Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and incumbent ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro have been found guilty of child abuse by a court in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Their conviction stemmed from accusations that they held minors during a solidarity mission in Talaingod, Davao del Norte in November 2018.

In a 25-page decision dated July 3, the Tagum Regional Trial Court Branch 2 convicted Ocampo, Castro, and 11 others guilty of violating Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

The court sentenced all 13 respondents to imprisonment of four years to six years and ordered them to pay a total of P20,000 – P10,000 for civil indemnity and P10,000 for moral damages – to each of the 14 victims.

“Records reveal that the prosecution has established proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused…committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor Lumad learners,” the court decision states.

Tagum Regional Trial Court Branch 2, however, acquitted four other respondents to the case after the “prosecution has failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”

In a joint statement, Ocampo and Castro maintained the innocence of all the accused. According to them, the lower court “wrongfully convicted” them.

“This wrongful conviction speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of Lumad children and the persistent attacks on Lumad schools and communities,” they said.

Ocampo and Castro also pointed out that the court failed to investigate testimonies regarding threats and harassment against Lumad schools and its forcible closure.

“This is a clear miscarriage of justice, and we will strongly question this decision in all venues possible,” they added.

In November 2018, Army-backed police arrested Ocampo and 17 other leaders of militant groups and volunteer “lumad” (indigenous people) teachers on human trafficking charges.

Ocampo and the others were supposed to deliver food supplies to a remote village in Talaingod and rescue dozens of lumad teachers and pupils allegedly being harassed by members of the armed paramilitary group called Alamara.

Their actions were part of a solidarity mission that responded to an urgent appeal for help from lumad teachers of Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center at Barangay Palma Gil, where troops from the 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) and Alamara gunmen had allegedly imposed a food blockade.

Ocampo and his companions were in a five-vehicle convoy of more than 70 people, including 29 schoolchildren, when Talaingod police officers and soldiers from the 56th IB at Barangay Santo Niño stopped them at a checkpoint and arrested them.