The Philippines Central Conference (PCC) of the United Methodist Church has issued an appeal to end legal actions against supporters of Indigenous schools in Mindanao.
“Why is it that now those who helped young Lumads (Indigenous) evacuate from attacks by the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and Alamara [paramilitary] group are being harassed and persecuted,” the Protestant Church said in a statement.
On July 15, a local court in Tagum City, southern Philippines, sentenced 14 rights defenders, including ACT Teachers Party Representative France Castro and former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo, to a maximum of six years, eight months, and one day in prison.
The case originated from an incident in November 2018 when Castro, Ocampo, and others undertook a mission to aid Lumad schools in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, which the local police claimed endangered 14 children by making them walk for hours instead of providing transport.
The local court labeled the 2018 humanitarian mission as “child abuse.” In his ruling, Judge Jimmy Boco said the accused have, “by their negligent actions, exposed vulnerable children to unnecessary risk.”
Methodist church leaders said that instead of filing charges of child abuse against “those truly helping the poor and oppressed,” the government “should commend and encourage the efforts” of the human rights defenders.
The faith leaders urged authorities to investigate those who are “responsible for the forcible closure of the schools and the threats and harassment against them.”
According to the Save Our Schools Network, the closure of 216 Lumad schools in the southern Philippines during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte disenfranchised more than 10,000 Lumad children.
Methodist church leaders said that the attacks on Lumad schools were the actual actions that “endangered the lives of Indigenous children”.
The statement was signed by PCC Chairperson Pastor Thaad Kolin A. Samson, Executive Director Rev. Glofie G. Baluntong, and Bishop Israel M. Painit.
