MANILA, Philippines — A court in Davao del Norte found former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro guilty of child abuse and sentenced them to a maximum of six years imprisonment.
The Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 2 convicted Ocampo, Castro and 11 others for violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The others are Ma. Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianne Aga, Jennevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Ma. Concepcion Ibarra, Nerfa Awing, and Wingwing Daunsay.
The court also ordered them to pay, jointly and severally, “each of the minor victims” civil indemnity of P10,000 and P10,000 in moral damages, plus interest at the rate of 6 percent per year if and when the decision becomes final.
In its decision, the court said that the prosecution “established proof beyond reasonable doubt” that Ocampo, Castro, Nolasco, Madamo, Poquito, Andagkit, Aga, Rendon, Paraba, Awing, Daunsay, Talledo, and Ibarra “committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor lumad learners by keeping them in their company and transporting them on foot on a remote, dark and unsecured road without the assistance and presence of the law enforcement, any government agency, or written permission and consent of the minor’s parents.”
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Ocampo and Castro said they will appeal the court’s decision, claiming that they merely tried to help protect the children during a “rescue mission.”
“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible”, they said in a joint statement.
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