Press Release
26 March 2013
“The warrant of arrest presented to Jalandoni Campos was lifted by Presiding Judge Alfredo Jalad of RTC Branch 28 on June 1, 2012. His arrest and subsequent detention was therefore illegal!,” declared Dr. Naty Castro, Karapatan Caraga Secretary General.
Elements of the Tandag City PNP (Philippine National Police) led by Deputy Chief of Police Joemel Maquiling arrested Jalandoni Campos, Chairperson of the Manobo intermunicipal organization Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu), at 8 o’clock in the evening on March 23, 2013. They presented a warrant of arrest dated May 2, 2011 pertaining to criminal case number L2417 for rebellion.
Campos was detained at the Tandag City Jail for 48 hours until his custody was transferred to Surigao del Sur Governor Johnny Pimentel on the evening of March 25, 2013.
“Copies of the court order lifting that warrant of arrest was sent by RTC (Regional Trial Court) Branch 28 to the concerned local authorities: the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Public Attorney’s Office and PNP in Lianga,” clarified Dr. Castro. “It was therefore with full knowledge of these authorities that the arrest that the PNP was implementing was illegal. It was a malicious and orchestrated move!,” she added.
Reliable internal sources in the Tandag City PNP confirmed that the order to arrest Mr. Campos was a NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency) directive.
“With this new information, the PNP should have immediately and unconditionally released Mr. Campos. The local prosecutor’s office should have already dismissed the charges for lack of probable cause in an immediate inquest.,” Dr. Castro surmised. “There is no reason for the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office to delay,” she pointed out.
The case of Mr. Campos is only one among many other trumped up criminal cases that have been filed against over 85 leaders and members of progressive grassroots organizations in Caraga that Karapatan has documented. They are all at risk of being illegally arrested and detained, just like the illegal arrest and detention of Mr. Campos.
“The detention would have been longer and indefinite without the vigilance of Mapasu and their allies. Mr. Campos was put in a very vulnerable position within the two days of his detention,” noted Dr. Castro.
“With this experience, we are appealing to the local prosecutors under the direct supervision of the Department of Justice to review these cases and seriously investigate all complaints,” she concluded.
Reference:
Dr. Naty Castro, Secretary General, 09071009904
