayag ni Castro.

Aniya, “We demand the immediate reopening of Lumad schools, an end to the militarization of Lumad communities, and a thorough investigation into human rights violations against indigenous people in Mindanao.”

Dapat managot ang mga taong gumagamit ng batas laban sa mga kritiko ng gobyerno at ng kalaban sa politika, mariing pahayag ng kongresista.

“We recognize that the struggle for the rights and welfare of the Lumad people is far from over. We call on the government to take concrete steps to protect indigenous communities, uphold their right to education, and respect their ancestral domains,” diin ni Castro.

Ayon kay Makabayan Co-Chairperson at dating kongresista Liza Maza, hindi makatarungan ang desisyon ng korte laban kina Castro at Ocampo.

“The alleged charges were filed under the regime of Duterte, who declared war on the Lumad schools. The policies of the Duterte regime carried out by the NTF-ELCAC persist until today under the Marcos Jr. regime,” ani Maza.

Anila, gawa-gawa lamang ang mga kasong inihain laban kina Castro at Ocampo kasama ang Talaingod 18. (GERRY BALDO)