Unjust and condemnable. This was Karapatan’s reaction to the conviction of unionist Marklen Maojo B. Maga by the San Mateo Rizal Regional Trial Court Branch 76 based on a trumped-up charge of illegal possession of firearms last June 3. Maoj’s family was extremely dismayed with the conviction.

Maga, who is currently detained in the Metro Manila District Jail 4 in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, faces eight years of imprisonment. He is set to be transferred to the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa. He was also charged with a fabricated murder case in Agusan del Norte, a place he has never been to before.

Maga, an organizer of Piston, was arrested on February 22, 2018 near his house in San Mateo, Rizal.