DAVAO CITY — The name of a dead environmental activist and a picture of former lawmaker who died seven years ago, were among the respondents on the cases of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and trafficking filed against members of progressive groups here.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed last month cases of violations of Republic Act (RA) 267, or Kidnapping, Serious Illegal Detention and Anti-trafficking in persons Act, against 15 activists, including church leaders and a number of “John Does” after the police failed to remove about 700 indigenous peoples from their temporary shelter inside the Haran compound of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
Read related story: Cases against activists lodged after IP’s mass evacuation
In a copy of the annex sent to Davao Today by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, it showed pictures of other activists and a list of more than 50 names, which was supposed to match the name with the corresponding picture.
The name of Francis Morales, an environmental activist who died November 12 last year, appeared twice in the list, on Numbers 59 and 39. But one of his photographs was placed to correspond to that of former spokesperson of nationwide transport group Transmision-Piston, Edil Gonzaga.
Before his death, Morales was the executive director of Balsa Mindanao, a disaster relief and rehabilitation group, and the secretary general of the environmental group, Panalipdan! Mindanao.
Meanwhile, the picture of former Anakpawis Partylist Rep.Crispin Beltran appeared on No. 44, but it was placed to correspond to the name of Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano. Beltran was a national labor leader who died in 2008.
Founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Maria Sison and his wife Juliet de Lima, who are based in Netherlands, were also in the list.
Former Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Teodoro Casiño, in an interview said they will be filing Writ of Habeas Data and Writ of Amparo before the Supreme Court next week with regards to the case. Casiño’s name also appeared on the list at No. 48.
“We will file the Writ of Habeas Data to compel the CIDG to release the basis on why were included in the line up of supposed suspects,what information do they have which they might use for whatever case later on,” Casiño told Davao Today.
Casiño said the Writ of Amparo will serve as a protection for the “innocent who were falsely accused”.
“Based on the experience of the Arroyo government, these cases, which is basically vilification and smear campaign, are used as basis for physical attacks against activists,” said Casiño.
Casiño, along with Beltran, were included in the rebellion charges filed against legislators who were identified with leftist organizations in 2007 during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The other legislators were Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Joel Virador, Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Liza Maza and Mariano.
The Supreme Court later ordered the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 to dismiss the case.
Casiño said, as activists, they are used to being linked with the rebel group New People’s Army (NPA).
“They are criminally charged with manufactured cases like being included in a raid against the NPAs or being identified as an NPA leader,” he said.
However, he said these recent cases seems to be “a more insidious attempt to intimidate and vilify personalities and institutions who are providing humanitarian work.”
“Our main line of work which is human rights, humanitarian assistance, and issues advocacy are being criminalize,” said Casiño.
“This is worrying because who else will provide assistance to the marginalized and oppressed sectors if they will be treated as criminals,” he added.
Casiño said they will also file civil and administrative charges against those responsible for these “trumped up cases”.
“To let them learn a lesson that you cannot just file trumped up charges just to malign or intimidate those who are helping the IPs and those who have their advocacies,” he said.(davaotoday.com)
