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Prosecution junks charges against 7 Lumad teachers, students
Lumad students join protest at the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on Feb. 15, 2021 (Photo by Carlo Manalansan/Bulatlat)“The victory of the Bakwit School 7 is a testament to the truth and the legitimacy of the calls of the Lumad and the existence of the Bakwit School. This victory only proves that the NTF-ELCAC only peddles lies and that their stories bear no truth nor any weight when it comes to the fight for social justice.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
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.