A court in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, has found ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Satur Ocampo guilty of child abuse.

Their conviction resulted from allegations that they took minors into custody in November 2018 while on a solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

According to Bayan Muna, the incident was a “rescue mission” of students from the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Ingkanogon Community Learning Center, Inc. in response to the alleged aerial bombings and the school’s purported militarization.

Ocampo, Castro, and eleven others were found guilty of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, in a 25-page ruling dated July 3.

The court sentenced all 13 respondents to four to six years in prison and ordered them to pay a total of P20,000 to each of the 14 victims, including P10,000 in civil indemnity and P10,000 in moral damages.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted Pastor Edgar Ugal, Rev. Ryan Magpayo, Eller Ordeniza, and Rev. Jurie Jaime for the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“Wrongfully accused”

In a joint statement, Ocampo and Castro insisted on the innocence of all the defendants.

They claim the lower court “wrongfully convicted” them.

“This wrongful conviction speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of Lumad children and the persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities,” they said.

“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” they added.

Castro and Ocampo also claimed the court disregarded the testimony about the ongoing “harassment” that military and paramilitary personnel were putting Lumad schools through, as well as the “danger” that the students were in.

They added that it would be impossible to prove a conspiracy based on their simple appearance while meeting the teachers and students on the roadway.

“The persons who are actually responsible for the forcible closure of the schools as well as the threats and harassment have never been investigated,” they said.

📷 Screenshot from press conference