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+ May 19, 2021 NATIONAL Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy said the “Bakwit School 7,” whose criminal charges were dismissed, must not “celebrate” yet.
Badoy said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, May 18, 2021, that they will assist the Lumad parents, whose children were reportedly kidnapped and brought to the retreat house of the Societas Verbi Divini Philippines Southern Province, University of San Carlos-Talamban campus in Cebu City, to file a motion for reconsideration.
The NTF-Elcac official said the dismissal of the case is only a “first round,” and they will exhaust all legal actions against the respondents.
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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.