Various human rights groups and democratic organizations launched another activity last August 3 in Quezon City to express their support for the Talaingod 13. Last month, the 13 were unjustly convicted of child abuse charges filed against them in connection to the incident where they rescued Lumad school teachers and 14 students in Sityo Dulyan, Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod Davao del Norte on November 28, 2018.

The Talaingod 13 includes ACT Teachers Partylist Representative and Koalisyong Makabayan senatorial candidate the France Castro, former Bayan Muna Representative Satur 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, and Wingwing Daunsay.

The gathering was spearheaded by the Makabayan Coalition, Save our Schools Network, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Katribu-Kalipunan ng Katubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas. Friends and comrades of Talaingod 13 gave expressed their solidarity and support.

“Unless we stand up now at a time when fabricated cases are used to silence those who defend the most oppressed, the perpetrators will only continue being society’s disease,” the ACT Teachers Partylist said.

The ACT Teachers Partylist called for the defense of human rights defenders and the sectors they support, including indigenous minorities. “Condemn the ongoing terrorism of the Marcos administration and its machinery against indigenous communities,” the teachers’ party said.

It can be recalled that the Talaingod 13 filed an appeal in the Regional Trial Court 2 in Tagum City on July 22 to overturn the guilty verdict in the child abuse case.