Movement to free detained agriculturist launched

Nov. 19, 2014

DAVAO CITY – A Free Dominiciano “Dioning” Muya movement was launched Tuesday by colleagues and human rights advocates at the protestant United Catholic Churches of the Philippines (UCCP) Haran compound.

The movement’s convenor, Ronie Garcia said the authorities should release Muya immediately for he was an agriculturist and an educator of IP (indigenous people’s) schools, not an NPA (New People’s Army) leader.

Muya was arrested by the elements of police and the military last October 16, 1:45 pm in a checkpoint in Mankilam, Tagum City.

Garcia, a teacher of IP schools called Salugpungan in Talaingod and other parts in Davao region, said that aside from detaining Muya on false charges, the “military continues to harass our personnel in a serious attempt to close all our schools which they tag as NPA schools.”

“This is because they cannot close down our schools, because our schools are recognized by the Department of Education,” Garcia added.

Francis Muya, son of Dominiciano Muya, who was also at the launching of the release movement, said his family hopes to get the support of other agriculturists and educators.

“My father was not guilty. The charges against him were all fake,” Muya said.

The human rights group Karapatan said Muya is currently detained at Malaybalay, Bukidnon and is scheduled to be arraigned next month.(davaotoday.com)

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