Rights group seeks probe of antiterror law abuses
Amnesty International Philippines has urged the government to conduct a “prompt, independent, impartial and transparent” investigation of alleged abuses in the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act after women and child rights activist Ma. Salome “Sally” Crisostomo-Ujano was cleared of rebellion charges.
The rights group also called for a halt to any form of harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders, which prevents them from carrying out their work and providing services to marginalized sectors.
“Sally Ujano’s acquittal did not come as a surprise because her arrest and detention should never have occurred in the first place,” Ritz Lee Santos III, section director of the human rights group, said in a statement over the weekend.
“Her case demonstrates a clear miscarriage of justice and the improper use of criminal proceedings based on trumped-up charges against a human rights defender,” Santos added.
Red-tagged
On March 23, the Court of Appeals overturned the 2024 decision of the Taguig Regional Trial Court, which found the 67-year-old Ujano guilty of rebellion and sentenced her to 10 to 17 years in prison.
Ujano, who had been detained at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong since her conviction, was formally released on March 26.
In its decision, the appellate court said the prosecution’s evidence failed to “establish with certainty” the 67-year-old’s participation in a rebellion.
Ujano was executive director of the Women’s Crisis Center from 2000 to 2007, collaborating with the government to offer counseling and support to survivors of domestic violence and other abuses.
As national coordinator of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking from 2008 to 2021, she trained the Philippine National Police and other government agencies to establish a rights-based approach in handling trafficking cases.
Ujano was arrested on Nov. 15, 2021, some 15 years after she was charged in 2006 with rebellion over an alleged ambush in 2005 involving two military personnel in Quezon province.
Her lawyers had argued that the information filed against her failed to state how she was involved with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples’ Army.
Pattern of harassment
According to Santos, Ujano’s case was part of a continuing pattern of harassment against human rights defenders, journalists and development workers.
“Judicial processes have also been misused where prolonged legal proceedings become punitive measures or serve as threats to others who carry on with their activism and development work,” he said.
“This subsequently paralyzes the operations of activist organizations, therefore affecting the programs and services they provide to marginalized sectors,” Santos said.
He also called for a review of “ongoing cases of similar concerns” as he cited the case of Tacloban-based community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who was convicted of financing terrorism in January this year.
Cumpio, who was handed down a prison term of 12 to 18 years, has been in detention since her arrest in 2020 on what rights group say are trumped-up charges.
‘Finally home’
Ujano’s family and supporters, meanwhile, welcomed her release, with her son posting a message on the Free Sally Ujano Facebook page.
“Nanay Sally is finally home, and this victory is especially meaningful as Women’s Month comes to a close,” Klaro Ujano said.
In the same post, Sally Ujano also thanked her supporters, legal team and everyone who fought for her release, saying, “Finally, truth and justice prevailed. Miracles do happen.”
While in detention, Ujano was honored in 2023 by the UN Women Philippines for her strong contributions to human rights advocacy.
She received the recognition as a Feminist Champion against Gender-Based Violence, along with other fellow rights advocates.
Ujano also played a key role in pushing for important laws, including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.
