UCCP questions arrest of pastors, others in Satur Ocampo’s group

Allan Nawal

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UCCP questions arrest of pastors, others in Satur Ocampo’s group
(UPDATED) The UCCP says the group did not commit any unlawful act in Talaingod, Davao del Norte

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story reflected the statement of Barug Katungod Mindanao that the pastors were not part of the National Solidarity Mission. Barug Katungod later rectified this, and the latest version of this story had been updated with this correction.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) on Saturday, December 1, questioned the  arrest of the pastors and the other National Solidarity Mission participants in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

In a statement, UCCP Bishop Antonio Ablon said maintained that the individuals in the group, including former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro,  did not commit any unlawful act.

The 18 face complaints of  human trafficking, child abuse, kidnapping, failure to return a minor.

On Thursday, November 29, Ocampo,  Castro, and the 16 other members of the National Solidarity Mission were arrested at a checkpoint in Talaingod town after 14 minors were found in their convoy. 

Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Incorporated had said from the start, however, that the children were students of the STTICLC school in Barangay Palma Gil who were being evacuated by the NSM due to alleged harassment by state forces, including a food blockade to the school,

The Police Regional 11 earlier identified the 4 pastors as Pastor Edgar Ugal, Reverend Ryan Magpayo, and Reverent Jurie Jaime of UCCP Davao, and Pastor Eller Ordeza of United Methodist Church Davao.

Ablon said the group was only “extend(ing) humanitarian assistance and psychosocial intervention to the beleaguered Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanugon (Unity in Defense of Ancestral Domain) Learning Center in Talaingod, whose teachers and students have been subjected to relentless harassment by the Alamara with the aid and direction of the 56th IB, Philippine Army.”

The Alamara is allegedly a military-backed anti-communist vigilante group composed of Lumad warriors.

Senior Inspector Alarene Fulache, chief of Davao del Norte police’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk, said Ocampo’s group could not present any parental consent to justify why the children, aged 14 to 17, were with them. 

“So in effect, they were trafficking the minors,” Fulache said.

Chief Superintendent Marcelo Morales, the Southern Mindanao police chief, said the provincial prosecutor of Davao del Norte had recommended a bail bond of P80,000 for each of the 18 arrested suspects.

Ablon maintained that the arrest of Ocampo and the 17 others were illegal. (READ: Makabayan condemns ‘illegal’ arrest of Satur Ocampo, France Castro)

 “We also condemn the approval of this arrest by President Duterte whom Presidential spokesperson (Salvador Panelo) said was absent at the Bonifacio Day rites in order to focus on the Talaingod situation and the insurgency in Mindanao,’ he said.

“National Security Adviser General Hermogenes Esperon also justified the arrest as part of counterinsurgency operations,” Ablon added.

Another pastor held

Meanwhile, authorities in Davao del Sur on Friday, November 30, temporarily detained a pastor after he was found traveling with some minors ro Compostela Valley.

Senior Superintendent Alan Manibog, the Davao del Sur police chief, said Pastor Rody Candido of the Church of Christ Congregation was on one of 5 vans carrying the minors. The convoy, which came from the direction of South Cotabato, was flagged down at a police checkpoint in Sulop town. 

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in the town immediately took custody of the minors for profiling while Candido was brought to the Sulop police office for investigation.

He said it turned out that Candido and his group were heading for New Bataan, Compostela Valley, to attend a national youth convention.

He said they did not file charges against the pastor after it was confirmed that their visit to Compostela Valley was legitimate. – Rappler.com

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