Published May 14, 2021, 1:26 PM
Davao del Norte
Seven persons have been cleared of criminal charges in the alleged kidnapping of 19 Lumad children “to be trained as communist rebel fighters” but were rescued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the University of San Carlos Retreat House (USCRH) in Cebu City last Feb. 15.
In a 13-page resolution dated May 5, the Davao del Norte Office of the Provincial Prosecutor dismissed the charges filed by the PNP “for insufficiency of evidence, lack of probable cause, and being outside the territorial jurisdiction of this Office.”
“All told, it appears that there is insufficient evidence to support any of the alleged crimes of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention, Human Trafficking, and Child Abuse committed by respondents Segundo Lagatos Melong, Benito Dalim Bay-ao, Moddie Langayed Mansimoy-at, Esmelito Paumba Oribawan, Chad Errol Booc, Roshelle Mae C. Porcadilla and Jomar Benag,” the resolution stated.