Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Multisectoral groups protest in support of former Bayan Muna Rep. Ka Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 15, 2024, following a guilty verdict by the Tagum City Regional Trial Court against the Talaingod 18 for 'child abuse'. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17662886494201766288645011.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Multisectoral groups protest in support of former Bayan Muna Rep. Ka Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on July 15, 2024, following a guilty verdict by the Tagum City Regional Trial Court against the Talaingod 18 for &#x27;child abuse&#x27;. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Makabayan Coalition of progressive party-lists and groups said it hopes the Supreme Court will reverse the conviction of former ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, and others, for child abuse over what they said was a humanitarian mission in Davao del Norte in 2018.</p><p>The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has called the Court of Appeals’ upholding of the conviction a victory against what it said was exploitation of Lumad communities &quot;<a href="https://www.ntfelcac.gov.ph/post/ca-ruling-on-talaingod-13-is-a-victory-of-justice-for-the-lumad-ips">cloaked in the appearance of advocacy.</a>”</p><p>Makabayan president Liza Maza, a former Gabriela party-list representative, said the solidarity mission that Castro and Ocampo were part of were in Talaingod town in November 2018 in response to reports of military activity and alleged rights violations near the Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon school in remote Sitio Dulyan.</p><p>Then President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the Lumad schools closed down for allegedly being used as training grounds for communist rebels.</p><p>“Nanawagan kami sa Supreme Court na baligtarin ang di-makatarungang desisyong ito. Nanawagan kami sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong umiibig sa kalayaan na tumayo kasama ng Talaingod 13,” Maza said.</p><p>(We are calling on the Supreme Court to reverse this unjust ruling. We call on all Filipinos who love freedom to stand with the Talaingod 13)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/12/03/18/satur-went-to-lumad-school-without-permission-says-governor">Satur went to Lumad school without permission, says governor<br/></a></div><p>Maza asserted that Castro, Ocampo and the others had tried to bring Lumad teachers and students to safety. She also said the cases have no basis and are part of political attacks against activists and rights advocates.</p><p>She said the acquittal of pastors and staff members of ACT in the case also shows that they were in Talaingod for a humanitarian mission.</p><p>&quot;Bagama&#x27;t in-affirm ng Court of Appeals ang hatol, patuloy pa rin ang aming legal defense,&quot; she said.</p><p>(Although the Court of Appeals has affirmed the decision, our legal defense continues)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SOLIDARITY MISSION&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Maza said the activists were supposed to bring in relief goods and conduct a fact-finding mission but alleged harassment by a paramilitary group prompted 11 teachers of the Lumad school to evacuate 16 students from the area.</p><p>Castro and Ocampo met the group to help bring them to safety, she also said.</p><p>Ocampo said in 2018 that the mission had tried to coordinate with local officials on getting the teachers and students out of the area but <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/12/02/18/satur-ocampo-we-were-rescuing-lumad-students-teachers">had to mount a &quot;quick reaction&quot; because of the worsening situation</a>.</p><p>The members of the solidarity mission were initially charged with child trafficking, kidnapping, and child abuse.</p><p>The first two charges were later dropped, according to Human Rights Watch, which monitored the case and <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/18/philippines-activists-educators-convicted-concerning-case">called it concerning for civil society</a>.</p><p>A Tagum City court convicted them in 2024 under a provision of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act against abuse, cruelty, exploitation or &quot;[being] responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/15/-court-convicts-rep-castro-satur-ocampo-in-child-abuse-case-1110">Court convicts Rep. Castro, Satur Ocampo in child abuse case</a></div><p>&quot;Advocacy does not grant immunity when children are placed at risk. Laws like RA [Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act] exist precisely to draw firm boundaries that cannot be crossed, even in the name of politics or ideology,&quot; NTF-ELCAC, which welcomed the CA&#x27;s ruling, said.</p><p>It also said it had nothing to do with the rulings of the appeals and regional trial courts.<strong>— Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>The Makabayan Coalition of progressive party-lists and groups said it hopes the Supreme Court will reverse the conviction of former party-list representatives France Castro and Satur Ocampo, and others, for child abuse over what they said was a humanitarian mission in Davao del Norte in 2018.</p>

The Makabayan Coalition of progressive party-lists and groups said it hopes the Supreme Court will reverse the conviction of former party-list representatives France Castro and Satur Ocampo, and others, for child abuse over what they said was a humanitarian mission in Davao del Norte in 2018.

Makabayan hopes SC will reverse child abuse convictions of Castro, Ocampo

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Makabayan hopes SC will reverse child abuse convictions of Castro, Ocampo

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 21, 2025 11:53 AM PHT

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Satur Ocampo

France Castro

Talaingod

Davao del Norte

Lumad schools

Court of Appeals

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