DAVAO CITY – Five members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA), including a volunteer teacher who was among the “Bakwit 7” arrested in Cebu for alleged kidnapping and trafficking of Lumad minors, were killed in an encounter with military troops in Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Thurs
SunStar Bakwit School 7 cleared of charges, released
REUNITED. Six of the Bakwit School 7 detainees find themselves together at the Police Regional Office 7 for medical check-up prior to their release on Friday, May 14, 2021. / CONTRIBUTED
+ May 14, 2021 AFTER almost three months in detention, two teachers, three adult Lumad students and two Lumad elders were set free on Friday, May 14, 2021.
The Davao del Norte Provincial Prosecutor issued a release order as it dismissed the complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, human trafficking and child abuse for lack of evidence and lack of probable cause.
Even if evidence was found against them, the prosecutors said the cases fall outside the jurisdiction of their office as the alleged crimes happened in Cebu City.
SunStar Kidnapping, other charges filed against 2 teachers, 5 Lumads
CEBU. Investigators from the Commission on Human Rights Central Visayas (CHR 7) meet with the parents of some of the Lumad children who attended the Bakwit School in the University of San Carlos Talamban campus. / BENJIE TALISIC
+ February 18, 2021 CHARGES of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and qualified trafficking in persons were filed online Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, against two Bakwit School teachers, three adult Lumad students and two Lumad elders.
The charges were filed by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) before the Davao del Norte Provincial Prosecutors’ Office in Tagum City during virtual inquest proceedings held via Zoom videoconferencing app at the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) Wednesday.