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 Castro,  Ocampo guilty of ‘endangering minors’ –court

By J.Lo

“Acts of  accused clearly show that they failed to take necessary precaution to safeguard safety and well-being of  children when they transported  Lumad learners from Sitio Dulyan to Tagum City,”  court in Davao del Norte has found Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers party-list) and former Rep. Satur Ocampo (Bayan Muna party-list) guilty of endangering minors in 2018, sentencing them to up to six years in prison.

In  26-page decision promulgated on Monday,  Tagum City Regional Trial Court’s Brand 2 convicted Castro, Ocampo and 11 others for violation of Section 10a of Republic Act 7610 or  Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Castro and Ocampo were sentenced to four to six years and ordered to pay P10,000 as civil indemnity and P10,000 as moral damages to each of 14 minors involved.  Amount  would also grow with  interest rate of 6% per annum until full payment.

Castro and Ocampo’s co-accused are Ma. Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianie Aga, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Ma. Concepcion Ibarra, Nerfa Awing, Wingwing Daunsay

Other  respondents, namely Edgar Ugal, Ryan Magpayo, Eller Ordeniza and Jurie Jaime, were acquitted.

Decision  can still be appealed through  motion for reconsideration in the same court.

Case stemmed from  accused’s participation in  November 2018 mission, they argued, aimed to rescue to Lumad schools and teachers from  food blockade and forcible closure of school by  paramilitary group in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

In its ruling, however,  court said Castro, Ocampo and their co-accused endangered children by taking them on  “dark and unsecured road” where they walked for hours, risking potential harm from either government troops or communist New People’s Army guerrillas operating in the area.

It also found no valid justification for the group to take  minor students out of  Sitio Dulyan campus. “Upon review of  records, it is worthy to stress tribal leaders of  communities only demanded  teachers to leave  school as their services are no longer needed,” the decision read.

In 2018, Save Our Schools,  network of child-focused organizations, rejected  military’s claims against Lumad schools as recruitment grounds for communist rebels. It argued  teachers and students were fleeing harassment at Sitio Dulyan in Talaingod from  paramilitary group “at the instigation of  56th Infantry Battalion” of  Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Castro and Ocampo, members of progressive, left-leaning party-list bloc called Makabayan at  House of Representatives, called  decision “unacceptable and unjust.”

“This wrongful conviction speaks of continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for  rights of Lumad children and  persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities, persons who are actually responsible for  forcible closure of  schools as well as  threats and harassment have never been investigated… clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” their joint statement read.