Conviction of ‘Talaingod 13’ unjust, rights advocates say
DAVAO CITY–Church leaders, educators and human rights advocates in Mindanao are calling for the immediate reversal of the decision of a court in Davao del Norte convicting a group of teachers and human rights defenders – collectively known as the “Talaingod 13” — for child abuse under Republic Act (RA) No. 7610 in the course of helping evacuate “lumad” (indigenous peoples) children amid military operations in their communities.
Mae Fe Ancheta, lead convener of the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network in Mindanao, said they met recently in Quezon City to show solidarity with the group and to demand the immediate reversal of the court’s decision, which they considered “unjust.”
“We are are here today, united with organizations and individuals across the country, to demand justice for the Talaingod 13,” Nerhaya Talledo, SOS spokesperson, said on Thursday. “This unjust ruling silences the voices of those who defend the marginalized. If left unchallenged, it exposes the deep flaws in our justice system.”
“The group, convicted on baseless charges, has become a national symbol for the broader fight for indigenous rights, justice, and human dignity in the Philippines,” said an SOS statement, referring to the Talaingod 13.
Kidnap, trafficking raps
The group, originally composed of 18 people, was charged with kidnapping and trafficking of children from a lumad school in late November 2018, when the learning center at Sitio Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, was padlocked by Alamara militiamen.
The incident prompted the lumad teachers to flee with their students in tow. They sought help from the solidarity mission lobbying with government officials in Tagum City. They were arrested on their way out of Talaingod. Members of the mission who met them were also arrested.
In a decision issued on July 3 this year, Judge Jimmy Boco, acting presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Tagum City, convicted the 13 for violation of RA 7610, which provides for a stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse. The court acquitted four accused pastors while another person involved in the case turned state witness and changed his affidavit.
According to the SOS Network, lumad schools in Mindanao have faced threats of closure, harassment and attacks for years under accusations by the military that these have been “indoctrinating” children.
“Despite these challenges, the Talaingod 13 stood firm in their mission to provide education to marginalized indigenous communities. The court’s recent decision to convict them has sparked outrage across the country,” the statement said.
According to Ancheta, lawyers representing the Talaingod 13 are preparing an appeal. They are awaiting formal notification of the court’s ruling and are ready to challenge the decision, she said.
