ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Satur Ocampo and 12 other members of the Talaingod 18 filed an appeal in the Regional Trial Court 2 in Tagum City on July 22 to ask the court to everse its earlier conviction on child abuse charges. When the verdict came out on July 15, democratic organizations and even international institutions condemned what they called the “erroneous” verdict against the Talaingod 18.

Documents related to the case and appeal were sento to the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro for re-examination. Atty. Carlos Zarate, one of the lawyers of Talaingod 18, announced the filing of the appeal in an interview with Davao Today yesterday, July 25.

Talaingod 18 includes Rep. Castro, Ocampo, Salugpongan Learning Center administrator Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, and Lumad school teachers Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianie Aga, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Tallada, Ma. Concepcion Ibarra, Nerfa Awing, Wingwing Daunsay, and church leaders Pastor Edgar Ugal, Rev. Ryan Magpayo, and Rev. Jurie Jaime from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and Pastor Eller Ordeza of the United Methodist Church (UMC). The four priests and pastors were acquitted in the case.

Charges of child abuse, kidnapping and human trafficking against the Talaingod 18 were filed when they rescued teachers and 14 students of the Lumad school in Sityo Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod Davao del Norte on November 28, 2018.

Lumad students and teachers requested the rescue because of the harassment by paramilitary forces in their area. The repression against their school is related to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s order in July 2017 to “bomb Lumad schools” and close them because of their links to the revolutionary movement.

While traveling with those they rescued, their convoy was fired upon and blocked. They were immediately arrested and taken to jail but were able to post bail. In December 2018, the court dismissed the kidnapping case against them.

The unified statement of Rep. Castro and Ocampo on July 15 said “the [court’s] decision is unacceptable and unjust.” They also asserted that “the unjust verdict is a sign of continued repression of those who help and promote the rights of children Lumad and the oppose the indiscriminate attacks on Lumad schools and communities.”

Meanwhile, other groups view the court’s verdict on Rep. Castro as an outright attack after declaring her candidacy for senator in the upcoming mid-term elections in 2025.