The Philippine National Police said Friday that former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, and 16 others have been charged with child abuse following their arrest last Wednesday in Talaingod, Davao del Norte for allegedly recruiting children to “rally against the government.”
A police report shared by PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said the Talaingod Municipal Police Station, represented by Senior Insp. Rogaciano Gara, filed charges for violating Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Tagum City.
According to the inquest resolution signed by Norman Solis, provincial prosecutor, “there is probable cause to indict respondents” for violation of Section 10 (a) (other conditions prejudicial to the children’s development) of RA 7610.
Aside from Ocampo and Castro, also charged were Pastor Edgar Ugal, Rev. Ryan Magpayo, and Rev. Jurie Jaime of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines -Davao; Pastor Eller Ordeza of the United Methodist Davao; Meggie Nolasco, administrator at Salugpungan Learning Center and nine other teachers; and staff Jesus Modamo and Maryro Poquita.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Davao region police director, said the charges stemmed from the arrest of the 18 suspects, who were all part of the 74 member-contingent of the group conducting a National Solidarity Mission last Wednesday.
The suspects were apprehended in a checkpoint setup by the Talaingod police, soldiers, and social welfare development officers around 10 p.m. in Barangay Sto. Nino.
The group, onboard five vans, was inspected until police got suspicious after they noticed that the suspects were accompanied by 14 minors. Police flagged down the vans and started asking for documents of parental consent of the minors, which the group failed to provide.
Police later found out that the minors, who came from different parts of Mindanao, were students of SLC. The learning institution was padlocked earlier this year by Lumad leaders, Morales said, upon the orders of the Department of Education.
“There were reports that the children were taught with false ideas at school, far from the mandates of the DepEd. Also, allegedly, this group is using the children to be with them to rally against the government,” he noted.
Morales said they also received complaints from tribal leaders that the group of Ocampo was “pulling out children almost every night without the permission from their parents.” (Martin Sadongdong)
