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.
CEBU CITY – The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Davao del Norte has ordered the release of the seven persons who were arrested last February following a controversial police operation involving a group of Lumad children at a retreat house here.
Published May 14, 2021, 4:44 PM
CEBU CITY – The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Davao del Norte has ordered the release of the seven persons who were arrested last February following a controversial police operation involving a group of Lumad children at a retreat house here.
Complaints for alleged violation of the Child Abuse Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and kidnapping and serious illegal detention that were filed against the seven persons collectively known as “Bakwit School 7” were dismissed.
The seven persons include Chad Errol Booc, Segundo Lagatos Melong, Benito Dalim Bay-ao, Moddie Langayed Mansimoy-at, Esmelito Paumba Oribawan, Roshelle Mae C. Porcadilla and Jomar Benag.
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
(Photo from NUPL Cebu Chapter)
+ May 14, 2021 THE Office of the Provincial Prosecutor (OPP) of Davao del Norte in Tagum City has ordered the immediate release of the Bakwit School 7 after it dismissed the criminal charges filed against them by the Philippine National Police Anti-kidnapping Group (AKG).
The respondents Chad Errol Booc, Segundo Lagatos Melong, Benito Dalim Bay-ao, Moddie Langayed Mansimoy-at, Esmelito Oribawan, Roshelle Mae Porcadilla, and Jomar Benag, collectively called the Bakwit School 7, were charged with violations of the Child Abuse Law, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and kidnapping and serious illegal detention.
They were arrested by local police last February 15, 2021 at the retreat houses of the Societas Verbi Divini Philippines Southern Province, University of San Carlos-Talamban campus in Cebu City.